Ham Radio Gutter Antenna
The classic rain gutter loop antenna is it any good.
Ham radio gutter antenna. Sales supplies and service. The results have been surprisingly good. By john portune w6nbc. World s largest supplier of amateur radio ham radio and communication equipment.
I got this idea about writing about my antenna because i had one once in the condo that worked very well down to about 40 meters. Amateur radio ham radio rain gutter antennas. This article was subsequently published in about 3 or 4 ham radio club newsletters and journals. Some novel loop disguise techniques.
Mine was a mfj travel tuner. Pic courtesy of n6cc website. I have used a rain gutter antenna since my condo days in fl. Very simple and the system worked for me.
Unknown sunday march 29 2020 at 11 54 00 am hst. No antenna that is good on 160 meters is good on 10 meters. Even if it is close the transmatch looses about 10 of the signal inside of the device. First you have to use a tuner.
12 mtrs deep they often can hang one wire of about 15 or 18 mtrs long into the back of their gardens. Most of the original article is still relevant but i have. That article found its way into several ham radio publications and newsletters. A few of my radio friends use the gutter as a cointerpoise to their wire antenna as in the netherlands houses are often build in a row with often 10 or more houses under one roof.
But which ones are worth the effort. I started experimenting with using my aluminum rain gutter and downspout for an antenna. This all aluminum gutter is fed with coax with an unterminated shield at this end shield connected to radio ground at the other to reduce nearby computer hash from inside the house. If your qth is somewhat limited with respect to antennas may you find some inspiration here.
This gutter antenna is connected via an upper roof level downspout where no personal contact is possible. A simple technical look at an hf horizontal loop of. In all actuality the best antenna a person can use is one that is resonate on the frequency you desire to transmit on. Wire strung around your house at rain gutter height plus.
I originally did a write up on it in 1994. As gardens are often only about 5 mtrs wide and abt.