HIDALGO,
For the Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE Radio here are Two In-Door
"Hidden" SWL Antenna Ideas:
FIRST - In-Door Random Wire Antenna for the YB400.
- Place one Push-Pin at the Ceiling Level directly
above the YB400.
- Next place a Push-Pin in each corner of the room at
Ceiling Level
- Leave One Foot of spare-extra Wire at the YB400.
Run/Route the White "Insulated Wrapping Wire" from the
YB400 up to the Ceiling and wrap one turn of the wire
around the Push-Pin. Continue the Wire on to the next
corner Push-Pin and wrap one turn of the wire around
the Push-Pin. Complete the routing of the Wire until
you have circled the room or ran out of wire.
- Connect the Wire to the Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE's Whip Antenna.
NOTE: Collapse the Whip Antenna and connect the Wire directly
to the Tip of the Whip Antenna.
PARTS Required: { Cost Under $5 }
* RadioShack Catalog #: 278-502 White 30 AWG Kynar
Wire Length 50 FT (15.2m)
* Five (5) Push-Pins (Use Plastic Push-Pins -
NOT Metal Thumb Tacks.)
TBL: This makes a fairly good In-Door "HIDDEN" Random
{Folded} Wire Antenna.
SECOND - In-Door [HIDDEN] "Around-the-Room" Horizontal
Loop Wire Antenna..
- Using a Twin Lead as a 'balanced' Antenna Lead-In-Line.
- Remove about 2" of the flat center insulation from
the one end of the Twin Lead. Strip about 1" of Insulation
from the two conductors at this end of the Twin Lead.
Spread these two Leads apart like Arms to Form a "T";
this is your Top-T-End of the Twin Lead.
- Next remove about 1" of the flat center insulation
from the other end of the Twin Lead. Strip about 1/2" of
Insulation from the two conductors at this end of the Twin
Lead. This is your Bottom-End of the Twin Lead.
- Attach the Top-T-End of the Twin Lead using three
Push-Pins at the Ceiling Level directly above the Grundig
Yacht Boy 400 PE.
One Push-Pin under each Arm of the "T" (about 2" apart)
and one about 2" down the Twin Lead.
- Connect (twist) one of the exposed Twin Lead Wires
to the White "Insulated Wrapping Wire" and wrap one turn
of the wire around the Push-Pin. . Run/route the Wire
to the next corner Push-Pin and wrap one turn of the wire
around the Push-Pin. Complete the routing of the Wire
until you have circled the room, and returned to the
Twin Lead. Connect (twist) the other exposed Twin Lead
Wires to the White "Insulated Wrapping Wire" and wrap one
turn of the wire around the other Push-Pin.
(This 'completes' your Loop Antenna Element.)
- Connect (Soldier) the Bottom-End of the Twin Lead to the
an 1/8" Mono Plug.
- Plug the 1/8" Plug into the External Antenna Jack of
the Grundig Yacht Boy 400 PE.
PARTS Required: { Cost Under $5 }
* Six to Eight Feet piece of Clear TV type 300 Ohm Twin Lead
* RadioShack Catalog #: 278-502 White 30 AWG Kynar
Wire Length 50 FT (15.2m)
* * If this does not have to be a [Hidden] Wire then
#24 Stranded Hook-Up Wire will work OK.
* Seven (7) Push-Pins (Use Plastic Push-Pins -
NOT Metal Thumb Tacks.)
* 1/8" Mono Plug.
TBL: This makes a fairly good In-Door [HIDDEN]
"Around-the-Room" Horizontal Loop Wire Antenna.
Since you have a Grundig Yacht Boy 400PE, you may be interested
in the Grundig Yacht Boy "YB" Radios eGroup on YAHOO !
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Grundig-Yacht-Boy-Radios/
iane ~ RHF
..
Some Say: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/502
I BELIEVE: On A Clear Night...
You Can Hear Forever and Beyond - The Beyond !
..
..
= = = "Hidalgo" wrote in message
= = = news:BwPwc.24572$My6.21049@fed1read05...
Is the length or the shape of the antenna more important?
I live in an apartment and can't put up an outside antenna. The Grundig
YB400PE I just bought came with one of those little wire antennas that winds
up. You attach one end to something, and spool out the antenna to the radio.
It works, but no so well.
I was thinking of making my own antenna out of some wire, but my apartment
is of limited size. So, I was wondering if I could run it around the outline
of the apartment. Maybe up at the junction of the wall and ceiling, hidden
in the "joint" there. But then I got to wondering if that would defeat the
purpose. Wouldn't a straight line antenna work best? And wouldn't the
antenna work best it was was parallel to the "line" upon which the signal
propagates?
Sorry is these are dumb questions. I bought the antenna to entertain myself
during the recovery period after an upcoming surgery and I want the best
possible reception.
Thanks in advance.