Stealth gutter antenna for ham radio or shortwave.
Rain gutter shortwave antenna.
In hopes of finding a low profile antenna for shortwave listening the rain gutter and downspout on the back porch were tried as a random length antenna.
Very simple and the system worked for me.
I did a quick coax run to the outside gutter and grounded the braided side then connected the feedline to an old mfj tuner.
A couple of years ago i had written an article on the use of my rain gutter on my home as my hf antenna.
Second article on the rain gutter antenna.
The rain gutter antenna has a vertical component approximately 25 high and extends horizontally across the roof line for 35.
Also an effective hf performer.
These aluminum gutters are made of 0 032 inch thick material and have an equivalent cross sectional area about the same as size 00 awg wire.
They do not reach the ground but go into plastic pipe so they are not grounded but was wondering the best way to try this as an antenna.
Mine was a mfj travel tuner.
Another hf rain gutter antenna connection.
This is the antenna i have been relegated to use for my hf operating.
I have wanted to try this for a while but never got around to it until today.
This one is used primarily as a shortwave receive antenna.
The results have been surprisingly good for shortwave listening using the crane ccradiosw shortwave receiver.
I have used just about every kind of material for an antenna for shortwave listening that would conduct a radio frequency including window frames bed springs rain gutters conduit aluminum tubing coffee cans soldered together old cb antennas tv antennas curtain rods copper tubing aluminum trim from kitchen counter tops and on and on.
Unlike gregg s gutter antenna the spout and long horizontal section were made from plastic.
I was surprised that the gutter tuned up at a.
After reading shortwave monitoring they were talking about stealth antennas.
Well i live in a ranch style home that has wooden roof with shingles but has an aluminum flashing around the bottom as well as metal gutters and downspouts.
Pic courtesy of n6cc website.
First you have to use a tuner.
