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September 13th 04, 04:38 PM

= = = (Grumpus) wrote in message
. com...
"DesignGuy" wrote in message news:2ND0d.173828$mD.134815@attbi_s02...
"Steve" wrote in message
om...
I'm always curious about people's antennas, though they often go
unmentioned here. So, what's in your back yard (or on your roof, or in
your attic....)?

55 ft. random wire coax-fed via balun
Eavesdropper dipole

Hi, I'm very curious about the Eavesdropper-T and Eavesdropper-C
dipoles (see Universal-Radio online catalog) for my attic. The
Eavesdropper-T is a trapped dipole center-fed with 100' of 72 ohm
balanced feedline. The Eavesdropper-C is identical except it includes
a coax fitting and does not include a lead-in cable. Both models are
43' long (ideal for my attic space) and include static arrestors. For
the first thirty feet of my attic, there is electrical wiring to the
lights running 3'-4' from the peak of the roof, and for the last ten
feet within a foot of the peak. My questions are will this antenna
mounted at the very peak of the attic:

1. Be safe from lightning strikes?

As mush as your house is currently 'safe' from Lightening Strikes.
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2. Increase the chances of frying my radios even if electrocution
is not an issue?

In general an in-the-attic Antenna is 'safer' then an "OutSide" Antenna.
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3. Suffer interference from the electrical wiring described
above whether the lights are on or off?

If you currently do not have any major electrical wiring 'interference'
problems from the Antennas that you now have in the Attic:
Then you should be OK with the new Antenna too.
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4. Or interference from the utility lines outside the house
which run both parallel and perpendicular to the proposed
antenna 15' to the side and 10' below?

If you currently do not have any major utility lines 'interference'
problems from the Antennas that you now have in the Attic:
Then you should be OK with the new Antenna too.
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5. Need to be grounded? (I believe I have read somewhere
that a balanced dipole does not need to be grounded in order
to deliver an acceptable low-noise signal. Is this wrong?)

A 'good' Earthen Ground that Grounds your all your 'shack'
equipment is your first priority. Couple this with a Coax
Cable Lead-in-Line from your Shack to your Attic Antennas
should be adequate for your electrical 'safety' needs.
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What I have in mind, especially if I don't need to ground
the antenna, is moving my shack up to the attic and listening
to DX on long winter nights with a jug of corn liquor to keep
me warm.

1. Unless you have wooden floors in the Attic:
Alcohol and Attics Do Not Mix [.] {Not Wise or Safe}

2. The concern is not Winter Nights in the Attic.
The problem {Danger} is Hot Summer Days in the Attic.
[ You can Cook and Kill yourself in a few hours of heat exposure
during a summer day in an Attic and Alcohol just adds to the
disabilitating effects of the heat and dehydration problems. )
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Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

GRUMPUS - Be Safe and Be Well - Enjoy Your Radios ~ RHF
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Regards,
Grumpus