How to Install an Antenna for Shortwave Listening
Listening on the shortwave bands can provide hours of entertainment and information. An outside antenna helps receive low-power shortwave signals.
- Difficulty:
- Moderately Easy
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Center And End Insulators - Ham Radio Supplies
- Ground Wires
- Shortwave Radio Receivers
- Copper Rods
- Morse-code Instruction Software
- Aluminum Push-up Pole
- Corrosion-preventive Sprays
- Ropes
- Phillips Screwdrivers
- Cable Ties
- Copper Wire
- Electric Drill/assorted Bits
- Electrical Testers
- Metal Brackets
- Needle-nose Pliers
- Nut Drivers
- Pulleys
- Slotted Screwdrivers
- Solder
- Soldering Guns/irons
- Wire Nippers
- Wire-insulation Strippers
-
-
1
Check for zoning regulations and neighborhood covenants regarding outside antennas.
-
2
Decide where the antenna wire can be strung without crossing electric service lines or interfering with other services.
-
3
Consider stringing antenna in house attic to avoid the possibility of lightning striking and other weather damage.
-
4
Plan to bring antenna coax into area where shortwave radio will be kept. An attic gable or a crawl space vent will work.
-
5
Trim antenna wire into two elements of 23.5 feet each, which will make an antenna resonant at approximately 10 mHz (midpoint in active shortwave band).
-
6
Obtain a 30-foot push-up pole, if needed, to use as support mast.
-
7
Attach pulley to top of support mast.
-
8
Feed rope through pulley.
-
9
Erect support mast.
-
10
Secure support mast to dwelling.
-
11
Coat center insulator connection points with anti-corrosion treatment.
-
12
Attach coax to center insulator.
-
13
Attach antenna elements to center insulator.
-
14
Raise center insulator to mast peak with rope and pulley assembly.
-
15
Tie end insulators to end of antenna elements.
-
16
Stretch antenna elements out and affix to end supports.
-
17
Tie off end insulators to end supports.
-
18
Feed coax through opening and into dwelling.
-
19
Use cable ties to secure coax on its run to radio.
-
20
Attach coax connector to radio.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Because a shortwave antenna is a receiving rather than a transmitting antenna, it can be constructed of lighter-gauge wire.
Many shortwave listeners stretch wire along house gables and avoid putting up a center support mast.
An attic antenna can be a workable compromise.
"More is better" or so many shortwave fans think. You can experiment by stretching out a longer length of wire. Simply disconnect the end insulators, solder (or tie) on an additional length of wire and reinstall the end insulators.
Consider grounding your receiver to reduce radio-frequency noise.
Remember to disconnect an outdoor antenna during thunderstorms. No ground is perfect protection against lightning.
Always keep any antenna away from electric service lines.
Related Searches
Comments
-
arbyrd01
Jun 03, 2008
Thanks for a really well put together article. I have been collecting old tube-type antique radios for about two years, and just bought a nice Hallicrafters SW 500 that needs an antenna. Of all the mysteries of DXing, the antenna has always been the biggest, most puzzling for me. Your how-to makes it simple enough for even me to understand. I'll share it with my friends. -
arbyrd01
Jun 03, 2008
Thanks for a really well put together article. I have been collecting old tube-type antique radios for about two years, and just bought a nice Hallicrafters SW 500 that needs an antenna. Of all the mysteries of DXing, the antenna has always been the biggest, most puzzling for me. Your how-to makes it simple enough for even me to understand. I'll share it with my friends.
