wrote in message
oups.com...
Hello,

I have just gotten my radio license and someone gave me an old
hammarlund receiver that hadn't been used in over 25 years. I used a
variac to bring up the power slowly, because I was told that the
capacitors needed to be reconditioned. Everything seemed to work fine
and I was able to pull in some transmissions with a random wire
antenna. I don't have a transmitter yet, so I am hoping to just use a
longer random wire antenna, laid along the attic until I can get money
together etc. My question is probably dumb, but I was wondering if
there is an "optimal length" for a random wire antenna for hf?

THanks for any help you can provide,

Joel Hainley
www.hamtesting.com

At one time, at least, the ARRL Handbook recommended something like 95 feet.
Way too long is better than way too short. For instance, my 75 meter dipole
receives OK on 20 meters. The 20 meter antenna is useless on 75.

Tam/WB2TT