| Author |
Message |
    
I Am Canadian (Unregistered Guest)
Unregistered guest
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 22, 2004 - 4:29 pm: | 
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I live on the 3rd story of an apartment building with metal railings and there is about 7-8 feet from my balcony to the balcony above. The questions I have are as follows: I want the best possible setup for my location. Radio is a Uniden PC-68LTW. I am restricted in the setups allowed. I am not allowed to have anything dangling from the balcony, but I am able to securely mount anything on the railings, as long as it does not interfere with my neighbours above and below. Which antenna should I buy? I have read about the indoor and balcony style antennas, but I hear they are not very good. I want to be heard throughout the city, if possible without using an amplifier.
Would a 102" whip, mounted to the balcony be a good idea? What about a No Ground Antenna from Firestik? What other base antennas are there that would fit what I am looking for?
Can anyone suggest any alternatives?
I would really like to get up and running as soon as possible.
Thank you all in advance,
Mark |
Kid_vicious
Member
Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 87
Registered: 9-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 12:18 am: |
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you are kanookian, (j/k)
i hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but pretty much any antenna you mount in that location is going to cause interference to your neighbors. any thing you could put up on the roof will work ok, but anywhere below that and youre going to cause trouble.
you need to get a dipole antenna, (or make one) and string it up horizontally as high up as you can. this is your best bet and the only antenna that is going to allow you to get out at all.
sorry, hope this helps.
matt |
Coyote
Junior Member
Username: Coyote
Post Number: 39
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, December 23, 2004 - 7:45 am: |
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Use a filter to minimize or eliminate any interference. |
Lonestarbandit
Member
Username: Lonestarbandit
Post Number: 62
Registered: 10-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 5:57 am: |
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ive got a 102 plus spring on 2nd story apt railing not a good solution i can apparentl;y talk MUCH farther then i can hear....not really a good thing as i cant even hear across town thereby angering locals that think im stepping on them on purpose...ive since explained my aligator station but still....102 needs good groundplane and in the apt railing situation it doesnt have it. althought im running around 200 watts out of a kl 203 and the only thing i bleed on is my own pc and i have rabbit ears tv lol. love those mosfets.... |
Mikefromms
Advanced Member
Username: Mikefromms
Post Number: 966
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 7:44 pm: |
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Cut you a 48 inch square piece of sheet metal (don't get cut), then put use something like a Wilson 1000 magnet mount-mounted in the metal of the sheet metal. This antenna is only 64" tall. It is a real performer and not as unsightly as a 102" whip. The sheet metal provides a groundplane like on your car. an additional ground wire screwed to the antenna or sheet metal and terminated at a grounding site might help with interference. It would be nice to get it as high as possible.
Mikefromms |
Starface
Senior Member
Username: Starface
Post Number: 1009
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 9:14 pm: |
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you be better off going mobile,Can even put an amp and be heard all over town and drive away from the apt not to couse any TVI or RF on anyone.
in the long run you'll save money and not have to worry about not getting out.
Keeping good neighbours is the best thing and not getting kicked out of your home is another.
Starface
KI4NBE
CEF476
CVC14
Ham181
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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire
Post Number: 2150
Registered: 1-2005
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 9:34 pm: |
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Mark, I have a suggestion! Take a look at what MFJ has to offer. They have a wide variety of dipole antennas and apartment balcony antennas. The MFJ apartment antenna covers 10 thru 40 meters HF plus 2 thru 6 meter vhf. Whatever band you use you would have to tune the antenna of course but its easy. It has a big bug catcher style load on it. Just mounts to you balcony or window sill. Another idea, MFJ has a wide variety of single band and multi band dipoles. The single band dipole you would specify what band you want when ordering. You hang these long dipoles up around the top of your walls near the ceiling and best of all the are pretty much "hang and play"! Of course a tweak here and there and they work really well. Now your not going to get performance of a 5 element beam on a tower but you will be able to work some exciting DX no problem!
Take your time and decide what setup is right for you. Install it well and you will be on the air in no time!
Do a search for the "MFJ 2007 ham catalog".
Kenny
cef491(27.115lsb)
2sf491(27.555usb)
Indiana
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405
Junior Member
Username: 405
Post Number: 12
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 10:58 pm: |
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A lot of hams use a Bilal " Isotron " antenna in situations such as yours. They can be easily mounted on a short piece of metal pipe or even PVC tubing and attached to the railing. There is a counterpoise that you adjust for lowest SWR. The total length is only about 16 inches. Very stealthy! They will handle 200 watts. The polarization is random [vertical or horizontal]. I have used them for years in various locations and have one at 20 feet, just below my dual band J-pole ham antenna. I use a antenna tuner with mine so as to be able to use it on 10 meters or 11 meters. Isotrons are unusual, but do work in restricted areas. Not to be compared to a 3 element beam or 5/8 vertical, but they do get you on the air. |
Slugo4449
Intermediate Member
Username: Slugo4449
Post Number: 145
Registered: 7-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, December 30, 2006 - 11:32 pm: |
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Why not just get another 102" whip and tack it onto the grounded part of the mount. That is your counterpoise. 1/4 wave radiator and a 1/4 wave counterpoise. Simple and basic.
Marty |
Tech833
Moderator
Username: Tech833
Post Number: 1569
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 31, 2006 - 11:50 am: |
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405 has a great suggestion!
I would like to include another. The AEA isoloop. Mount it to the railing sitcking out away from it, and you will have very good coverage in the directions away from the building. So-so to nil coverage 'through' the building (same with ANY setup on a balcony).
No ego to get in the way, no lengthy signature line to bore you... Just the facts.
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Revpo
Intermediate Member
Username: Revpo
Post Number: 121
Registered: 7-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 03, 2007 - 11:06 pm: |
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I talked to a guy using an ISOTRON the other day on 11 meters, he had it on his back porch and running barefoot with his Galaxie on ssb he said he gets 20 miles all the time, you might check into that antenna
73
revpo/CEF 795
73
REVPO/DOCTOR/CEF 795
Wavin a hand from the cornfields of INDIANA
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Assaulter
Member
Username: Assaulter
Post Number: 56
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, May 26, 2011 - 7:09 pm: |
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"you need to get a dipole antenna, (or make one) and string it up horizontally as high up as you can. this is your best bet and the only antenna that is going to allow you to get out at all. "
Um...no.
Sirio makes a couple of antennas for balconys that are dipole-ish, not to mention they're vertical. MFJ Makes a magnetic loop - overpriced but epic win. A 102" whip with ground radials would work as well. |
