Another item that also works especially on 6m, throw an old bed spring on
the roof!
73's

"Owen Duffy" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 27 Apr 2006 12:13:46 -0700, Roy Lewallen
wrote:

jawod wrote:
I was listening to 40M the other night and a reasonably clear SSB signal
came from a guy in Pennsylvania using 100 W to a rain gutter.

It was apparently raining at the time in PA.

All the mathematical modeling and tweaking discussed in this group ...
I thought the successful use of a rain gutter deserved some praise here.

Why? There's nothing unusual or exceptional about it.

Indeed.

Whilst it might have, and is probably still often done, it is unlikely
to comply with limits on Maximum Permitted Exposure to EMR. It has a
host of other disadvantages (EMC incompatibility, TVI/RFI, unreliable
performance to name a few).

The configuration is known as a CIA Special down here, being a covert
antenna. I suppose it is commonly done in places where covenants
prohibit external antennas.

...

Anyone who's been a ham for a few years probably has a handful of
similar stories. What conclusions should we draw from them?

Anything and everything "works" in the minds of amateurs. In the minds
of some, a few QSOs is adequate proof that something "works", though I
know you think differently Roy.

Owen
--

Howard W3CQH wrote:
Another item that also works especially on 6m, throw an old bed spring on
the roof!
73's

"Owen Duffy" wrote in message
...

On Thu, 27 Apr 2006 12:13:46 -0700, Roy Lewallen
wrote:


jawod wrote:

I was listening to 40M the other night and a reasonably clear SSB signal
came from a guy in Pennsylvania using 100 W to a rain gutter.

It was apparently raining at the time in PA.

All the mathematical modeling and tweaking discussed in this group ...
I thought the successful use of a rain gutter deserved some praise here.

Why? There's nothing unusual or exceptional about it.

Indeed.

Whilst it might have, and is probably still often done, it is unlikely
to comply with limits on Maximum Permitted Exposure to EMR. It has a
host of other disadvantages (EMC incompatibility, TVI/RFI, unreliable
performance to name a few).

The configuration is known as a CIA Special down here, being a covert
antenna. I suppose it is commonly done in places where covenants
prohibit external antennas.

...

Anyone who's been a ham for a few years probably has a handful of
similar stories. What conclusions should we draw from them?

Anything and everything "works" in the minds of amateurs. In the minds
of some, a few QSOs is adequate proof that something "works", though I
know you think differently Roy.

Owen
--



I just think the great stories of rain gutters, chimneys, fire escapes,
etc. reflect the spirit of individual experimentation that, to me, is
the heart of ham radio. Maybe not the brain, but the heart.

John
AB8WH

jawod wrote:
I just think the great stories of rain gutters, chimneys, fire escapes,
etc. reflect the spirit of individual experimentation that, to me, is
the heart of ham radio. Maybe not the brain, but the heart.

You must love Kurt N. Sterba's tales of using bedsprings,
ladders, and garbage cans for antennas.
--
73, Cecil http://www.qsl.net/w5dxp

And, also, makes great Stacked helical's for 2304! Jim NN7K

jawod wrote:
Howard W3CQH wrote:

Another item that also works especially on 6m, throw an old bed spring
on the roof!
73's

jawod wrote:
Howard W3CQH wrote:

Another item that also works especially on 6m, throw an old bed spring
on the roof!
73's

"Owen Duffy" wrote in message
...

On Thu, 27 Apr 2006 12:13:46 -0700, Roy Lewallen
wrote:


jawod wrote:

I was listening to 40M the other night and a reasonably clear SSB
signal
came from a guy in Pennsylvania using 100 W to a rain gutter.

It was apparently raining at the time in PA.

All the mathematical modeling and tweaking discussed in this group ...
I thought the successful use of a rain gutter deserved some praise
here.


Why? There's nothing unusual or exceptional about it.


Indeed.

Whilst it might have, and is probably still often done, it is unlikely
to comply with limits on Maximum Permitted Exposure to EMR. It has a
host of other disadvantages (EMC incompatibility, TVI/RFI, unreliable
performance to name a few).

The configuration is known as a CIA Special down here, being a covert
antenna. I suppose it is commonly done in places where covenants
prohibit external antennas.

...

Anyone who's been a ham for a few years probably has a handful of
similar stories. What conclusions should we draw from them?


Anything and everything "works" in the minds of amateurs. In the minds
of some, a few QSOs is adequate proof that something "works", though I
know you think differently Roy.

Owen
--




I just think the great stories of rain gutters, chimneys, fire escapes,
etc. reflect the spirit of individual experimentation that, to me, is
the heart of ham radio. Maybe not the brain, but the heart.

I agree. I don't have any reason to want to build one of those
antennas, but they are every bit the equal of getting wrapped around the
axle with amateur radio minutiae!

And certainly a lot funnier! 8^)

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -

"jawod" wrote in message ...

snip

I just think the great stories of rain gutters, chimneys, fire escapes,
etc. reflect the spirit of individual experimentation that, to me, is
the heart of ham radio. Maybe not the brain, but the heart.

John
AB8WH

Me too. Oh, how much fun we have right after saying, "I wonder what
happens if ... "

Yeah, sometimes it's a burnt finger or a blown fuse, but even then we
usually benefit from it.

I just think the great stories of rain gutters, chimneys, fire escapes,
etc. reflect the spirit of individual experimentation that, to me, is
the heart of ham radio. Maybe not the brain, but the heart.

You must love Kurt N. Sterba's tales of using bedsprings,
ladders, and garbage cans for antennas.

And don't forget the (QST?) pictures of "car antennas" several years
ago: two cars sitting almost bumper-to-bumper and fed with coax as a
very-low dipole at the almost-touching bumpers. Truly a "car antenna"
(but not very mobile)!

--
--Myron A. Calhoun.
Five boxes preserve our freedoms: soap, ballot, witness, jury, and cartridge
PhD EE (retired). "Barbershop" tenor. CDL(PTXS). W0PBV. (785) 539-4448
NRA Life Member and Certified Instructor (Home Firearm Safety, Rifle, Pistol)

wrote in message ...
I just think the great stories of rain gutters, chimneys, fire escapes,
etc. reflect the spirit of individual experimentation that, to me, is
the heart of ham radio. Maybe not the brain, but the heart.

You must love Kurt N. Sterba's tales of using bedsprings,
ladders, and garbage cans for antennas.

And don't forget the (QST?) pictures of "car antennas" several years
ago: two cars sitting almost bumper-to-bumper and fed with coax as a
very-low dipole at the almost-touching bumpers. Truly a "car antenna"
(but not very mobile)!

--Myron A. Calhoun.


Now THAT one I haven't seen.

HOWEVER, I DO have a picture (Dad's) of two hams and their cars side by
side. W9SH and W9IT

Of course they had call plates! What'd you expect! Ya think QST'd print it
????

73, Steve, K9DCI