(Philip Levine) wrote in
om:

Just getting back into shortwave listening after a 30 year
absence. Now I live in an apartment in NYC and have access to
the fire escape on the 3rd floor outside my window. While
waiting for my radio to come in the mail I'm researching all
kinds of antenna possibilities which do not look too
conspicuous.

I'm sure there are plenty of ideas out there and I'd love to
hear from you. Would a balcony vertical antenna work better than
a long wire (well, not particularly long) or a slinky type. The
good news is that I can probably get some kind of antenna
outside on the fire escape so there should be some options
there.

Hi Phil,

Consider a small antenna like the "H-800 SkyMatch Active Antenna"
from LF Engineering...
http://www.lfengineering.com/products.htm
....or better yet, from Grove Enterprises...
http://www.grove-ent.com/ANT15.html (this is where I bought it
from).

I have been using this antenna for a while now and it equals if
not surpasses limited space windom antennas. Now, it will never
beat a full size antenna, but for a limited space, outdoor antenna
(29" tall), it is giving me a good return on my investment. It's
quiet, small, forgiving and easy to instal.

--
The Traveler,
Oceanside, California