Attic Ham Antenna

Many of these same hams would have other excuses if it were not for the antenna it would be something else.

Attic ham antenna.

For example you can install a wire dipole in almost any attic space. Again stay away from metal and wires to maintain your pattern. The ge 20431 futura outdoor indoor attic tv antenna is one of the best looking options on the market. With time bare copper oxidizes the wood where the wire is tightly stapled to absorbs some of this oxidization and forms a loose yet lossy bond with the wire.

Lots of amateurs in these situations are doing so successfully especially on hf. Many hams who live in covenant protected neighborhoods like to mount antennas in the attic to keep them out of sight. The fact is most guys who talk about attic antenna limitations are not serious to operate. If the top of the antenna touches the walls or roof the performance may be affected slightly.

Many hams including many of you reading this are limited by hoa or other outdoor antenna restrictions. Yes in the attic. Don t worry if you lack the room to run the dipole in a straight line. On hf wire beams can be run on the roof supports or the rafters these usually are good for one direction only but can be switched electrically for different coverage.

The height of your antenna may be limited by your attic s apex and some signal attenuation may be expected from roof materials so an antenna that exhibits some gain may be desirable. Need lots of room keep them away from metal objects like heaters and ducts wire antennas can be run near the peak of the roof inside the attic bent in odd shapes to match the space available. Bend the wires as much as necessary to make the dipole fit into the available space. You will need a peak in your attic that is tall enough for the antenna to fit.

Thanks david for the insulators first to comment below i ll send you an insulator in the mail. Attics are great locations for indoor antennas. Attic antennas many types of antenna can be mounted in the attic if you don t have radiant barrier tech shield. It s a long way from the rabbit ear designs you might think of when picturing indoor antennas and much cooler looking than the metal contraptions often found outdoors.

The lack of an external antenna is really an excuse for not taking action. Bare copper antenna wire stapled directly on wood rafters causes loss of rf signal energy. The kb9vbr 2 meter j pole antenna is 69 inches tall overall. But even if you can t put up an outdoor antenna you can still operate with antennas installed in an accessible attic space.

Viewer request to try out an antenna for ham radio in the attic. The attic shortwave antenna wire this is the most importantaspect to improve. On vhf a beam antenna can work well in the attic even a rotator can be used.