If you are antenna challenged and need to keep a low profile, then a small gauge random wire is often the answer. However, if your shack is deep inside your …
Video Rating: 4 / 5

7 replies
  1. Sam Goldstein
    Sam Goldstein says:

    Thanks for sharing one more of your very well-done and informative videos
    Stan. I have learned a great deal just by watching your experiences with
    various radios, antennas, etc. Just wondering about the origin of the
    “53-27” rule. I’m going to duplicate your set-up one way or the other, just
    wondering where that particular reference came from. Thanks for your
    interest in mentoring others. 73 KJ6NYH Sam

    Reply
  2. NW7US
    NW7US says:

    Wonderful! I have been contemplating doing something much like this… or
    even a loop that is stealthy. I have an old marine-version SGC autotuner
    that is made for wet environments. I hope to deploy that sometime, much as
    you do. I did not know that rule (ratio for the counterpoise, antenna
    wire). Great video. Thank you for sharing. 73 de NW7US

    Reply
  3. John Porter
    John Porter says:

    I’ve done this when I lived in a townhouse and I worked some impressive DX
    with it. Pretty decent antenna for that type location. Thanks Stan!

    Reply
  4. stanscoyote
    stanscoyote says:

    Thank, Sam. I don’t know the origin of this “rule” and I doubt that it’s
    actually a “rule”. I think it’s just a combination of radiator/counterpoise
    that works well with most tuners (i.e., gives a decent SWR/bandwidth). I
    first heard about it on the Elecraft Reflector. Other similar “rules”
    abound such as the 85 foot radiator with a 17 foot counterpoise, etc. A
    Google search on random wire antennas will yield more than you really want
    to know 😉

    Reply
  5. WX9DX
    WX9DX says:

    Run your counterpoise to the rain gutter or mount the antenna tuner under
    the eve and hook it to the gutter for the ground side / counterpoise…This
    works great at our time share for me. My main wire goes out 1/4 wave on 75
    meters to an insulator and tunes all bands, while I’m on vacation. Also I
    use a spring on the main wire so it does not go down during a wind storm,
    with a wire around the spring, to short out the spring so it does not look
    like a choke. I tried it also with just a counterpoise wire but the rain
    gutter works better for radiated power into the air.
    73 Jimmy, ARRL TC, WX9DX

    Reply

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