A simple technical look at an hf horizontal loop of.
How to use your roof to string an hf antenna.
Most of the cost and complication of factory built multiband antennas comes from the need for impedance matching on each band.
On using a metal roof as an antenna the joints between panels are likely not soldered and are likely to form corroded diode junctions that generate.
It tunes up nice on 40m and 20m.
On the hf bands a bumper mounted homebrew antenna that costs about the same as the vhf antenna added the bonus of a fun day at the workbench.
If all else fails string a wire from your window to something outside and above the roof like a tree or a nearby house.
Twice as high as a vertical for the same band.
The main thing to keep in mind is that the antenna should not be in close proximity of large metal.
You can also buy non penetrating mounts that use weights rather than screws to hold them in place.
A vertical hf antenna can get away with a height of only λ 4.
In order to mount an antenna on your roof without damaging it you should attach the antenna to the gable the fascia or the chimney.
Whatever you do do not put holes in your roof to attach your antenna.
For your balcony you can hang one out the balcony and lay the other on the floor hang it as a vertical dipole if you can get it to the upper balcony or even string or snake it out on the floor of the room both legs.
My hf antenna is a bug catcher.
Some novel loop disguise techniques.
That ideally at least assuming low angle radiation is the goal a horizontal antenna needs to be really really high i e.
Attic antennas many types of antenna can be mounted in the attic if you don t have radiant barrier tech shield.
Me too with a 100w transceiver but no antenna i wouldn t spend a single penny on factory made hf antennas.
Wire strung around your house at rain gutter height plus.
The hf bands and 2 meters.
I operate hf and vhf mobile every day.
Quite versatile and compact to carry.
Need lots of room keep them away from metal objects like heaters and ducts wire antennas can be run near the peak of the roof inside the attic bent in odd shapes to match the space available.
Or you may have to connect one end to your house and the other end to a pole.
This is something i keep neglecting to consider.
Compromise disguise antennas are no strangers to hams especially on hf.
This may be your biggest design challenge to figure out where to string the antenna.
But which ones are worth the effort.
On vhf i use a roof rack mounted 5 8 λ commercial mobile antenna that retails for 14 95.
By john portune w6nbc.
