Gutter Antenna, Ultimate Stealth Antenna?

[@SDRplayRSP]

Nice use of SDRuno

[@BrokenSignal]

Thank you, and thank you for making such a great product!

[@lanezeitler765]

I lived in a 3 story colonial house in Rhode Island with metal gutters. It had a few downspouts as well but the main gutters were pretty high up, around 30 or more feet. I fed it similar to what you did in this video but used RG-58, spare stuff I had laying around. I then laid out three radials, one 120 feet long and two around 60 feet long..........this antenna worked very well. I was able to load it on 160, 80, and 40 with no real issues. I just used an old Dentron 2kw tuner in the shack so it was not even tuned remotely. When running higher power with around 800 watts it would mess with my home alarm system and my garage door opener lights would come on but it WORKED. I was actually shocked that it allowed me to get on 160 and 80. A short time after putting up the gutter antenna I put up a 43 foot vertical out in the yard.

[@BrokenSignal]

When keying up your radio causes electrical devices in your house to act up you have to much RFI and need to turn the power down and find the cause.

[@duanetrivett750]

Good video! A lot of people with little to no other options will find this very useful! H.O.A.s need not know a thing about it . They are always looking for something to complain about. It's a good idea any way you go. Thanks for the video.

[@phillipdewitt4454]

I plan on trying a gutter antenna and making sure I get a good electrical connection between the downspouts and horizontal runs. I don’t trust the painted aluminum and mastic sealer for a good connection. Also I will try a vertical antenna not far from the gutters. I will have ground rods at the downspouts the the aluminum want influence the vertical. I will try both ways to see if I can tell a difference. Very easy to overthink simple things. As a teen a piece of wire out the window opened up the world at night with a three tube regenerative receiver.

[@W3OY-RAY]

I use the gutter system of my apartment building as my primary, every day HF antenna. I make 8-10000 mile contacts using mine almost every day. I do feed it using a 9:1 impedance transformer. Works surprisingly well to the point that I rarely put up my EFHW or EFRW at all any more. Thanks for the video. W3OY

[@BrokenSignal]

I am not surprised by the results but agree that it needs feed with a 9:1

[@Tommy_Boy.]

I’ve also had good luck recently testing with RG8X feed-line to a 9:1 unun connected to a downspout, as well as a ground wire installed to the unun ground connection. I was able to check and confirm electrical continuity between downspout and gutter connection (will improve/secure this later), and I’ve had great luck pairing this setup with an MFJ-939 automatic tuner. Might not even need an external tuner on some bands if you’ve got an internal tuner in your transceiver and low enough swr. I’m able to tune and operate on 6m through 160m. All bands will tune to

[@BrokenSignal]

@@Tommy_Boy. Awesome to hear you've had great success with it!

[@eddiemorfiris4144]

Hi. I am a noob and i want to use my gutter as an antenna due to hoa. Can you tell me what i need to buy? I don't have anything yet

[@BrokenSignal]

@@eddiemorfiris4144 Are you planning to transmit with it or just receive? If just receive you can just connect coax to the gutter/downspout and a ground rod but a 9:1 impedance transformer can help improve reception. If your going to transmit (which I don't recommend) you will need a very good antenna tuner, 9:1 impedance transformer, and a very good ground system in place.

[@darrinpearce9780]

Been considering the gutter antenna due to being so close to the neighbours so thanks for posting. I think its worth a try.

[@BrokenSignal]

It works good for reception if you have a long enough section.

[@RCAvhstape]

Very cool, the NOAA signal was very strong and clear.

[@steveyoth1]

Yes, this is about what I would expect. The disadvantage of the gutter antenna is that it is too close to the house, and so will pick up RFI sources inside the house. If you have to remain stealthy, the gutter antenna is still a good way to go. If you can get away with a wire antenna, put it up high in the trees and away from the house and power lines. And use a ground rod under the antenna, connected to the shield of the coax. Reducing RFI pickup is critical to good reception.

[@BrokenSignal]

Agreed. Ground is a vital part of the antenna system.

[@doncoker]

I have been using my RSP1A along with my Icom radio for going on two years now with my gutters. Works great and the HOA is happy.

[@BrokenSignal]

Awesome! Always great to find a compromise that keeps everyone happy. Since I made the video I find the gutter fills in the holes I have with my T2FD. So it will stay permanent.

[@F1NUTRR]

@@BrokenSignal Yes for me this just shows again there can be different antennas for different frequencies and different directions. I have 5 random wires (and an ATU and noise canceller) and its interesting to switch and see which one is better for what I'm trying to listen to. You have motivated me to try my gutter! But the joins in the (2 storey) downpipe are not soldered so I think I'll attach the coax to the gutter itself. I have a noisy location so I'm not optimistic!

[@BrokenSignal]

@@F1NUTRR Agreed. Also make sure to share your results with your gutter experiment.

[@eugenepohjola258]

Howdy. Totally amazing. Your thinking outside the box is outstanding. Regards.

[@BrokenSignal]

Thanks

[@blackpepperprepper2025]

Nice surprise! This kind of supports the theory of getting the most metal in the air for reception.

[@BrokenSignal]

Exactly! As much wire(metal) as high as you can.

[@ronaldshank7589]

​@@BrokenSignalCan this be used for TV too, or just Radio?

[@dxace1]

It was inevitable -- someone was going to try this. Thanks and interesting results...

[@BrokenSignal]

LOL, I had to. I was surprised how well it worked, but I don't think I would transmit with it.

[@johnbelcher7164]

Reminds me of the very old Crystal radio sets clip on gutter with Crocodile Clips awesome

[@johnbelcher7164]

Great for Transmitting Skip

[@danielgrubb9668]

Outstanding!

[@BrokenSignal]

Thanks!

[@victorrodas4357]

Great video. I understand that the center wire of the coaxial is screwed to the gutter and the silver mesh of the coax is attached to the water plumbing or some sort of ground. Right?

[@BrokenSignal]

Sorry for the delay in replying. This is correct.

[@Cqdx11]

Have not used my House gutter yet but used the iron roof of an apartment complex I lived in years ago which worked great until a tenant installed an air conditioner on it also. BUT I have recently moved house and the back and side iron fences totaling 90 yards are now connected to my > Home made Antenna Tuner > MFJ Ant Tuner > Kenwood Ant Tuner > TWO WAY S/W > SDR V3 & Icom IC-R71A! Another run of 3 wire elec cable about 10 yards long with Red & Black connected and Green cut off at end and in shack the Green & Black connected with Red (Totaling 30 Yards) going to WIRE input on MFJ and able to be switched in is just lying on the garage iron roof. Amazing what signals you can pull into SDRuno ExtIO on the V3 USB Dongle for $40!

[@BrokenSignal]

SDR dongles are a lot of fun for the small amount they cost.

[@Cqdx11]

@@BrokenSignal no doubt about that! My V3 USB Dongle on 40M was hearing better than my Icom ICR71A switching between them both with same input!

[@eduardopower5254]

Hi there. Yeah in using the gutter as a SW receiver antenna and actually connecting it to the wire slug on my Kenwood at 230 I was able to do some 10 meter contacts at 50watts

[@BrokenSignal]

Awesome, glad it works for you!

[@usernamemykel]

Not surprised, I've been doing this for many years now.

[@craignehring]

Pretty cool, I've got to try this

[@BrokenSignal]

I must say I was surprised. If you try it let me know how it works out for you.

[@LEXPIX]

Nicely done.

[@BrokenSignal]

Thank you!

[@JIMISPIER]

I'd like to see the outcome of the 2 meter, 1.25 meter, and 70 centimeter bands? I'm always looking for ghetto ways to make antennae.

[@BrokenSignal]

I can tell you it worked good at 162MHz, but I would say there are better antennas you can make for VHF/UHF.

[@TrzCharlie]

I know this is a two year old video. However, I wonder if any of your listeners have a flat roof with a metal drip edge that has been made into an ham antenna. Mine is continuous on the perimeter of the home and isn't grounded anywhere. Hmmmmm, going to have to take a look to see if there is any information on this as an antenna. Thanks for the informative idea.

[@BrokenSignal]

Sounds like an interesting experiment

[@krisraps]

I have Tried SO Many Things And I Can Say, YES, This Really Works Good :) Some Fine Tunning here ANd There ANd You Golden Im RUnning Now Antenna On My House Top Metal That's Folded To Roofing On Each Side, I Cut It In Hald And My Metal That Keeps The Rain From Middle Of The Rood / Tip Of The Roof Is Antenna, Around 15 Meters High, Location is Latvia And Im getting Chinese Stations And Like, Half Of The World Stations.

[@BrokenSignal]

It amazes me how so many people think you have to spend thousands on this hobby and forget it started with simple things like this

[@theaspiephotographer]

My gutter doesn’t go around the house continuously, there is a - 30ft straight section, an L-shaped section ea leg about 15 ft this is where I’m connected now. It faces north and east respectively. Two 20 ft sections in the back both facing due south and a 15 ft section facing west. Single story house so not much height. I didn’t know what to connect the shield wire to until I watched this video, so ty for that. I pickup the radio stations down on 1.240 & 1.440 MHz, some evening conversations on 3.718 & 3.808 MHz and some of the skip up on 27.030 & 28.779 MHz when it’s running. Not much else which I blame on the height, or lack of, of my gutter. Can I connect the other sections all together with a solid copper electrical wire? Would the need to be “shielded” also? Thanks for answering if and when u do.

[@BrokenSignal]

If your not getting good results it could be your not getting a good connection between seams of your gutter. I have seen where people have made small jumpers between the seams. You can connect sections of gutters together with wire. Doesn't matter if it's shielded or not as long as it's not "grounding" out on something. I wouldn't go through to much trouble trying to get this to work. The idea is for it to be quick and easy while being stealth. If you have to put much work into it there are better alternatives Good luck!

[@theaspiephotographer]

@@BrokenSignal now I’m curious…better alternatives??

[@BrokenSignal]

@@theaspiephotographer It really depends on what your using the antenna for.

[@kevinrhodes9329]

Do you use your gutter on USB and LSB on 15 10 40 6 meters I use the 9:1 Balun for my rain gutter from Nelson antennas on eBay

[@BrokenSignal]

I only use it for receiving

[@microreniassance2929]

Hi, great video. What did you use for a balun and antenna tuner? Thanks for any time you spend on this.

[@BrokenSignal]

I used the Gutter Antenna for receive only so I just connected the center coax directly to it and the shield to an earth ground. If you where going to try to transmit (which people have) you will want to use a 9:1 Balun and a tuner will be a must! Start with low power and try to get an acceptable SWR, don't want to fry your finals on something like this.

[@microreniassance2929]

@@BrokenSignal Great. Thanks for the info.

[@davep6977]

@@BrokenSignal Your entering dangerous territory if you transmit. 1st off if somebody was to touch it they could get an RF burn. If anybody is just near it, it's going to violate the distance for permissible exposure set by the FCC MPE (look it up) and finally fire hazard. That RF looking for a path to ground and if it starts arching.

[@BrokenSignal]

@@davep6977 I agree, it's best to just use it for receive only. And I couldn't ever see this having good results transmitting so why bother.

[@w.e.s.]

Why does everybody above the Mason dixon line call it a anTANa

[@scottbelcher9026]

I’m not really clear on what materials to use and how to make one… could you please explain so a beginner like me can understand? Thank you!

[@bsalightning69]

I would like to use the gutters on my pole barn, but think the metal on the barn would stop it from working

[@BrokenSignal]

I would agree, probably not going to work well. You could try a LOG antenna kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqDGe3R9odh-js0

[@winstonchurchill6506]

Nice one.cheers bud from the uk......

[@BrokenSignal]

Thanks 👍

[@jayfpv9376]

Do you have a video that shows the rest of the build? choke? Unun? Balun?

[@BrokenSignal]

No, since I was only testing it for receive I connected the coax directly to the gutter.

[@troyzamora6305]

Could you do this with aluminum siding

[@BrokenSignal]

I don't think it would work as well but give it a try

[@krisraps]

Try It, Do It :)

[@harmerdean]

Exactly how did you connect the coax to the gutter? Did you connect to down spout

[@BrokenSignal]

I connected the center coax directly to the downspout. I would recommend a balun though, this was just a quick test not meant to be long term.

[@mkwanderer9483]

I wonder if using a pool cage would be effective also? I have more pool cage than gutter.

[@BrokenSignal]

If the pool cage grounded? Then probably not. But you could try it anyway, just don't use it for transmitting.

[@david_W5QDF]

How did the gutter antenna work when transmitting???

[@BrokenSignal]

I would not use it for transmitting, this was always intended for receive only. Some people have used them for transmit but I bet the SWR changes with the weather/rain!

[@davidwilliams6154]

How about trying a metal pole barn?

[@BrokenSignal]

I don't think it would work very well as it is probably grounded to the earth.

[@SICKFREDO]

Are there any chances i can damage my equipment doing this?

[@BrokenSignal]

If you connect to it directly there could be, use a balun

[@raybokor2]

Did you try it with a ATU

[@BrokenSignal]

No. But I also do not transmit with it and would not suggest trying so either. A manual tuner might be interesting though (on receive)

[@bigcbradio]

Gutters on my house are plastic!!!

[@BrokenSignal]

Well that's not going to work LOL! BTW nice CB videos on your channel.

[@bigcbradio]

@@BrokenSignal Thanks... was just thinking, maybe I could run a wire on the edge of the plastic... would still be stealth, and it would be a few inches away from the house itself. Probly not a great idea for duplex or apt tho.

[@goldfinger6746]

this tells noting totally noting radio conditions are every day not the same and sdr uno i can show every signal as i want it to show. USELESS

[@BrokenSignal]

Thanks for watching anyway