|
Ground level antenna
Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does
it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? Thanks for your input. Pierre |
A longwire is best as high as you can get it safely (keep it away from power
lines). However, the longer it is, the lower the frequency to which the receiver will be most responsive. Low Frequency and Very Low Frequency signals tend to hug the earth as opposed to High Frequency (shortwave) signals. For your purposes, it would be best strung at least 20 feet above the earth. Best wishes MM |
"Peter" wrote in message ers.com... Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? It will work laid on the ground, just not as well as if you got it as high as possible. I have seen plans for underground antennas before, however, they only work well from MF up to around 4 mHz. In other words, they work best on signals that propagate via groundwave. -- Tom Sevart N2UHC Frontenac, KS http://www.geocities.com/n2uhc |
That's interesting ! I don't mean to be funny, but does an underground
antenna have less susceptibility to noise ? If one has lots of power lines etc in the area, does that cut down on such noise, or would it be the same for an antenna in the air a ways ? Thanks :) |
Do a google on 'Snake antenna" OR "SNAKE" I HAVE SEEN AN ARTICLE WHERE COAX
CUT A CERTAIN WAY IS LAID ON THE GROUND, AND IT TRANSMITS Yodar "Peter" wrote in message ers.com... Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? Thanks for your input. Pierre |
Pierre,
Here are two Ground Level (Hidden) Antennas to consider. * * * SNAKE ANTENNA: Here is a short sample "Snake Antenna" Reading List: http://www.kc7nod.20m.com/snake.htm http://lists.contesting.com/_topband.../msg00302.html http://atanasoff.rf.org/pipermail/ta...99/001042.html http://dayton.akorn.net/pipermail/cq...ry/001596.html http://www.qsl.net/ve3mcf/elecraft_r...enna_Snake.txt Down To Earth Antennas = Outdoor Antennas Forbidden? Go for the Snake ! http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx...al/swlant.html http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx...ial/snake1.gif http://www.hard-core-dx.com/nordicdx...ial/snake2.gif * * * GRASSWIRE ANTENNA: The GRASSWIRE another approach to hidden HF antennas by K3MT http://users.erols.com/k3mt/graswire/graswire.htm - - - This is a 'shorter' length antenna element with counterpoises to give it some directivity. OBTW: A 'copy' of the original Message and this Reply will be posted on the "SWL Antennas and AM & FM Antennas" eGroup on YAHOO ! GoTo= http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SWL-AM-FM-Antenna/ iane ~ RHF .. .. = = = "Peter" = = = wrote in message gers.com... Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? Thanks for your input. Pierre |
Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does
it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? Up to 3 Mhz it probably works better than a higher antenna. There is a beverage antenna which is highly directional and normally suspended 18 inches to 2 feet above the ground and aimed at the target station. It is also a quarter mile or more long. It was used in WW2 to listen to Jap AM stations from Hawaii. I built (?) an underground antenna boput 12" down many years ago, and as I recall it was very quiet. But interesetingly the drop in noise was greater than the drop in gain, so overall it was favotrable. Most of my DXing ws in the AM band. Your posting has made me think about a FRACTAL underground beverage. |
it sure does work! i use both the snake and the grasswire all the time.
in a high noise area like mine it actually works better than raising it up to power line level. last year a tornado took all of my antennas and i have not replaced them. i just use my wires laid right on the ground. |
The higher you put it the better.
Bill, N5NOB |
On Wed, 01 Oct 2003 16:46:20 GMT, "Peter"
wrote: Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? Thanks for your input. Pierre My 30 yard long random wire goes from the gutter @ 25 feet high down to a wooden post at the end of the yard. From there it goes another 20 yards at an average of 3 feet high. Works great compared to the whip. Fed with coax, I dont get household noise at all. While this setup works, gain is minimal. If all 30 yards were 9 feet high or better then I might get up to 6 db of gain. This site is worth a look: http://www.cebik.com/fdim/fdim8.html mike |
mike wrote:
My 30 yard long random wire goes from the gutter @ 25 feet high down to a wooden post at the end of the yard. From there it goes another 20 yards at an average of 3 feet high. Works great compared to the whip. Fed with coax, I dont get household noise at all. While this setup works, gain is minimal. If all 30 yards were 9 feet high or better then I might get up to 6 db of gain. Gain in a horizontal antenna is always associated with directivity. In order to have gain in some directions, you must have nulls in other directions. Unless the gain is in the direction of your target, it will do no good. Also, the directional pattern will be vary significantly with frequency. A good rule of thumb for a DX antenna (for good low-angle reception) is to install a horizontal antenna at least 1/2 wavelength above ground. At 15 MHz, that's about 33 feet. At 5 MHz, it's about 100 feet. You'll still hear plenty of signals with a mediocre antenna. A more efficient antenna will pick up more signal, but also more noise. However, a DIRECTIONAL antenna aimed in the desired direction WILL improve signal-to-noise ratio. That's because it will reject noise and other signals coming from other directions. Art N2AH |
Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does
it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? Pierre, Indeed you can just lay it on the ground, actually (many already know this) you can actually 'bury' your antenna and it will still work. If restrictions or lack of a tree are in your way, you always have the ground. I have one antenna that is 'on the ground' and has been for over two years and it had always worked extremley well for myself. I started with just 50ft. at first and now I think it is well over 700ft. pointed 'southwest.' What is the 'makeup' of your terrain may I ask. {?} -- ~*~*~Monitoring the Spectrum~*~*~ ***GO BEARCATS*** ~*~*~Oct.15th Payback Begins~*~*~*~ ~~~Hammarlund129X/140X~~~ **Heathkit Q Multiplier** GE P-780 |
I live in a townhouse with a tiny yard. I hate it and I can't wait to buy my
own house with a few acres of yard. I am considering ground antenna or putting it in the attic. I currently have it running around inside the bedroom but I get tons of static and hum. Pierre "dxlover" wrote in message t... Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? Pierre, Indeed you can just lay it on the ground, actually (many already know this) you can actually 'bury' your antenna and it will still work. If restrictions or lack of a tree are in your way, you always have the ground. I have one antenna that is 'on the ground' and has been for over two years and it had always worked extremley well for myself. I started with just 50ft. at first and now I think it is well over 700ft. pointed 'southwest.' What is the 'makeup' of your terrain may I ask. {?} -- ~*~*~Monitoring the Spectrum~*~*~ ***GO BEARCATS*** ~*~*~Oct.15th Payback Begins~*~*~*~ ~~~Hammarlund129X/140X~~~ **Heathkit Q Multiplier** GE P-780 |
People are now trying BOGs (Beverage On Ground) with much success.
"Peter" wrote in message ble.rogers.com... I live in a townhouse with a tiny yard. I hate it and I can't wait to buy my own house with a few acres of yard. I am considering ground antenna or putting it in the attic. I currently have it running around inside the bedroom but I get tons of static and hum. Pierre "dxlover" wrote in message t... Will a shortwave longwire antenna work if it is laid on the ground or does it have to be hung in the air from a tree or something similar? Pierre, Indeed you can just lay it on the ground, actually (many already know this) you can actually 'bury' your antenna and it will still work. If restrictions or lack of a tree are in your way, you always have the ground. I have one antenna that is 'on the ground' and has been for over two years and it had always worked extremley well for myself. I started with just 50ft. at first and now I think it is well over 700ft. pointed 'southwest.' What is the 'makeup' of your terrain may I ask. {?} -- ~*~*~Monitoring the Spectrum~*~*~ ***GO BEARCATS*** ~*~*~Oct.15th Payback Begins~*~*~*~ ~~~Hammarlund129X/140X~~~ **Heathkit Q Multiplier** GE P-780 |
| All times are GMT +1. The time now is 05:32 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
RadioBanter.com