I recently read somewhere where, and please don't laugh, someone actually
used a metal slinky toy as an antenna in just your situation. He said that
he simply let it drop out a window for DX'ing and when he was done, just
pulled it back in.

I've never heard of how successful it was, but it may be cheap and fun way
to experiment.

73's,
Todd
KB3KNV

I recently read somewhere where, and please don't laugh, someone actually
used a metal slinky toy as an antenna in just your situation.

What's to laugh at? The Slinky-as-antenna concept has been around for a LONG
time, and has many, many proponents in the SW and amateur realm. Do a search
for 'slinky antenna' on google or your favorite engine, see how many hits you
garner.
I've experimented with Slinky antennas in the past, but more out of curiousity
than outright need (I use a 75" sloper and a large horizontal loop 'skywire',
about 200" a side, for my outdoor antennas) but they can be rewarding antennas.
For about a year I had an indoor Slinky antenna 'loop' running around the
ceiling in my room, all four walls. When storms or wind were howling outside,
or in snowy conditions (blowing snow and sand can cause a LOT of static
build-up on a longer wire antenna!) I could still do some rather nice listening
without fear of frying my radios. Worked pretty well on my scanners, too.
And you're right, it's cheap and it's fun!
Linus

The U.S. Navy used them for transmitting from ships in the 50's........hung
from the rigging vertical.
"Macman" wrote in message
...
I recently read somewhere where, and please don't laugh, someone actually
used a metal slinky toy as an antenna in just your situation. He said
that
he simply let it drop out a window for DX'ing and when he was done, just
pulled it back in.

I've never heard of how successful it was, but it may be cheap and fun way
to experiment.

73's,
Todd
KB3KNV

The U.S. Navy used them for transmitting from ships in the 50's........ hung
from the rigging vertical.

Yeah, sure. Only if some ham was bootlegging. At that time, ham operation
wasn't allowed on Navy vessels.

Bill, K5BY

check it out . I have the book somewhere and try to find it. It states it
was used by the Navy for transmitting military frequencies, not amateur.
"WShoots1" wrote in message
...
The U.S. Navy used them for transmitting from ships in the 50's........
hung
from the rigging vertical.

Yeah, sure. Only if some ham was bootlegging. At that time, ham operation
wasn't allowed on Navy vessels.

Bill, K5BY

check it out . I have the book somewhere and try to find it. It states it
was used by the Navy for transmitting military frequencies, not amateur.

I'll certainly try to do that. The reason for my doubt is that, in the 1950s, I
worked on Navy comm systems, in a factory and on some ships while working in
shipyards. Vessels ranged from tugs, landing craft, and minesweepers to a
cruiser.

Bill, K5BY

The book I am referring to was published about 1959, and dealt with variable
types of vertical antennas. I have recently moved and will be attempting to
locate it in about 206 boxes of books. I am sorry if I have offended you,
sir, it was not my intent.
"WShoots1" wrote in message
...
check it out . I have the book somewhere and try to find it. It
states it
was used by the Navy for transmitting military frequencies, not amateur.


I'll certainly try to do that. The reason for my doubt is that, in the
1950s, I
worked on Navy comm systems, in a factory and on some ships while working
in
shipyards. Vessels ranged from tugs, landing craft, and minesweepers to a
cruiser.

Bill, K5BY

The book I am referring to was published about 1959, and dealt with variable
types of vertical antennas. I have recently moved and will be attempting to
locate it in about 206 boxes of books. I am sorry if I have offended you, sir,
it was not my intent.

Oh no, Gregory. You haven't offended me. In fact, I was probably too blunt. But
I am very interested. Remember me and post what you find, whenever you finally
get a chance to go through your books. I'll look for Subject: Slinky Navy
Antenna.

When I moved here 12 years ago, I downsized by a factor of 4, so I had to give
up a lot of my books. (Sob!) That was my last move ever. At age 73, I can say
that with assurance -- unless a hurricane or fire takes me out. G

Anyhow, maybe in the meantime, I might find something on the Internet about
slinky Navy antennas. All the vertical HF antennas I'd been aware of was the
common 33-foot vertical, plus the discone-discage. Even the 2-3 Mhz tug boat
rigs fed those 33-footers, using a VHF type of coax -- 4-inch copper pipe
"shield" with a 1/4-inch copper tubing "center conductor." LOL

Oh and I suggested to Navy design in Philly, in 1960, to turn part of the
"sail" of a sub into an antenna embedded in fiberglass for HF, to overcome the
problem of having to wait until the sal****er drained off the 33-foot vertical'
insulator before transmitting. I underestand they did. Oh, and I was offered a
GS-9 job then as reward for that and for a field test I'd conducted of an
antenna multicoupler. (The latter had flaws.) I turned it down because my
current employer then gave me an opportunity to go to work with big digital
computers.

Best wishes in your new abode,
Bill, K5BY