HF vertical or indoor antenna

[lambrettadave]

I was thinking about buying a HF vertical antenna as I don't have a garden and don't have much room for a long wire either

[MrWeetabix]

Hi Dave, do you have any garden at all?

Do you use a radio with an ATU or Are you looking to build a singleband vertical?

[lambrettadave]

Just a back yard but it isn't very long.

The radio has a built in atu

[MrWeetabix]

what sort of budget do you have and how sensitive are your neighbours? considering a combination of both factors will give us an idea what your after. haha

[SgtBilko302]

Hi Dave. If you have a favourite band to operate on choose an antenna that suits your needs / budget.
If it's just an HF vertical for any band, then i would recommend the Hustler 6 BTV. I used one for years and worked as far as Tasmania, Far East and the American continent. Ground mounted with a couple of wire radials.
If the bands are 18 - 30mhz save your cash and get an I-Max.

Paul.

[MrWeetabix]

I use an Imax for 18-20 with the tuner in the radio and get decent results.

If you just want something very budget for the lower bands then a Snowdonia 360 will get you on the air, but essentially its just a 9:1 balun bolted to the bottom of a CB silver rod (a crude description I know but just about right). You could buy/build a balun yourself, get a cheap Fibregless pole and string some wire up the middle to essential give you the same thing

This is similar to the 360 I had in mind

https://www.radioworld.co.uk/sigma-euro ... 68QAvD_BwE

[ch25]

Get CG-3000, as long wire as you can. Vertical or horizontal.
That HF-X80 is just a dummy load. Most of the power is converted to heat. Don't bother.
Chris

[MrWeetabix]

Get CG-3000, as long wire as you can. Vertical or horizontal.
That HF-X80 is just a dummy load. Don't bother.
Chris

Like I said Chris, they are just a 9:1 balun on a silver rod..... not great, but will get him on the air with an ATU if budget is an issue

personally if money is an object, try building your own ant :-)

[ch25]

Advantage of CG3000 is that it makes your antenna resonant, radiating max power.
Opposite to internal ATU which just protect finals from failure, but antenna is still way out of tune.
Chris

[MrWeetabix]

Advantage of CG3000 is that it makes your antenna resonant, radiating max power.
Opposite to internal ATU which just protect finals from failure, but antenna is still way out of tune.
Chris

If he has £300 to spend then it could be an option....

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114302079284

[14CS06]

Hello

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=57796

@+
Claude

[lambrettadave]

Would a wire antenna be ok in the attic?

What I mean is will it work ok

[ch25]

If roof is not conductive, sure. Tin roof, forget it.

[lambrettadave]

Attic is made up of wood and slate tiles

[ch25]

Not bad. Won't work as good as in free space, but worth trying since wire is cheap.