On 8 Nov 2004 08:33:34 -0800, (Scott Mayo) wrote:

I'm thinking of dusting off my shortwave receiver and putting an
antenna in my attic. I have about 29' of horisontal space to play with
(in the most convenient direction, which runs more or less NE-SW, in
Massachusetts), or about 40' if I want to put more work into it.
Verically I have about 8', more in some places. I'm considering a T2FD
antenna, as I expect to listen across a lot of bands and I don't have
lots of space. Mostly I'm after BBC (which I guess is now a distance
station, mutter), time signals, and whatever news broadcasts and music
aren't All American All The Time. No real interest in DXing. No
interest in transmitting.

Since I don't want to spend the next month tacking up and taking down
the antenna, I'd kind of like to get it more or less right the first
time. So I have some questions about T2FD's.

1. My receiver is a Sangean portable (I think the 800a), with an odd
(RCA-style) external antenna jack. I understand that the antenna
impedience should match the receiver's. Will 300 ohm TV wire soldered
to an RCA jack work? Should I be looking at 75 or 50 ohm cable? (The
300 ohm TV cable has the advantage of being already in the wall).

2. T2FDs apparently like to be tilted (hence the name) about 20-40
degrees. I'll be lucky to get a 15 degree angle in my attic, and less
if I go out to 40'. How critical is the angle? What happens if the
wires are basically horisontal?

3. With 29' of space to use, what frequencies am I just not going to
get?

4. Am I better off with a 40' (total length of both wires) dipole
instead of the extra fuss of the T2FD? Or do I really need to get a
long wire outside to get anything (which I don't want to do, as even
insulated copper seems to rot quickly if exposed to rain around here.)

5. If I mostly want Europe, should I do the extra fuss needed to fight
for a N-S orientation of my wire?

Thanks for any help. Email appreciated but I'll be looking here as
well.

Scott

Scott,
With a portable radio 29' is adequate length for an antenna,
especially as you are targeting a 'major' broadcaster. You may even
discover that you get adequate reception with the whip. Being one to
start with simple solutions, so if the whip isn't suitable (and it
will limit you to the higher powered broadcasters) I'd suggest running
the wire for the antenna - what wire you use isn't critical so if you
have that length of speaker cable handy go for it. Next, connect both
leads of the 300 ohm cable together at each end; connect the end in
the attic to your wire antenna; next get an audio patch cable (phono
jack on each end) long enough to reach from the 300 ohm cable outlet
to your radio and clip one connector off and strip the jacket and
ground cable & connect the inner conductor the the 300 ohm cable.
Plug the phono plug into your radio and you're set. The 300 ohm cable
is part of the antenna and you are not grounded so you may indeed pick
up noise from home electronics & appliances. If so, you will benefit
from coax - and to get the full benefit of the shield a suitable
ground is needed. Without the ground you may still realize
improvement though. At tht point you could use the 300 ohm cable to
snake the coax - if it's not stapled to any studs 8-} Again though,
try the simplest solution first - if it fills your needs call it a
good day & relax while listening to your radio.

Hope this helps & good luck,
Howard