Attic Ham Antenna

Bend the wires as much as necessary to make the dipole fit into the available space.

Attic ham antenna.

The fact is most guys who talk about attic antenna limitations are not serious to operate. The only concern with attic mounted antennas is the space available to you for mounting. On vhf a beam antenna can work well in the attic even a rotator can be used. If the top of the antenna touches the walls or roof the performance may be affected slightly.

The world is divided into operators and observers. 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. You will need a peak in your attic that is tall enough for the antenna to fit. But even if you can t put up an outdoor antenna you can still operate with antennas installed in an accessible attic space.

The kb9vbr 2 meter j pole antenna is 69 inches tall overall. Viewer request to try out an antenna for ham radio in the attic. Lots of amateurs in these situations are doing so successfully especially on hf. 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.

Again stay away from metal and wires to maintain your pattern. 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. Many hams who live in covenant protected neighborhoods like to mount antennas in the attic to keep them out of sight. For example you can install a wire dipole in almost any attic space.

Many hams including many of you reading this are limited by hoa or other outdoor antenna restrictions. Bare copper antenna wire stapled directly on wood rafters causes loss of rf signal energy. Many of these same hams would have other excuses if it were not for the antenna it would be something else. 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.

Don t worry if you lack the room to run the dipole in a straight line. The attic shortwave antenna wire this is the most importantaspect to improve. The lack of an external antenna is really an excuse for not taking action. 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.

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. Yes in the attic.