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Old May 26th 07, 09:34 AM posted to rec.radio.shortwave
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Default Two Low Cost "Portable" [Do-It-Yourself] Slinky Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antenna Ideas

On May 25, 11:19 am, michael_s wrote:
On May 23, 11:22 pm, RedPenguin wrote:

I have a Sony ICF7600GR world band radio and was wondering what
portable antenna I could use that has good reception on all of HF and
uses the 1/8 External Jack plug on the receiver, but isn't like $50+.


I have been playing with a homemade dipole antenna with a mono 1/8
plug and two wires going in either direction, but even though I know
people put shortwave antennas up in trees, I learned one good thing,
and that is make sure the tree(s) that you use, are defiantly trees
you can easily climb, if your wire gets stuck up in the tree, LoL. I
had that issue the first time I used my dipole, with the one tree, not
wanting to give the antenna wire back.


RedPenguin,

I have a 7600GR and what I use is either the AN-LP1 or a random wire.
I picked up a small spool of 100 ft of stranded hookup wire from Radio
Shack and attached an alligator clip at one end. At first I just
stretched it across the length of the house and that worked okay. Next
I took the other end of the wire and looped it around the windows on
the back porch- three large rectangles- then fed it to the radio and
was suprised to hear it actually did better. Shortly after I set that
up I copied CHU 3333 more clearly than I ever had on that radio. it is
isn't measured precisely and I am not using a balun (though Random
Wire Antenna II will have one), i was hoping for a little quarter wave
action, I guess it worked out okay.

I'm also interested in a slinky antenna, since at that level of
complexity a wire is just a wire and portability and ease of storage
is almost more important to me. (Although I have read something about
it functioning as a 1/10th-wave antenna? )


Michael S.,

Never heard of a Slinky being consider as a
1/10th-Wave-Lenght Antenna before.


FWIW - Here are Two Low Cost "Portable" [Do-It-Yourself]
Slinky Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antenna Ideas :
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw.../message/13366


# 1 - Basic "Slinky" Great-Out-Doors {Camping}
Horizotial Shortwave Listening (SWL) Antenna

For an "Out-Side" Shortwave Listening (SWL) Antenna the
Full Size Slinky can be Stretched-Out like a the typical
Horizontal Wire Antenna -and- Fed with an Insulated Wire
or Coax Cable. Rig with Nylon-Poly Mason Line.
TIP - Run the Nylon-Poly Mason Line through the Center
of the Slinky's Coils and use the Line to Support the
Slinky. Measure this Center-Line to 20~22 Feet to
'optimize' the Length of the Antenna.

NOTE - The standard Full Size Slinky has about 100 Turns
with a Diameter of 2.75 Inches and a Circumference of
8.64 Inches for a Total Wire Length of about 72 Feet.

How Long Does a standard Full Size Slinky Get ?
I Calculate that the Optimum "Stretched-Out" Length
of a standard Slinky would be about 22.7 Feet.
- - - Coil Spacing = Diameter of 2.75 Inches [ 1:1 ]
- - - 100 Turns = 99 Spaces between the Turns
= = = 2.75 Inches X 99 Spaces = 272.3 Inches = 22.7 Feet
TIP - A Full Size {Standard} "Slinky" Dipole would
measure about 45.4 Feet Tip-to-Tip.


# 2 - Basic "Slinky Jr." In-the-Room {Travelers}
Vertical Shortwave Listening (SWL) Antenna

For an "In-Door" Shortwave Listening (SWL) Antenna the
Smaller-Shorter Slinky Jr. {Junor} can be Stretched-Out
like a the typical Vertical Wire Antenna from Floor-to-Ceiling
-and- Fed with an a short Insulated Wire or a short piece
of Coax Cable. Rig with Cup Hooks, etc.

NOTE - The Slinky Jr. {Junor} has about 85 Turns with
a Diameter of 1.875 Inches and a Circumference of
5.89 Inches for a Total Wire Length of about 41.7 Feet.

How Long Does a Slinky Jr. {Junor} Get ?
I Calculate that the Optimum "Stretched-Out" Length
of a Slinky Jr. {Junor} would be about 22.7 Feet.
- - - Coil Spacing = Diameter of 1.875 Inches [ 1:1 ]
- - - 85 Turns = 84 Spaces between the Turns
= = = 1.875 Inches X 84 Spaces = 157.5 Inches = 13.1 Feet
TIP - A Smaller Size {Junor} "Slinky Jr." Dipole would
measure about 26.2 Feet Tip-to-Tip and could 'fit' under
the Eaves of many Houses and be {Out-of-Sight}.


READ - What About a Multi-Band "Off-Center"
Vertical Dipole Antenna made from a Single
(One) Slinky for Shortwave Listening (SWL) ?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/5696
http://www.google.com/group/rec.radi...9961a8ac54de62


READ - Consider the Slinky Jr. on a Hula Hoop Loop
Antenna to use with your MFJ-1020C as a Pre-Selector.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/2741
http://www.google.com/group/rec.radi...fad0a7e37de992


that's it for now - i am all slinky'ed out - iane ~ RHF {pomkia}
.
Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antennas Group = http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
GoTo = http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
The SWL Antenna Discussion Group = http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antenna HELP = http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antenna NEWS = http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antenna INFO = http://tinyurl.com/ogvcf
* * * All Are Welcome : Including ELMERS and 'Want-to-be-Elmers'
plus plain old "Mister-Know-It-Alls"; and even those Newbees with
"I Know This Is A Really Dumb Question - But _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "
.
The Shortwave Listener's Blessing :
SWL BLESSING = http://tinyurl.com/s2bjm
May You Never Tire of Listening to the Radio and Always
have Strong Signals and Noise Free Reception ~ RHF {ibid}
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/9233
.
Tous Sont Bienvenus ! - - - Groupe par Radio
d'auditeur d'onde courte pour des Antennes de SWL
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
.
Alle Sind Willkommen ! - - - Shortwave Radiozuhörer
Gruppe für SWL Antennen
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
.
Tutti Sono Benvenuti ! - - - Gruppo Radiofonico
dell'ascoltatore di onda corta per le Antenne di SWL
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
.
Todos São Bem-vindos ! - - - Grupo de Rádio
do ouvinte do Shortwave para Antenas de SWL
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
.
! - - -

Radio A SWL
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
.
¡Todos Son Agradables! - - - Grupo de Radio del oyente
de la onda corta para las Antenas de SWL
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
.
= = = = Plain Old American-English Translation = = = =
All are Welcome - - - To Join the Shortwave Listeners
(SWL) Antenna Group on YAHOO !
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortwave-SWL-Antenna/
.
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