Put Up a Great Shortwave Antenna!

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Radiodog

Radiodog

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 57
@Dirk-R
@Dirk-R 8 жыл бұрын
Hi There, Dirk here, from the website you showed in your video. Thanks for the nice comments on my SWL page. I'm glad you liked it and found it usefull, that's why I made it. A few dollars and little work, even without knowledge of electronics, can make such a difference. The 909X is good, very good with its reel antenna, but excellent with a good external. Don't know which receiver you use, but from the comments I suppose your antenna does a good job. If any questions or comments regarding the SWL or my website in general, just contact me through my website. I'm by the way from Belgium in Europe. Just to show that the world is a small town these days. Happy SWLing, Dirk
@Radiodog
@Radiodog 8 жыл бұрын
Hi Dirk, Wow, this is really cool. Thanks for saying hello. When I referenced your web site, I debated with myself whether I should ask your permission. I'm glad you're cool with it. Just curious: how did you know I referenced it? I have a few radios in rotation, at the moment...unfortunately, not the 909X. I had one, but I sold it last year in one of my "time to simplify my life" moments. Yes, it is a nice radio...I'll probably pick up another when I see one come around at a good price. I especially liked the fact that the antenna input defeated the internal AM antenna...handy for MW DXing. I am especially intrigued by your other interests...I'll have to poke around a bit more on your web site. We are always learning something new, aren't we? Happy New Year to you! Peace, Tom (PS: sorry if I mangled your last name!)
@Radiodog
@Radiodog 8 жыл бұрын
One more thing... In one of your schematics, you include a second transformer, near the radio. What is the purpose of that? It doesn't appear to change the impedance.
@MrBugsier5
@MrBugsier5 8 жыл бұрын
its a inpedence transformer to match the coax inpedance to the radio (the coax is 50 or 75 ohms, your am radio needs around 500 ohms. thats where the transformer (balun) is for. you match the antenna to the coax inpedance, and at de radio side the cable to the radio. 73,s Richard, the Netherlands.
@MrBugsier5
@MrBugsier5 8 жыл бұрын
mooie site Dirk, goede uitleg ook! 73,s Richard
@Dirk-R
@Dirk-R 8 жыл бұрын
Hi Tom, the second transformer is indeed a 1:1 transformer, purely for galvanic isolation. Since the first transformer's primary coil directly connects the antenna to the grounding, any static charge would be diverted to earth, avoiding risk to fry your receiver's input. However, in theory, it could be possible that the connection from transformer to earth is lost. In that case, static charge can get to the receiver's input. Here comes the second transformer, with galvanic seperation. Wathever arrives doesn't get to the receiver. This is opnional but as said, a lost ground connection could happen, and such long antennas love static. Just out of curiousity, how did you construct your grounding? Did you use the methode of water through the copper pipe? Always a fun summer slpash event, but seeing that snow...brrrr :-)
@tommytomted44
@tommytomted44 4 жыл бұрын
*_Tom, you did a great job of telling us about your antenna installation. Makes me think I might be able to run some wires up into the trees and get a good receiving and transmitting antenna. Thanks!_*
@BobJones-dq9mx
@BobJones-dq9mx 3 жыл бұрын
I did that and it worked!
@davidbarts6144
@davidbarts6144 3 жыл бұрын
This is one of the best shortwave receiving antennas in modern conditions (i.e. high levels of noise from cheap electronics). Highly recommended.
@michaelhayward9532
@michaelhayward9532 4 жыл бұрын
You did a heck of a tree climb to get that wire up there. I've read some guys try to avoid running up in trees but it does seem to work. I ran off a light pole out at my shed to the house, shortwave listening is fun, went to work tired many days sitting up at night.
@timothystockman7533
@timothystockman7533 4 жыл бұрын
I recently put up an end-fed antenna which is used both to receive and transmit. The wire, including downlead, is 85 ft long. This is to make it non-resonant on all ham bands as the impedance of an end-fed becomes very high at resonance. The antenna wire runs through 2 trees peaking about 25 ft above ground. I actually have a 45 ft wire at right angles about 5 feet above ground running along the top of a wooden fence for a counterpoise. Using an antenna analyzer, I swept the antenna from 1 MHz to 55 MHz and found the smith chart it generated to be centered closer to 200 ohms rather than 450 ohms. So rather than use the 9:1 transformer I was planning to use, I ended up using a 4:1 transformer I have about 125 feet of buried coax back to the shack. Since I need an exact match to the cozx for transmitting, between the 4:1 transformer and the coax I have an MFJ-939 automatic tuner. This tuner is located right at the feed point, so the coax sees 50 ohms at all times. The 12 VDC power to this tuner is fed ut over the coax, so there are bias tees at each end to insert and extract power. The other thing I've done is to put common mode chokes at both ends of the coax. This tends to keep the coax itself from acting as an antenna The choke makes sure that the current in the shield is equal and opposite to the current in the center conductor. If you have access to QRZ there are some pictures on my page: N3TS.
@Radiodog
@Radiodog 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the comment! That sounds like quite a set-up you have there. I just checked out your QRZ page. Very cool. Love the old pic...and the super-neat antenna set up. Nice job. 73, Tom
@timothystockman7533
@timothystockman7533 4 жыл бұрын
@@Radiodog If you could beg/borrow/steal a Rigexpert antenna analyzer you could see what impedance the unun is presenting to the coax. It will make a smith chart plot over the frequencies of interest, I did 1 tp 55 MHz. With the smith chart centered on a system impedance of 50 ohms, you will be able to see if the 9:1 unun really centers the plot on 50 ohms. I was surprised with my end-fed to see that 4:1 get the plot centered better on 50 ohms. As a matter of fact, my plot passed very cloe to 50+j0 around 7450 kHz.
@copperspartan1643
@copperspartan1643 4 жыл бұрын
The thumbnail image reminded me of the time I climbed up my neighbor’s antenna when I was a kid. I remember being surprised by how sturdy it was. I liked to climb things, and I got away with it that time.
@pokeypuppy2083
@pokeypuppy2083 Жыл бұрын
Website no longer available.
@brianmorris8045
@brianmorris8045 2 жыл бұрын
My love of putting up antennae, was due to buying my first cheap crystal set in the 60's, and then putting up antennas around the loungeroom, and my bedroom. Well around the rest of the house.
@m0bob
@m0bob 6 жыл бұрын
Back yard, that is a park in the UK!
@joewoodchuck3824
@joewoodchuck3824 3 жыл бұрын
If you get a ham license you may have certain privileges and exemptions from zoning laws. You don't actually need a transmitter, though it's more fun if you do.
@johnacord5664
@johnacord5664 6 жыл бұрын
We have bad power line noise here in Northern Nevada. NV Energy has reduced it somewhat. Flat screen TVs in the Neighborhood is another source of noise. I put a snap on fer rite choke on the power cord of my Radio Shack DX394 which helps.
@buzzsah
@buzzsah 7 жыл бұрын
I did something similar with a long wire. I have a tree about 200ft from my shop, I took a rubber hose long enough to fit around the tree and then put a 1/2 inch line through the hose and around the tree about 50ft up with a pulley and tied it. I then ran 3/8 line up and through the pulley and to an insulator on the antenna side and 3 old window weights on the side of the line hanging down the tree. This, as you know, will keep tension on the line and allow for movement of the tree without snapping the long wire/antenna. (why I used a rubber hose with the rope/line through it was to save the tree, if the tree bark is damaged around the tree it will kill the tree, the tree gets its nourishment through the bark) I ran the other end the same but to a 30 ft tower and into the shop using 50ohm coax. I enjoyed your vid thanks for sharing
@radiohobbyist13
@radiohobbyist13 4 жыл бұрын
I can't take any chances of falling due to my health. But I can put picture hooks up on the walls indoors and string up some antenna wires that way. I also don't want to have to concern myself about lightning or drilling holes for feedline. I have to do what works best for me.
@SuperSherry1957
@SuperSherry1957 4 жыл бұрын
I'm a newbie, &not very technical. This explains simply very well. Can you have conversations over short wave? Interested since my son lives out of state.
@joewoodchuck3824
@joewoodchuck3824 3 жыл бұрын
Yes, you can actually do that.
@lorddeathspit1124
@lorddeathspit1124 3 жыл бұрын
I gotta give this a go. I have just a long wire goes right from my tree inside my house .way too much noise, so bad I just just the built in antenna for now.
@JA-qi1fb
@JA-qi1fb 5 жыл бұрын
Been a while since we met but I know Dirk. Moving home soon, I’ll need several good antennas. I’ll try this one.
@allanegleston4931
@allanegleston4931 2 жыл бұрын
nice antenna , oh, before i forget , site not found on your friends website .
@dc2daylight1
@dc2daylight1 8 жыл бұрын
I have done this same thing but it took me years of playing around to learn it because when I started there was no internet. Currently I have a 366 foot antenna that is fed about 120 feet from the house and runs along a creek that runs through my property. I found over time that getting the antenna LOWER to the ground for AM reception and close to the creek helps me get excellent reception. I hear stations in LA and NYC from my location. For HF (SW), if that is your goal, higher is better. About 20 feet up will be fine. I don't have a balun like yours because I have hi-Z inputs on my radios.
@spiritofecstasy8525
@spiritofecstasy8525 5 жыл бұрын
Yes, this is exactly what you do for DX'ing AM and for shortwave! Put the wire 25 feet up and 100 feet across! All you have to do is get a 500 foot roll of number 10 copper wire (single strand) ( use about 250 feet for the antenna and distance to the antenna site! Do not cut any of the wire! Leave the part you do not use on the roll and set the roll by the radio! Then you do not even have to hook it to the radio (close proximity is enough) Many times this works even better for AM than physically attaching the wire to the radio! You move the radio around (or the roll of wire around) to find the best reception! This way you can put any radio beside it and not just the dedicated one! This apparatus will help even a $10 radio! ………(Save at least 100 feet of wire on the roll to set by your radio! Usually the more wire that is on the roll, the better it works! Other size (and type) wire works too, but I have found that Number 10 electric house wire works the best and last forever without breaking!)……..What I did, in my case, was put one of the antennas east to west and another one north to south and one only 15 feet up! (The original being 25 feet in my formula.) You get a few different stations that way! You then find which one is best for each station, etc.! 😊
@spiritofecstasy8525
@spiritofecstasy8525 3 жыл бұрын
@Randy Baumery Yes, it stays all one wire and doesn't have to be cut anywhere! You have 200 feet inside and 300 feet outside, or 100 feet inside an 200 feet outside - whichever length you decide to work with, or can afford, now that copper wire has gotten so expensive! But, that is also a good reason for not cutting it! You may sometime need to use the length for something else! 😊
@spiritofecstasy8525
@spiritofecstasy8525 3 жыл бұрын
@Randy Baumery Yes, I think so! 😊
@spiritofecstasy8525
@spiritofecstasy8525 3 жыл бұрын
@Randy Baumery I think I tried that one when I was a kid! It will work for FM, but for AM and shortwave you will do a lot better with a wire 50 feet to 100 feet long and put 20 feet to 25 feet high above ground level! 😊
@spiritofecstasy8525
@spiritofecstasy8525 3 жыл бұрын
@Randy Baumery A high wire stretched between two (2) trees is always best! You do not even have to climb up there, like I used to do! You can tie a weight to the wire and throw it up across a high limb, pull it tight and throe it around the limb again and pull tight. Then stretch it over to another tree and do the same thing, then run it into your house! It takes patience, but that works! Or use a high ladder and tie the ladder firmly to the tree before climbing on it! Saves climbing to the top of the tree, which is more dangerous! Good luck! 😊
@nealgavinski3812
@nealgavinski3812 Ай бұрын
does the antenna work better horizontal than vertical ?
@MrLaurencebourne
@MrLaurencebourne 3 жыл бұрын
I think (.be) on the end of the address is Belgium.
@geez-hd6dn
@geez-hd6dn 2 жыл бұрын
How the hell did you get the wire up the top of the tree 🤔
@brucemikkelsen7615
@brucemikkelsen7615 Жыл бұрын
How long would the random wire be before adding more would not improve anything?
@anthonycosta2312
@anthonycosta2312 5 жыл бұрын
You don’t need to match the impedance unless your transmitting. Just connect and waterproof rg8 coax center to the antenna wire outside the house. I run 210 feet of wire 75 feet up and get wcco, who , woai, wwl etc. no need for the 9:1 balun unless your transmitting
@Radiodog
@Radiodog 5 жыл бұрын
Well, my experience tells me otherwise.
@anthonycosta2312
@anthonycosta2312 5 жыл бұрын
So you say your not an expert and a slow learner , makes sense being you know it all😂
@bharatshetty9560
@bharatshetty9560 4 жыл бұрын
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing.
@Radiodog
@Radiodog 4 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching!
@spiritofecstasy8525
@spiritofecstasy8525 5 жыл бұрын
There are several ways to place the ground wire! No need to attach it to the radio! A lot of times if there is enough wire on the spool that I described below, then you do not even need a ground wire! But you can try hooking it to the end of the wire on the spool or attaching it to the metal spool (if it is metal) or making a coil (about 25 feet worth) out of bell wire wrapped around a piece of PVC pipe or 8" inch piece of broom handle or etc. and moving the ground coil around beside or in the center of the antenna spool or near the radio tuner! See if it helps! Maybe on some of the weakest stations or if there is not much wire on the antenna spool. 😊
@garymann7352
@garymann7352 3 жыл бұрын
Great job! Thanks!
@copykon
@copykon 4 жыл бұрын
what's with the squeaking noises?
@LeeLocke
@LeeLocke 8 жыл бұрын
This is very good info, thanks for sharing Tom! 73's Lee.
@matthieudeschamps8430
@matthieudeschamps8430 6 жыл бұрын
Hi ! Listen, I'm not familiar at all with antennas. I'm about to buy a 9 : 1 unun (balanced, unbalanced....not sure) to go with my longwire. I was wandering if I should also buy an ATU to plug between the unun and the receiver ? Thanks ! Matt
@GeertMeertens
@GeertMeertens 6 жыл бұрын
I get great reception with this one, see my other post www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/1465.html
@JasonYeoman1969
@JasonYeoman1969 6 жыл бұрын
Hi, where is the part 2 of this video? I'm curious about your indoor setup and is that a variable capacitor that you turn with the wire attached to the top?
@brianmorris8045
@brianmorris8045 2 жыл бұрын
Before you put up that lovely tall antenna...check with your local council first.
@jbrunson1949
@jbrunson1949 4 жыл бұрын
well we will go inside and show the base setup, WHERE????? all I saw was a screen with a web page , no coax no receiver nothing.
@cheezervvvvv
@cheezervvvvv 8 жыл бұрын
Is this a form of a beverage antenna?
@Radiodog
@Radiodog 8 жыл бұрын
No, it's a straightforward random wire.
@bretwayne8302
@bretwayne8302 8 жыл бұрын
Good video.KC2NXP
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