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N3FNE (Pete)'s Blog

N3FNE (Pete)



N3FNE Posted 10 months

How Do I Design a Stealth Antenna?

I live in a subdivision with antenna restrictions – no permanent antennas can be affixed to the property except for satellite TV. Some of my ham friends have suggested putting up a flag pole antenna but the slope of my yard isn’t very conducive to that option plus I’d likely have to put it in the backyard, which would be an odd place for it. One of my neighbors can look directly into my backyard from his patio and another two could see wires above 10 feet, petty much ruling out dipoles. My wife asked “can’t you get something to crank up when you use it, and keep down in a box otherwise?” I’m thinking that might just be the answer. Could I get a telescoping antenna that I could pull up when in use and keep down in a box when not in use. The box could be kept on the patio. Ah, but what about the radial system. Would there be some kind of electronic counterpoise I could use instead, preferably that could be kept in the bottom of the box. I have a tuner so the antenna length would not be that critical and I usually run only 100w or less. I’m looking for ideas and suggestions that could flesh this out a little more for me. Anyone have experience with a set up that is similar to what I’m researching?

Comments (7) |
VK4YEH (Tim)
10 months ago

This could be your answer:

http://degood.org/coaxtrap/

If you have an attic and a non-metal roof it can be strung up in the eaves.

Otherwise, a magloop is a very effective antenna. A bit more tricky to build, and you have to watch the voltages at the capacitor – they can be in the kilovolts even with low power.

I have also heard of people stringing simple wire dipole just under the gutter of the house – even a G5RV might work there

Good luck

VK4YEH (Tim)
10 months ago

This could be your answer:

http://degood.org/coaxtrap/

If you have an attic and a non-metal roof it can be strung up in the eaves.

Otherwise, a magloop is a very effective antenna. A bit more tricky to build, and you have to watch the voltages at the capacitor – they can be in the kilovolts even with low power.

I have also heard of people stringing simple wire dipole just under the gutter of the house – even a G5RV might work there

Good luck

n6pz (Dave)
10 months ago

Random thoughts:
Use #22, or so, bare wire. It will not show, at least at night, and maybe not during daylight either.
Let the antenna drop to the ground during the day, or “reel” it back in during daylight hours or as needed.
I used one under the eves of the house successfully for some time. It can be done.
I live in a comparable community and have a 20m edz on roof, fed with 450 ohm twin lead. Loads on all bands.
Don’t forgt the ocf dipole. Clip the long leg onto it during evening hours as needed. Also, you can use a 20/80 leg ratio (80% feedpoint ocf dipole) and it works great, but you can use almost any leg length depending on freq/capability.
Experiment, ad infinitum.

KB2VYZ (Frank)
10 months ago

With stealth tools?!? All kidding aside, I reside in a two story townhouse, and my attic is only the size of my townhouse, so what I learned, that seemed to work the best, is a random wire antenna, which I was able to get outdoors. I do as well as any other 100 watt station, and can generally work everything I hear.

73 de Frank/KB2VYZ

KD0BIK (Jerry)
10 months ago

I’m using a 20m hamstick dipole on a 30’ push up telescoping pole. I’ve worked some pretty good DX with that setup. I raise and lower it as needed.

73,
Jerry

N3FNE (Pete)
10 months ago

Thanks for all the good ideas. Looks like I’ll be doing some experimenting with different antenna configurations to see what works best. I’ll blog about the results. 73 de Pete, N3FNE

KA6KBC (Bill)
10 months ago

Hi,

I have two suggestions:

a.) HomeBrew Tak Tenna

http://billbrwn.tripod.com/id3.html

b.) Stealth Dipole

http://billbrwn.tripod.com/id29.html

73’s – Bill – KA6KBC

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