D Peter Maus wrote:
cadillac_eldorado wrote:
Hello everyone,

I'm new to SWL, and am really interested in doing some DXing. But
I've already got two strikes against me--one, I live in an apartment,
and, two, it's just outside of downtown Portland, Ore.

I do have a decent Sony portable radio, and I feel like I'm just on
the verge of getting some good signals. My question is this--I have a
small balcony off of my radio listening room, and I'm wondering if
there's a way I can use the metal railing of the balcony as an
antenna. It's just about what you think, a large metal railing. Can
I wrap some wire around part of it, and alligator-clip the other end
to my whip antenna?

Thanks!

Jim Boyd



I've used everything from balcony railings, to triple track window
frames, to the siding on the house as antenna. All with varying degrees
of success. But some interesting experimentations comes out of it.

You may find the balcony railing works for you. Try it. The only
caveat is to watch for signs of overloading.

More extreme versions of this thinking have taken a member of this
group out to long stretches of Colorado and Wyoming expressways to hook
his SW-2 up to extended lenghts of guard rail. With some impressive
results.

I tried the same thing on a straight 20 mile stretch of 55 outside of
St Louis. Quite the listening, that day.


Why wouls a straight stretch of highway need a guard rail? Aren't they
for keeping you from going over the edge on turns? Sounds like some
kind of kickback.