Over the years I've done a fair bit of operating from inside apartments. My tactic was to get as much wire up as high as possible while still being unobtrusive. I was running 10 watts or less, CW.
In one location I had a tree about 20 feet away from a window at my operating desk. I slipped a fine wire out of the window (so I could still close it) and hooked it to some fishing line leader which I then tossed into the tree, succeeding in getting it about 20 feet above the ground. It was not visible and survived some surprising winds. Worked it against a counterpoise made from fine white wire held along the (apartment white) wall with pushpins. Where I had a 2nd (top) floor unit, I had good success with a thin white wire 'doublet' tacked onto the wall near the ceiling with the two halves running as nearly in opposite directions as possible I was able to get about 50 feet of wire up that way and made a lot of contacts including some DX. Of course being indoors brings you closer to all sources of noise and, depending upon the construction of the building a certain amount of "shielding". One apartment building had a flat roof. The manager okayed me installing a simple antenna on the roof. It never hurts to ask. In another top floor location I discovered I had an attic access door in one closet, so I installed a "doublet" in the attic just under the roof rafters. Got a full half wave on 40 in that space with a bend in each half. The "feeder" was open wire - thin white wires that passed through two tiny holes in the ceiling next to the wall at my operating position and down to the rig. It worked beautifully on 40 through 10 meters. On that one when I moved I never got into the attic space to remove the antenna, insulators, etc. I just cut the feeder at the ceiling and filled the tiny holes. Eventually someone needing to do work in the attic probably scratched their head wondering what that was - unless they were a Ham. 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Robert 'RC' Conley Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2017 6:16 AM To: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] (OT redoux) MAG LOOP ANTENNAS Guys; I'm anticipating a move to a seniors villa and I know I will be unable to to take my antenna farm and most of the ham shack. I've decided on my KX2 with ATU (grab-n go). A MAG LOOP should allow indoor operations at QRP power levels.Thanks for your thoughts. 73 KC5WA -- May You Live Long and Prosper.... what's life without a few dragons.... ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to r...@elecraft.com ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
