I’m looking for some advice about selecting an antenna. I live in an apartment, so I can’t install anything permanent and can’t anchor anything to the house. There is a small backyard about 30ftx30ft, some arborvitaes but no strong trees. My radio is on the second floor. There are also two-story houses behind and on either side. I am currently a technician, planning to upgrade to general in the next few months. Right now I’m mostly interested in 10m and 20m, would also like 2m to reach my local repeater. I plan to use SSB and digital modes. Some possible options I’ve come up with: using a stand like this https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/wmo-18320 with a mast to put up an inverted V, but I haven’t done the measurements and math to see what the angle would be; my initial instinct is that it’s too sharp of an angle to be effective. I also looked at this https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/dxc-expedition or https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/but-hf9v, but I don’t have good line-of-sight with all the houses. I could do the mast stand and a mast with something like this https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/mkr-11-251.

  • BenDoubleU
    4·
    15 小时前

    Those are all great options for sure. And while not an exact answer to your question, you could maybe go a bit simpler (and cheaper) for just 2, 10, & 20m like an end fed half wave.

    Thoughts on how you’ll run it to your second floor?

    • I_am_10_squirrels@beehaw.orgOP
      2·
      15 小时前

      I currently have an end fed half wave for 10 meter. I’ve been able to receive fairly well, picking up beacons from Australia (I’m in Washington state), but haven’t been able to make contacts. I just ordered a nanoVNA so I can check the swr with the feed line.

      For the feed line, I’m planning to make a feedthrough window insert using some thin plywood and barrel connectors. I’ll put some mason line on the plywood so I can lower it to the ground during storms, raise it up to the window and connect when I’m operating.