Wayne, like many members of this list, I've been right in your shoes. Like the previous posters, I'd recommend getting your wire outside. Here's a specific recommendation:
While waiting for your radio to come, build a 4:1 unun. Here's a website with instructions: http://www.pcsystems-ss.co.uk/g7lrrweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=52&MMN_position=77:37 I'm guessing you're on an upstairs floor, but that's okay. Run coax from your rig to the unun. Then run a single wire out the window to the farthest, highest tree limb you can reach (see below). This goes to the "hot" side of the unun. For the cold side, make a counterpoise. Cut three or more wires in various lengths from 10' to about 30' and drape them out the window, in the gutters, on the garage roof, or whatever. The counterpoise will be your RF ground, but you also need a good DC ground. There's plenty of info on this reflector about that. With the right counterpoise and a properly-built unun, your ATU will match the wire perfectly on all the bands for which it's long enough, and you won't have any RF in the shack. To get a wire in the tree, you can use various gizmos. I rigged up a slingshot to shoot a weight which pulls fishing mono from a spinning reel. This will get a line up about 40 - 50 feet. See radioworks.com for some advice on shooting lines into trees. This setup sounds a bit hokey, but it works. If your wire is long enough, it will even provide gain over a dipole. I am just one of many who have used such an arrangement for lots of DX exploits. For example, my barefoot K3 worked 100 countries in 100 QSOs in 24 hours last month; I also have 40 zones, 300 countries, etc. etc. This is not to say that it is better than a 3-element wide-spaced Yagi, but it's a hell of a lot better than a wire in the attic. 73, Tony KT0NY ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
