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

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:27:34 -0800 (PST), 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

Jim,
You would be much better served to run some wire around the balcony
itself than using the rail. Run the wire along the 'floor' to the
outermost portion of the balcony, then up to the 'ceiling' and accross
it and then back down.

Which Sony? If it has an antenna jack use that, otherwise strip off
some insulation and wrap the wire tightly on the whip - or use an
alligator clip if you have one handy.

Greenhornet

On Feb 10, 1:51 pm, wrote:
On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:27:34 -0800 (PST), 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!
Greenhornet,

It's an ICF-SW7600GR, and it does have an antenna jack. It also has a
compact wire antenna with a clip that connects to the whip antenna.
I've deep sixed that out my window a couple times with limited
results, but the weather hasn't yet been warm enough for me to go out
to the balcony. I would think running that around the balcony the way
you suggest might work.


Jim Boyd

Jim,
You would be much better served to run some wire around the balcony
itself than using the rail. Run the wire along the 'floor' to the
outermost portion of the balcony, then up to the 'ceiling' and accross
it and then back down.

Which Sony? If it has an antenna jack use that, otherwise strip off
some insulation and wrap the wire tightly on the whip - or use an
alligator clip if you have one handy.

Greenhornet

On Feb 10, 2:39*pm, cadillac_eldorado wrote:
On Feb 10, 1:51 pm, wrote:



On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:27:34 -0800 (PST), 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!

Greenhornet,

It's an ICF-SW7600GR, and it does have an antenna jack. *It also has a
compact wire antenna with a clip that connects to the whip antenna.
I've deep sixed that out my window a couple times with limited
results, but the weather hasn't yet been warm enough for me to go out
to the balcony. *I would think running that around the balcony the way
you suggest might work.





Jim Boyd

Jim,
You would be much better served to run some wire around the balcony
itself than *using the rail. *Run the wire along the 'floor' to the
outermost portion of the balcony, then up to the 'ceiling' and accross
it and then back down.

Which Sony? *If it has an antenna jack use that, otherwise strip off
some insulation and wrap the wire tightly on the whip - or use an
alligator clip if you have one handy.

Greenhornet- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -


CE,

The Sony ICF-SW7600GR AM/FM Shortwave Radio has
an External Antenna Input that uses a 1/8" Mono-Jack.

As "GH" pointed out the Balcony Rail may not be your
best Antenna especially if it is Grounded via the building
to the earthen ground -or- some how re-radiating RFI
Noise from the building itself.

BUT - The Balcony Area is a good place for an Antenna
especially if the other choices are : an In-Door Antenna
-or- NO Antenna at all.

READ - The Simplest Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antennas
That I Know Of . . .
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...3eb0cf326d45d1
In you case a 25 Foot Roll of Speaker Wire would most
likely do the job of going from your Radio inside the Room
out to the Balcony and around the Balcony.
* Connect the 1/8: Mono-Plug to the Speaker Wire
* Run the Speaker Wire from the Radio's Listening location
out to the Balcony.
* Tie a Knot in the Speaker Wire where you want it to start
as a Dipole Antenna on the Balcony.
* Split the Speaker Wire apart beyond the Knot.
* Sort of Balance {Mirror Image} the Two separated Speaker
Wires : Run them Out, Over, Up/Down until you have run out
of both the Speaker Wires. Use Black Plastic Electric Tape
and/or Wire Ties to secure the Speaker Wire in place.
TIP - It would be nice if you layed out the two Speaker Wires
so that their Ends came together : This way you could leave
them un-connected at the Ends as a Dipole -or- Connect them
together {Strip the Insulation Wire-to-Wire} to form a Loop
Antenna Element. as an alternative to the Dipole Antenna.
NOTE - Your Dipole Antenna / Loop Antenna should measure
between 20 to 30 Feet Tip-to-Tip or Around.

What You Have Built _ On your Balcony is a Bent Dipole Antenna
which is Balance Antenna {Self-Noise-Cancelling} and requires
No Ground Connection.

Also Read - A Shortwave Radio plus a Dipole Antenna
can get you The World on Radio !
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...930e9161f12707
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...60ac05cd4f3532
How to make a simple Dipole Antenna from Speaker Wire
to use with a 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio connected
via the Radio's External Antenna Input {1/8" Jack}.


hope this helps iane ~ RHF

RHF,

That's great info, thanks! It'll take me a while to figure out
everything you said, but I think I can do it.

Jim

On Feb 10, 8:07 pm, RHF wrote:
On Feb 10, 2:39 pm, cadillac_eldorado wrote:



On Feb 10, 1:51 pm, wrote:

On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:27:34 -0800 (PST), 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!

Greenhornet,

It's an ICF-SW7600GR, and it does have an antenna jack. It also has a
compact wire antenna with a clip that connects to the whip antenna.
I've deep sixed that out my window a couple times with limited
results, but the weather hasn't yet been warm enough for me to go out
to the balcony. I would think running that around the balcony the way
you suggest might work.

Jim Boyd

Jim,
You would be much better served to run some wire around the balcony
itself than using the rail. Run the wire along the 'floor' to the
outermost portion of the balcony, then up to the 'ceiling' and accross
it and then back down.

Which Sony? If it has an antenna jack use that, otherwise strip off
some insulation and wrap the wire tightly on the whip - or use an
alligator clip if you have one handy.

Greenhornet- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

CE,

The Sony ICF-SW7600GR AM/FM Shortwave Radio has
an External Antenna Input that uses a 1/8" Mono-Jack.

As "GH" pointed out the Balcony Rail may not be your
best Antenna especially if it is Grounded via the building
to the earthen ground -or- some how re-radiating RFI
Noise from the building itself.

BUT - The Balcony Area is a good place for an Antenna
especially if the other choices are : an In-Door Antenna
-or- NO Antenna at all.

READ - The Simplest Shortwave Listener (SWL) Antennas
That I Know Of . . .http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...3eb0cf326d45d1
In you case a 25 Foot Roll of Speaker Wire would most
likely do the job of going from your Radio inside the Room
out to the Balcony and around the Balcony.
* Connect the 1/8: Mono-Plug to the Speaker Wire
* Run the Speaker Wire from the Radio's Listening location
out to the Balcony.
* Tie a Knot in the Speaker Wire where you want it to start
as a Dipole Antenna on the Balcony.
* Split the Speaker Wire apart beyond the Knot.
* Sort of Balance {Mirror Image} the Two separated Speaker
Wires : Run them Out, Over, Up/Down until you have run out
of both the Speaker Wires. Use Black Plastic Electric Tape
and/or Wire Ties to secure the Speaker Wire in place.
TIP - It would be nice if you layed out the two Speaker Wires
so that their Ends came together : This way you could leave
them un-connected at the Ends as a Dipole -or- Connect them
together {Strip the Insulation Wire-to-Wire} to form a Loop
Antenna Element. as an alternative to the Dipole Antenna.
NOTE - Your Dipole Antenna / Loop Antenna should measure
between 20 to 30 Feet Tip-to-Tip or Around.

What You Have Built _ On your Balcony is a Bent Dipole Antenna
which is Balance Antenna {Self-Noise-Cancelling} and requires
No Ground Connection.

Also Read - A Shortwave Radio plus a Dipole Antenna
can get you The World on Radio !http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...60ac05cd4f3532
How to make a simple Dipole Antenna from Speaker Wire
to use with a 'portable' AM/FM Shortwave Radio connected
via the Radio's External Antenna Input {1/8" Jack}.

hope this helps iane ~ RHF
.
CAUTION : This Post Has Not Been "Approved" by Telamon.
-ps- So Read It Only -If- You Are "Clueless".
.

cadillac_eldorado wrote:
On Feb 10, 1:51 pm, wrote:
On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:27:34 -0800 (PST), 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!
Greenhornet,

It's an ICF-SW7600GR, and it does have an antenna jack. It also has a
compact wire antenna with a clip that connects to the whip antenna.
I've deep sixed that out my window a couple times with limited
results, but the weather hasn't yet been warm enough for me to go out
to the balcony. I would think running that around the balcony the way
you suggest might work.

Jim Boyd
Jim,
You would be much better served to run some wire around the balcony
itself than using the rail. Run the wire along the 'floor' to the
outermost portion of the balcony, then up to the 'ceiling' and accross
it and then back down.

Which Sony? If it has an antenna jack use that, otherwise strip off
some insulation and wrap the wire tightly on the whip - or use an
alligator clip if you have one handy.

Greenhornet


You'd have better luck with a remote active, like the MFJ-1024 or the
Stoner DA-100

cadillac_eldorado wrote:

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?


Sure, just try it. What have you got to lose? In a pinch I've even
connected a short wire to the metal ground screw on an electrical
switch plate with fair results. If you're on the 2nd floor, a "ground"
can be a decent antenna.

If the railing works, a stainless hose clamp would be a better way of
securing the wire to the rail.

Good Luck,

Art N2AH

On Feb 11, 8:52*am, Art Harris wrote:
cadillac_eldorado wrote:

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?

Sure, just try it. What have you got to lose? In a pinch I've even
connected a short wire to the metal ground screw on an electrical
switch plate with fair results. If you're on the 2nd floor, a "ground"
can be a decent antenna.

If the railing works, a stainless hose clamp would be a better way of
securing the wire to the rail.

Good Luck,

Art N2AH

CE,

Here are another two simple 'Inductive' {Pick-up} Antenna
-Tricks- for Shortwave Radio Listeners (SWLs) living in
Apartment/Condos : Try Wrapping 10~12 Turns of
Insulated Wire around the :

* Telephone Line between the wall to the phone
usually close to the wall.

* Cable TV Coax Cable between the wall to the TV/STB
usually close to the wall.

Sometimes these simple 'Inductive' {Pick-up} Antenna
will work with good RF Signal levels for AM/FM Shortwave
Radio Listening.

Other-Times Oops ! - All this simple 'Inductive' {Pick-up}
Antenna may do is add to the Noise Levels that you are
hearing without an improvement in what you can hear.


cost little in time and money -and- worth a try - iane ~ RHF

RHF wrote:
..
CAUTION : This Post Has Not Been "Approved" by Telamon.
-ps- So Read It Only -If- You Are "Clueless".


Not to be nit picking, but shouldn't this great advice be at the BEGINNING of your
responses? We all need to know whether the postings have been approved BEFORE we
read them.


Thank you for your time,


mike

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.