Re: [IRCA] Small indoor terminated loop antenna article now available

["Craig Healy" <bubba@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Living in a small townhouse with all of its restrictions on antennas, a
> good EWE, Super Loop or other highly directional terminated antenna was
> always just a dream, until I discovered that such antennas can be placed
> indoors with good results.

Just for grins I made one in my computer room.  The top wire was wedged
underneath the molding at the ceiling and the bottom wire run underneath the
forced hot water pipe.  Initially I used a 450:50 ohm balun on one lower
corner and a 2500 ohm pot on the other lower corner.  Roughly 7 feet high
and 18 feet long.  Initially I tried a 7x13 foot on another wall, but this
was markedly better.

This could be adjusted to significantly lower the ambient noise level, as
well as many of the locals.  Reception of some of the distant clears was
quite decent compared to the usual noise battles.  Due to the orientation
(SE-NW) there were no TA hets and darn few South American and Caribbean
stations.  Just getting rid of most Cuban stations was a big plus.

Tonight I modified it.  I took out the 2500 ohm pot and put in another
identical 450:50 ohm balun.  Both baluns were then connected with identical
RG-58 cables to the DX Engineering phaser.  One huge benefit was that I
could then drop the noise level down about 20db.  And, I could null a number
of locals down to the noise floor.  Some couldn't be nulled, but most could
be dropped to the point where they didn't splatter adjacents.

The wire on this antenna is essentially invisible.  When the weather
improves, I may build one outside.  What I'll do is run a wire up the corner
of one of the outside walls of the house, along the top edge of the siding
and down another corner.  It'll make a good sized rectangle.  Then run a
wire along the bottom of the siding at the foundation.  I will use the same
baluns and run coax in the house.  An advantage to this is that the antenna
could be made invisible.  When someone lives in a place that forbids outside
antennas, this might work.

Craig Healy
Providence, RI


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