"random wire" and the KX3 ATU

[n0nuf]

Thanks everyone for setting me straight... In this case, 'random'
truly means random... In the 10 years I have been away from Ham Radio
I have become, well, less than fluent with antennas. hihi.

So, using the K3/100 with the built in AT, how would you construct an
antenna using a short piece of coax from the radio to a "coax/ladder
line" interface (or some PL-259 adapter capable of 100W+) , then 450
ohm ladder line some 40-50' to where you would attach the 'antenna'
and 'radial' leads? Or is there a better design?

I am looking for a reliable 40m and up antenna that I can use in an
attic or hidden on top of a house. I think 75-80' total
circumference/length would be pushing it. I have to fold the current
40m part of my dipole around the attic with no bends greater than 90
deg. I am currently using a homebrew 'fan' dipole. 47' RG8U to a 1:1
balun. Then the 40m ( 63' ? / 2 ) of 10ga wire off each lug. Also have
20m leads coming off the balun as well. RX is ok on this dual band
ant, but nothing to hop around about. Very noisy as well. The K3 tuner
tunes it ok on most frequencies. Need something better.

Anyone have ideas/suggestions? I was looking at the random wire with
about 75' on the red and 40' or so on the black. Wondered if I would
get better performance out of the random wire? Again, any better
thoughts or ideas?

Thanks in advance and thanks to those who responded previously.
Scott - n0nuf
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[Cookie]

Scott, if you want the magic antenna that is easy to build, easy to install and cheap, give up now.  Any conductor will radiate to some extent and the excellent antenna tuner in the K3 will load almost anything but there are reasons why contesters buy acres of land and spend tens of thousand or more on the antenna farm.  There Are reasons why we have libraries of many books that we have read several times.  You can't cheat the laws of Physics!

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 27, 2012, at 16:24, Scott Graham <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
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[Mike WA8BXN]

Hi Scott,
 
Any indoor (or laying on the roof) antenna is going to pick up lots of noise
from all the electrical stuff in the house. What you want to do will have a
unique solution depending on just what your physical environment is, so what
has worked for someone else may or may not work well for you.
 
If at all possible, get your wire outside the house. You will get less noise
and your transmission will be less likely to affect anything in the house.
Perhaps you could describe more clearly the size of your lot and house, what
trees and other supports there may be in the yard and why you think you have
to have an inside antenna. With more information we can better suggest
things or comment on what you are thinking of trying.
Some have been creative in finding antennas, like using the gutter system as
an antenna. Others hide verticals in flag poles. Outside wire antennas are
really easy to make next to invisible.
 
Another possibility to consider is using a mobile antenna on your car parked
halfway down your drive with coax running to the house. A lot of people run
HF mobile and get a lot of contacts.
 
73 - Mike WA8BXN
 
 
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