Shortwave radio tip 32 Get more signals with wire antenna

A length of Wire can make a huge difference in what you hear on Shortwave

[@mojavedesertsonorandesert9531]

Back in highschool (early 80's) i ran copper wire to all four corners of my ceiling then made an X across my ceiling, then ran the wire down on one corner to my desk. I actually worked really well, was able to pick up stations down to San Diego, out to Barstow, Palm Springs, Bakersfield/Fresno, and Mexico!

[@brianmorris8045]

As for my shortwave radio, Sangean ATS 505, I use an alligator clip connected to the whip arial. Works like a charm. And the antenna runs around my bedroom. Am fitting one up in my roof cavity when I get my lad to go up the ladder to connect it. My 72 yr old knees won't let my climb my ladder, neither will my son...lol

[@hyndry]

Great tip! I am reacquiring the hobby and will rig my longwire soon. The way I used to do it was to wind a few loops of the longwire to a small piece of tube and slip the tube over the whip antenna. I connect the end of the wire to some ground... whatever was close (sometimes even to metal window sills). Worked okay for my purpose and less noise.

[@adam_clay]

I'm watching this on Thursday march 11th 2021. Thanks for the video. Good tips

[@Aco747lyte]

I've already done this, but added an earth wire and attached the end to the metal leg of my table. That _vastly_ multiplied the signal! I'm very pleased with it. Many thanks for your video tip! Wendi UK 🌻

[@merrittorius]

I'm ignorant. Are you saying you added a ground or grounded your table? Thanks!

[@rudytoth]

I still use Aluminum foil (yes right from the box) a long sheet to tape up on my living rooms wall with a alligator clip to the foil wire that down to the tip of your telescopic antenna... works fantastic! I am a SWL for years since 1989 era and have a few QSL report cards also. 🏆👊🏻😎👍🏻

[@paulanthonybridge5741]

Be aware that the wall will weaken and absorb a large portion of your signal ! Therefore it shoulg hang freely, and away from objects etc.

[@rudytoth]

@@paulanthonybridge5741 Thanks for the tip., But it works good for me. 😊

[@rudytoth]

@@paulanthonybridge5741 Thanks for the 💪🏻 tip.

[@robertbrunston5406]

Very good explanation! Thank you so much.

[@raymondward5629]

I’ve clamped wires to stadium light poles that go up 80 ft high!! Great reception!!

[@ehsaananwaar]

Great tip to improve reception. I tried and it works.

[@kenbailey5703]

I have a Tecsun PL660 running on a homemade copper loop antenna and an alternate Sanjean 20 ft reel antenna. It would not pick up much of anything. Following your advice I moved it from the living room facing west to the bedroom facing northeast. Today at 4 pm I picked up maybe 20 shortwave stations, including Radio Iran and Radio Espana in Madrid on the Sanjean reel. Such a simple solution that I hadn't even considered it. Thanks Guy! KD8PTN

[@stevengroberts8565]

I am about to do this wire trick on the Tecsun S2000, huge back yard so it should be pretty inconspicuous ... subbed and thanks for your advice.

[@philevans1832]

Thank you for this great advice

[@sreekumarUSA]

Thanks. Most interesting is the sight of GRUNDIG Satellite 6000. It’s great German radio and it’s still functioning well as it came out of production. I have a SSB unit that’s connected to the rear panel and works well. Stay safe. 73s

[@MrAbhatia]

I have GRUNDIG Satellite 6000 bought from USA in 1980, stillworks fine, wish I had a SSB adapter.

[@bradswim]

I made a random wire antenna out of an old slinky, an aux cable and some twine. Strung it upstairs along the length of my house and it works pretty good! I'd like to get some wire outside, to get away from our Router noise.

[@raymondward5629]

I’ve tried clamping wires to anchor cables on telephone poles. Great height and ground!!

[@Americaacp]

Thank you for the great tips.

[@raulgongora5288]

Very good information my friend Thaswyou

[@WVMothman]

I still have the Reaslistic signal booster with the telescopic antenna, what a noise maker!. Lol

[@jaakkooksa5374]

If your receiver has a 3.5mm jack, does this work better if you connect the wire to the center tab, and ground the other pin somewhere? If it does, what are some easy ways to create the ground? Connect it to the earth terminal of a wall socket? Or draw and bury the ground wire to the physical ground?

[@soupdragon12345]

Wonderful explanation, made my own long wire this morning and pulled in a few more stations on my tecsun 310 I have the wire but what do I need so I can plug it into the side of the radio .

[@mayuresh1704]

Nice information! Thanks!

[@Markinpuff]

Long wire is great, grounding is so important.

[@corpo33]

What does grounding mean please .

[@davecampbell5176]

I used to use shortwave quiet a lot on trips into the Bush. Recently tested gear. Sure noticed less stations to listen to.

[@tangobayus]

Currently running 100 feet of 14 gauge wire into my Tecsun PL 880. I just clip it to the external antenna. I have an MFJ Travel Tuner in the middle. The wire is strung around my fence and I bring it into to the house with RG8 cable to prevent noise.

[@Fluxtime451]

On the xdata or any other is it better to wind it around the ariel or plugged into the ant port ...

[@serafimkakoseos8333]

thank you i have tried using a very long wire taped on to my brick home but i get alot of static, i,ll try using your way since i havent got a lot of space in my room. But i will experiment.

[@duncan3417]

Hi, if I have alligator clips on both ends, can I connect one end to a metal hook or screw. ? I am very confused. Some people say never connect to metal, others suggest to. This is inside. Best Wishes

[@badhonrudra]

I am using Tecsun PL380, which type wire and how long will not overloaded my radio but get good and signal???

[@Mattypantaloons]

Hey Salut, Bonjour, What's the make/model of the SW radio on the top left (below the magnifying glass and light)? I had one just like it in the 80's!

[@elias_meske]

Realistic Patrolman SW-60 or CB-60.

[@geoffreyculloden3983]

I have this sh/wave problem. Thanks for your advice....will try it! Please reply.

[@gabrielv.4358]

Great tips!

[@Canarywharfdebz]

I purchased 50m antenna wire but it is too thick to connect with my telescopic aeriel on the XHDATA sw radio. Can I connect relatively thin copper wire to my 50m antenna wire? I just want to make it easier to connect the wire to my telescopic aeriel?

[@tonyturtle5805]

you can plug into the ground of your house too ,on the outlet use the ground hole of the outlet for a make shift ant,/ for rcvr on short wave or am broadcast stations if you cant hang a wire somewhere ,

[@douglasthompson7464]

My Dad was an electrical engineer..he told me if you have a ground connector on the radio hook the ground wire to the screw on the outlet..a good ground will make a big difference if you hook it up right..idk about using it as an antenna..I would think it would pick up 60 cycle hum big time but if it works it works

[@ronalddaub7965]

Yep I like to go directly to the ground rod below the meter base

[@MalditoSeasEstadoDelsrael]

If you ever shortcircuit something or a fuse blows out youll get mains voltage through your antenna and that could be expensive or deadly.

[@tonyturtle5805]

@@MalditoSeasEstadoDelsrael good point thanks for reply

[@seanharris4621]

Very good video im going to try the wire on my am radio.

[@trustin.p9504]

@OfficialSWLchannel Great video as always. I have a quick question for you guys. I live in an apartment and have a thin wire that runs outside along a cloths line. it works pretty well. I run into problems when the wire comes in to my apartment. I get a lot of RF noise inside the apartment. If i used a shielded cable to run from my window to where my radio is set up and use alligator clips to connect to my radio would that cut down on the RF noise?. Thanks. I really enjoy cheannel.

[@Dallas-Rife-UDX-347-Tennessee]

Trustin .p Try wrapping the wire a few times around a ferrite choke , maybe run an extra frame ground to a real earth ground as well , my personal experience, it’s a 99% cure www.kf7p.com/KF7P/Ferrite_chokes.html

[@brendakeiffer4039]

Ok

[@burkena]

Dò wires need to be stripped? Grounded? Ĺooking at a Texsun 660 because its fairly small and compact. Is there a filter to add for interference im just getting back into this after 20 yrs ++ away.. looking to start with a GOOD SW - MARINE AIR. LW SSB am/fm before i try settling up a bench

[@dannymcneal]

Loved your explanation! My back fence (inside an HOA-governed neighborhood) is exactly 60 ft from the back of my house. Question #1: If I ran a thin wire out of my window, as you described, and then up the wooden 4x4 support on my back deck, I could then stretch it to the back fence to improve the reception on my Eton 750, right? Question #2: Will I get better reception the higher the wire goes? If so, I could attach some kind of long pole, perhaps a retractable one, to the back fence that would elevate the far end of the wire. Question #3: If I used a thin wire from the Eton inside the house to pass through the crevice around the window, could I then connect that thin wire to a thicker wire, to be stretched to the back fence to improve long-term durability? Thank you for any help!

[@mpatrickthomas]

I have always just used plain speaker wire up in a tree or basically anywhere outside .I have that now.I have a Tecsun pl 330 ssb,and it picks up so much.Dont worry if it's straight or high up, just get it outside.3/4 of my wire is wrapped around a tree trunk and works great.Just keep it simple and and will work fine.On my Drake sw8 I can pick up digital signals from Japan on ssb easy from Mid Missouri

[@channel-dw7ei]

Can multiple wires be connected in different directions??

[@danielteegarden8982]

cool. will do tomorrow. new to all this. lol.. thky dan t palm springs calif USA

[@DNYS8N]

I was wanting to listen to short wave radio for under $200. After research, you tube, and reviews I am more lost than when I started. Even if I buy a 300 dollar unit I am doubtful it will work. I live in a valley so I think I’ll need to make some funky antennae modifications. I guess I’ll need an external jack for an antennae, maybe wire. Not sure what kind of wire. I was thinking about connecting it to some fencing. Any ideas? (My experience is seldom does anything work unless you know the trade secrets.)

[@isettech]

A valuable addition to a wire antenna is an antenna tuner. A resonant antenna is much more sensitive. I've put a dipole antenna in the attic with a feedline down to a tuner into a wall jack that looks just like a TV antenna jack.

[@bradolson1009]

Thinking of running the wire out of my basement, up the side of my house and end it on the metal pole that power wires come into my house, will this work ok? Will the power wires interfere with the sigal, other wise I can string the wire lenghwise along the soffet of my house.

[@smokeandsteamxsw9831]

Did you talk about a morse code decoder for a commodore 64? I think you were looking month or two ago. Reply please. I found it .

[@KanishQQuotes]

Can i connect the wire to the huge metal clothes stand or the metal railing in my balcony.?

[@rudytoth]

Shortwave travels in a horizontal lines than being vertical. So you will get a better reception being horizontal altogether. If this is outdoors? Make sure it's grounded!

[@laheart1957]

What kind of wire is use in this? Does it have to be copper?

[@sailingyemaya9781]

Good video

[@tysontyson1244]

Thank you!

[@jeffthompson8663]

I have a metal roof, could I gator clip it to that?

[@ronschreiber7764]

how long should the wire be ??

[@tiagogardino]

I made a 2.5 mm thick malleable copper wire antenna 16 meters long and connected it to a 75 ohm coaxial cable from the antenna to my receiver, the signal increased significantly ... but it became very noisy signal and the question is, will using Balun 9: 1 really make my antenna signal less noisy?

[@MalditoSeasEstadoDelsrael]

I tried a balun and it didn't do much of a difference, what worked the most was grounding the opposite end of the antenna. I really don't know the science to it, it was something just to see if it would make a difference and it did.

[@sun622]

Ever do a video on where NOT use your radio? I'm talking near TVs, computers, power lines, and other sources of static, and time of day.

[@smokeandsteamxsw9831]

Long wire and Rtl-sdr ?

[@baltimoreballs]

I do the same. I use a steel guitar string. I just wind it around the antenna . It is all a matter of where you live and what is around you. Just experiment. Thanks

[@MagicRoosterBluesBand]

Is it a good idea to ground this long wire for the portable SW radios? Is that possible? How would one do that?

[@OfficialSWLchannel]

no need to ground antennas used with portable receivers

[@MagicRoosterBluesBand]

@@OfficialSWLchannel thanks! I have 50 feet outside and it works great with my PL-606.

[@muhammadslwaey8829]

I have a wire with a ferrite shaft wrapped with a metal variable capacitor I want to make a strong intel how is that possible

[@BarefootBeekeeper]

Does the exact length of the wire matter, as it does with standard antennas?

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

Only if you want to transmit with it as well, then length matters. Also, as noted above, an "antenna 'tuner'" helps.

[@tunahankaratay1523]

The length is not critical since shortwave covers from 3MHz all the way up to 30MHz. The length needs to be very precisely tuned on the transmitter side for good transmission. But you needn't tune your antennas, I would recommend a length between 25 and 50 meters (around 80 - 160 ft.). However, if you are focusing on for example the amateur pirates between let's say 6900-7000 KHz, I would recommend you to tune to that frequency. The formula is simple: Wavelength = speed of light / frequency. The antenna lenghts you can use are: Wavelength, Wavelength/2, Wavelength/4(there are others but for this application these are suitable.).

[@ronalddaub7965]

@@tunahankaratay1523 my brother used to tell me to raise my FM antenna 30 in off the car because that was the wavelength of FM

[@tunahankaratay1523]

@@ronalddaub7965 Of course, it will help to roughly tune the antenna for FM, because the frequency range is a lot smaller and tuning the antenna to the middle frequencies will help your reception. But in the case of shortwave it's not only so hard to do it, but also it doesn't really help as much as it would help on a higher frequency because of many many factors.

[@supermaestro67]

Hello. question: how can we use a fm terrestrial radio antenna with a radio that only has a telescopic antenna? thanks

[@OfficialSWLchannel]

most of the portable receivers do not have external antenna options for FM radio

[@AbaseenPodcast]

I'm in a Condo, I aded a 21' compact wire antenna to my Sony ICF-SW11 compact and all I hear is the hum of all the devices all around me, it's actually better to not attach the wire to my whip.

[@hendyk78]

I have a 9ft x 9ft (3m x 3m) square galvanized metal roof on my yard, can i connect te wire to the roof and turned the roof into an antenna? Will it work? Or will it be a bad thing?

[@weemasseyman]

I'm no expert so don't fully take my word but my da always said that metal conducts electricity etc so it should work and also I done it with a tall metal pole for fm and it worked

[@weemasseyman]

I forgot to say that I used it for FM-Frequency Modulated-

[@hendyk78]

@@weemasseyman thank you for your feedback. I appreciate it. So far i only used electeical wire to get better fm reception. Although not as i wanted it to be, deffinitelly is much better than stock antenna. I will definitelly try connecting that wire to my metal roof

[@b0rnugly]

Grounding it into the ground also helps.

[@dheeraj9521]

Sir , I am using Sony ICF- J40 radio for SW ....Can I increase the length of random antenna wire by connecting another piece of wire of same gauge by soldering method & can it improve the reception of shortwave signals ????....or we need to use a fresh single piece of wire of any length without any joint in it .... Can joints cause any problem in reception ???

[@OfficialSWLchannel]

You can add wire and it will work. In general the longer the better for the wire antenna

[@LouiesLog]

Thanks!

[@ShortwaveRadioChannel]

📶👍 73s Ralf

[@jaimieboy999]

I have about 10 Meters of speaker cable with a weight at the end chucked over the apex of my roof, the feed like is soldered to mini 8 coax which is fed into my yaesu radio, I can receive all round Europe, hear weather volmet stations from New York, USAF EAM's, flights over the Atlantic talking with shanwick ATC witg my location in SE Scotland. I wish I could transmit on it!

[@joerowland7350]

Get your licence it real easy I got extra class Bet you can to

[@DreamShadow76]

Doesn't adding wire to a telescopic antenna add (potential) overload to the radio? Another question....what about the ext. Antenna input?

[@davidsradioroom9678]

It may overload some portables. You just have to try it. Usually the better ones will take to an external antenna very well.

[@mjohnson77682]

overloads my Tecsun 380 very easily. I have a bunch of AM broadcasters close to my house, that doesnt help

[@ronalddaub7965]

Same

[@grumpyken9151]

20 gauge wire with brown insulation just about completely disappears when using trees to string a wire antenna outside, at least to my eyes on the ground

[@devarajans2881]

Modern portables are designed to work well with built-in whip.when lengthy antenna wire is clippd to antenna port the front end tend to over load with strong local A.M.stations appearing all over the spectrum sounding like heterodyne whistle

[@degenerals6127]

I live in dubai and am trying to listen to the BBC world service at 7.485 MHz but the there’s a lot of interference and static and I can barely make out what’s being said I live in a densely populated area on the fifth floor of a seven floor building and less than a kilometer from the sea. Edit: can someone please enlighten me on how to clearly listen to it.

[@degenerals6127]

@@1catchem oh yes definitely But now it doesn't even matter as I no longer live in Dubai. Moved to Canada a few months ago.

[@paulmorrey733]

Thanks

[@salinagrrrl69]

Ive tried a clothes line & an electric fence.

[@DNYS8N]

I thought Cooper unisulatec was preferred wire

[@ronaldhofmeister2976]

I got a Question about a Sony Shortwave Radio Model CRF-330K with Cassette Tape Deck this was there top of line model. Who can repair it for me I’m 71 years old & Disabled. It has 32 Shortwave Bands & it’s built like a Tank. I give the Cabinet & Knobs Controls a 98% but who can I trust to repair it? There is no one around here!! It has the Works on it from Shortwave, Ham, Marine, Aircraft, Am/Fm, Cassette Tape Player Recorder. The weight is 60 pounds easy. Could someone refur me to an Expert.

[@timbookedtwo2375]

is antenna resonance impotant for SWL?

[@uhadonejob]

Doesn't make much difference for receiving signals. Very important for transmitting.

[@prepperboss]

When you say thin wire, what gauge are you talking about?

[@OfficialSWLchannel]

Gauge does not matter, it all depends on the strength you want it to be

[@prepperboss]

I know but you references putting it through the window..........what do you consider thin enough to go through a window where it can shut?

[@ronalddaub7965]

Ask a ham operator don't try to lecture a ham operator LOL

[@stevenemert837]

Good tip. Can you comment about any differences in performance between a simple long wire antenna and a dipole tuned for one of the popular shortwave broadcast bands? Also, do you have any recommendations for a ground to use in conjunction with a long wire antenna? For example those of us who use a second floor room (or higher) for shortwave listening have a more difficult time accessing a ground. I'm not sure if using the house wiring ground as that antenna ground would be a good idea.

[@Possumn1138]

For the ground connection, simply wrap a few turns of very fine wire around the battery's negative terminal's spring and allow a bit to hang outside the radio's case to connect your ground, counterpoise or the other half of your di-pole on. The whip remains as the radiator or other half of your di-pole connection.

[@Possumn1138]

That's for if your portable radio does not have a external connector for making a ground connection.

[@brucecorbettn9bh398]

Are you telling everyone that a low cost piece of wire can work as well as an expensive piece of wire? Thank you. Experiment. Try to move your wire from RF noise, interference, sources. Just think, if it is electric it might, not necessarily, cause RF noise. Experiment. Try things. Dont give up.

[@roddrysdale3317]

Maybe put an ATU in line to further improve the signal

[@bitemykrank1970]

As far as I am aware, nobody OWNS the airspace outside your house, so IF any neighbour says "I don't want to see a wire or antenna..." tell them simply...DONT FUCKING LOOK THEN !!! Your perfectly within your rights to run an antenna wire ANYWHERE you want, provided it doesn't interfere with anyone else's property without permission, or come in contact with power lines,etc. If the local authorities say your not allowed to run an antenna, this is a different thing, but just tell any asshole neighbours to bite your ass.....SWL'ing isn't a crime. Currently, I have 6 sloper's running the length of my backyard, all start at the same mount, 40 foot in the air, and all terminate 4 foot off the ground on their own mounts. The longest is 162 foot long, the shortest is 32 foot long, on top of the feedline mount I have 3 verticals aswell, for AIR, UHF and 2m bands. The longest of these is 53cm tall, with 57cm radials. The WHOLE system only weighs 3kg in total if I take them all down, roll up the wires and fittings and include the mounting mast and weigh them together, and because they are all either 4mm wire or 5mm brass rod, you can't even see them from 20 foot away. Only problem I have is the local Sulfies LOVE sitting on my 80m band wire.....it gets broken at least twice a month.

[@brianmorris8045]

Sad thing is, some of the 'Karens' in the HOA, the male versions, are using binoculars to look at wires under eaves and other places from a distance. It is even concealed within his roof cavity. One of my relatives in Nevada found that out. They demanded to look in his cavity, he initially refused, but they didn't find the roof cavity version, it was so well hidden. He also has a hidden room behind a bookcase, where he keeps the transciever. The one they found under the eaves was just an emergency one antenna. They never bothered him after that. Never mess with a top carpenter tradesman who knows how to conceal things.

[@radioboyintj]

Where do you get alligator clips

[@joerowland7350]

Harbor freight has pack for a few bucks

[@radioboyintj]

@@joerowland7350 I never even heard of them I'm guessing that is a store That is not in my state. I'm going to check ebay And there three locations near me

[@georgemercado8676]

is ordinary antenna for radio can be used for shortwave??

[@rickets5094]

Just bought 10 metres of speaker wire to try this out

[@copykon]

I have a real shortwave antenna. The trick is height is might.

[@lunes-1]

📻👍

[@videodude8137]

You know what. Just you know.

[@raymondward5629]

Field with a wire that has copper clips on both ends. The possibilities are limiltless!!! Cast iron or chain link fences broadside facing East/West or a light pole on the vertical side…

[@ethimself5064]

👍

[@attilarivera]

3:41 " _neighbours telling don't wanna see a wire_ " *_in your property_* ????? How come?

[@ronalddaub7965]

Neighbors are nosey I like to fool them all the time

[@Cheetorblz]

Some people live in apartments or condos or in Sara subject to home owners associations.

[@ronalddaub7965]

A wavelength is exactly what it says a length.....

[@DE-iv8if]

(To) long Wire Antennas do not allways work so great with little portable Receivers... So sometimes You can hear more Stations with such an Antenna, compared to the Telescopic Antenna and it works :) But sometimes You even hear Stations, that are not even really there.. :D Because of Receiver Overload.. And sometimes You hear just more Noise with a (to) long Wire Antenna and real Stations disapearing in that Noise.. So You are actually even will hear _less_ Stations with a (to long) Wire Antenna.. Here You really have to experiment and compare.. Sometimes even a not so long Wire helps more than a (to) long Wire Antenna.. (A Wire of Something inbetween 1m or 3m). But it also can depend on Your Frequeny or Band that You are interested in.. And also the Receiver.. So You have to experiment a bit.. :D And also how "noisy" Your Enviroment is, can be important too..

[@2broketim479]

i know it works but i find it hard to understand how "insulated" wire works as an antenna.....

[@3dPrint_and_chill]

Electromagnetism doesn't care about insulation.

[@radiocontrolled9181]

Plastic wire insulation is invisible to electromagnetic radio waves.

[@ronalddaub7965]

Because the insulation has nothing to do with the radiation of the radio frequency it goes right through the non-conductive material

[@user-hk7fc2xd1t]

Very 👍

[@Steven-re7xt]

Ah! I carry 3 Hanks of wire one at 1 meter second at 2 meter. Third at 4 meters. . That way I don't Cary a tunner. And I use a gator clamp. on one ene and a small loop on the tail for hooking on a nail/screw. And I toss it out the window. Of my car. On my trip to the park. And use the car for a counter poise how can you go wrong?😊😊😊😊

[@liibaancabdullemohamed7271]

Can you mosion me short wave

[@benkopic3131]

Use some alligator clips and attach your telescopic antenna to a clothes lines that you use for drying.

[@medo123345]

👍 👍 Nice

[@jaakkooksa5374]

Why would antennas be forbidden in an area?

[@sielana]

5g freaks. People who believe radio waves give them cancer, that cows stop giving milk because of radio waves etc.

[@Grunta5]

Sorry but as a listener from the 1980s when every country was on air it was magic. there is very little out there now.

[@OfficialSWLchannel]

There still a lot to listen to, you obviously don't listen and tune around to say that

[@Grunta5]

@@OfficialSWLchannel can you name 10 international broadcasters that still broadcast programs in english please.

[@lunes-1]

@@Grunta5 BBC🇬🇧📻

[@raincry5276]

I’m in Michigan,,, is there any way I can contact you by phone