Classic Hifi Care

Don't mention an external antenna. The HOA snitches would see that in a heartbeat and it would have to come down. I tried running one between the house and the shop, running thru a window. No bueno. The wife ixnayed that plan. An attic antenna is low on the list of possibility since I don't want to drill a hole in the ceiling of the shop. So it has to be something that I can string along the top of the room. I have a sorta-okay one now, but I think I can do better, and it's ugly. Antennas (antennae?) are not my strong suite. Ideas?

In my former house, I ran an antenna in the attic under the rafters, and led it through the plaster to a thumb-screw terminal mounted in a wood block in the ceiling. That let me seal it well to prevent heat loss.

But if you're dead set against a hole, build a loop antenna. I'll see if I've got the plans scanned into this computer, or a photo. It works inductively--set the radio in the middle-- or hard-wired. I've got a good old Philco AM portable sitting inside mine for listening to WSM in Saturday nights. I'll look for the plans and post them separately.

Chris Campbell

Plans. I'll try to send photos of mine later.

Chris Campbell

Thanks, Chris! I'll print that out and see what I can do. That looks like a size I can manage in my small shop. I have no idea what the mathematical equations are.

In my fringe area, I have had good luck with a set of old rabbit ears.

Bill

The calculations don't matter--just make a 24" x 24" frame of 1x6, make 14 cuts in each corner 3/8" apart, Wind 14 turns of #22 insulated wire, add the tuning cap from an old AM radio, and you're good to go.

I used pine and amber shellac on it, added mahogany feet for elegance. I added the single turn for a wired connection--hooked it up with twinlead and one of those clothespin-type antenna clips.

Bill, this is tuned for the AM band. Rabbit ears are typically cut for the VHF TV and FM bands,.

I just looked for photos again--must be on another camera chip; will look for them when I go home.

Chris Campbell

Chris, I realized that after I hit submit and then was too lazy to delete it.

Bill