chad556 wrote:
My main interests are same as yours... utility, maritime, aeronautical
HF, and pirate. There is an AM radio station 3 miles away. On their
site it says it transmits 5,000 watts on 930 khz, but I see no towers
at the radio station. I also live a few miles from some microwave
towers, and (assuming) cell phone, VHF/UHF TV towers. I am not very
technically savy, and would prefer to buy an antenna that is already
built. I can assemble it fine and put it up. IN am however very good
with diagrams. Size is not much of an issue as long as its not a tower
or 10 foot or higher vertical antenna. I'm the manager of the apartment
community I live in, so I can bend the rules a bit in terms of roof
installation antennae. I'm hearing rave reviews and numerous
suggestions about the Wellbrook ALA-1530, but the cost is a big
downfall.

I tried to post this earlier but google ate it.

I had a chance to test a ALA-1530 for over a month.
I was very unimpressed.

The WL1030 worked at least as well and can be built for
much less green stuff. www.wl1030.com The only hard
part to find is the Litz wire. And in truth I couldn't tell
any difference between solid, stranded and litz wire
in this application.

I am not a fan of loops and continue to be impressed by
the loyalty of true believers.

If, as the manager, you could cheat a bit more, there is a 15'
relay switched antenna that works very well.
http://www.kongsfjord.no/ Look in "The Dallas Files";
"LW-MW-SW Relay Tuned 15' Noise Reducing Vertical Antenna",
It does require at least a 4' ground rod 6 to 8 work much better.
While I have always been a fan of coax feedlines, I have to admit
that for this antenna balanced feedline, either Radio Shack speaker
wire or AC zip cord, worked slightly better then coax.

Other good antennas could be any of Dallas Lankford's active
antennas. The new comp pair is very very good but rather
difficult to setup.

The next best is "Some of My Favorite Small Antennas for MW and LW",
set up is straight forward, but the Crystalonics FET is pricey.

The much less expensive antenna in "Low Noise Active Antenna AC/DC
Power
Supplies" is a very good active antenna. When configured as a active
dipole
it is a very good performer and only usuitable (IMHO) in very strong MW
signal locations.

To the best of me knowledge there are no commercial versions of
any if these antennas.

A friend built the 15' relay switched and used very inexpensive radio
shack
12V relays that he sealed with GE "silicon seal".

And if none of these look interesting be inventive. Do you have a wood
fence?
Run wire that blends in as high on the fence as possible.

Do you have access to the attic, if there is one, you might try to run
wire
along the peak, or form a quasi dipole.

Are there "tall" trees close to the building? If so then run some wire
up the side of the tree. Works best where there aren't kids, they tend
to find and pull stray wire off.

Terry