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What's a good portable antenna for an apartment?

R

Radio-X

Guest
I was thinking a double 1/2 wave dipole (like, 69 inches) by a window. This would be hooked up to an antenna amp into a Magnum-Dynalab MD-101.

Is this a better setup than a pair of rabbit ears?

Radio-X<P ID="signature">______________
[No comment]</P>
 
Are we talking a TV antenna or radio?<P ID="signature">______________
The 2006 New York Yankees...on to title #27!</P>
 
> Are we talking a TV antenna or radio?
>
radio

Radio-X<P ID="signature">______________
[No comment]</P>
 
> > Are we talking a TV antenna or radio?
> >
> radio
>
> Radio-X

Two things that have a potential to work:

(1) Archer omnidirectional antenna (looks like a discus on a base). It is actually an amplified loop antenna!

(2) Godar antenna - log periodic in a small case that still has efficiency at 100 MHz.
 
> > > Are we talking a TV antenna or radio?
> > >
> > radio
> >
> > Radio-X
>
> Two things that have a potential to work:
>
> (1) Archer omnidirectional antenna (looks like a discus on
> a base). It is actually an amplified loop antenna!
>
> (2) Godar antenna - log periodic in a small case that still
> has efficiency at 100 MHz.
>
When I was in college, I made a quarter-wave ground plane. I took a 4x4 board and cut in a square to support the elements. I drilled 3 holes for 33 inch long aluminum rods to form a tripod extending downward from the block of wood. Next, drilled a hole in the middle of the block of wood and inserted a 31 inch radiator sticking up in the middle. I ran wire between each of the tripod radials to connect them electrically and connected the shield of the coax to them. The 31 inch radiator sticking up vertially was connected to the center conductor.
This antenna worked very well for me. It was nice because it is self-supporting so I could move it around the room to find the best signal.
I gave another one for someone to put in their attic and he could listen to stations 60 miles away routinely.

People thought I was slightly nuts for having it because of the way it looks but it worked. I know antenna purists would say that it doesn't have any gain or directivity or full 88-108 flat response bandwidth blah blah blah but I liked it. It's also quite cheap (starving college student) and took me 30 minutes or so to make.

Trick_Magnet
 
> > > > Are we talking a TV antenna or radio?
> > > >
> > > radio
> > >
> > > Radio-X
> >
> > Two things that have a potential to work:
> >
> > (1) Archer omnidirectional antenna (looks like a discus
> on
> > a base). It is actually an amplified loop antenna!
> >
> > (2) Godar antenna - log periodic in a small case that
> still
> > has efficiency at 100 MHz.
> >
> When I was in college, I made a quarter-wave ground plane.
> I took a 4x4 board and cut in a square to support the
> elements. I drilled 3 holes for 33 inch long aluminum rods
> to form a tripod extending downward from the block of wood.
> Next, drilled a hole in the middle of the block of wood and
> inserted a 31 inch radiator sticking up in the middle. I ran
> wire between each of the tripod radials to connect them
> electrically and connected the shield of the coax to them.
> The 31 inch radiator sticking up vertially was connected to
> the center conductor.
> This antenna worked very well for me. It was nice because
> it is self-supporting so I could move it around the room to
> find the best signal.
> I gave another one for someone to put in their attic and he
> could listen to stations 60 miles away routinely.
>
> People thought I was slightly nuts for having it because of
> the way it looks but it worked. I know antenna purists
> would say that it doesn't have any gain or directivity or
> full 88-108 flat response bandwidth blah blah blah but I
> liked it. It's also quite cheap (starving college student)
> and took me 30 minutes or so to make.
>
> Trick_Magnet
>
If you have an old indoor TV antenna the type where when you take the rods out it has a screw connect the wire straight to the rod. I would take a wire, about 18 gauge wire will do, I would go with stranded as well, take some loop terminals, strip the wires back about a quarter of an inch and place the wire in the terminal and crimp the connection. Connect the terminal under the screw and connect the screw back in the rod. Next you will need to take a ground clamp and clamp it to the top of a five-ten foot conduit pipe. Remember you will need to leave about 50 inches of space above the conduit pipe so if you have low celings you can cut the conduit to size. Put the antenna between the conduit and the clamp to hold the antenna to the pipe. Raise the rod up and check and makesure you have enough clearence from the top of the pipe to the top of the antenna rod so you can move if nessary. I have also used T shape antennas and works really well if you have it up high enough.

Hope that this helps
and good luck on experimenting
DXER1 <P ID="signature">______________
"I'm a gonna go to hell when I die!" Connan O'Brien

"yay boo, yay boo, it's lots of fun to do, if ya like it holler yay, and if ya don't ya holler boo!"

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