NEW HOME, NEW ANTENNAS
Its been 10 months since we've moved to our new home in NC (Long: 34.210293 Lat:-78.057048, FM04xf 30dl). And I finally got to find a path to our attic to install antennas. Not the best scenario of course, but necessary for my QTH. I'm in an HOA! I'm running QRP levels for now. I know, I know.... its 3 strikes against me, but not impossible! It'll all evolve. /p will also be a mode of operation, Plenty of outdoor spaces to choose frombeach, parks, and wooded trails near water.
Two antennas are now run to the attic. A J-Pole for 2 M, and a Norcal doublet for 40M - 10M. I may experiment with some Slinky's, I'll have for more power handling.
A loop is probably the next thing to make... To try indoors in the attic and on my back porch. It'll also serve for /p outdoors. Lots of Internet sources for ideas. Copper pipe or cable, I haven't decided....
There's also the Ozzipole (homemade buddipole) I started. Once done, I'll be trying that too.
I'll probably make a copper pipe J pole for 1.25m and 70 cm. I have a few repeaters on those bands near me.
I'd like to add a helical antenna later for satellite and weather freqs. As you can see this is all homebrew. I like making my own stuff... antennas, radios and ancillary hardware - digi converter for digital modes, keyers, etc etc.
Then there's SDR radios. Those little USB things... Got a few of those. A few small antennas for UHF etc and can monitor air, rail, ship ops etc.
While I'm running all this, I'll also add a couple of CAT5 cables for networking and antenna steering, tuning and selection control. (Arduino, Rasbi, etc). Maybe even an antenna switch. It's all straight runs for now.
An interesting source for attic antennas... a whole farm!! try AC0C - Stealth antenna project! VERY sophisticated!
And I have over 200 ft of continuous aluminum gutter! Haven't decided to mess with that yet.
The fun of new homes is the attic space itself. Its not open but has trusses all over... Also I have 2 heat systems in the attic. (RFI sources!) and All my achievements ma be for naught if I reset micros in the units!!!
This all made for cable running and cable laying fun, hi hi.
Still, I have a nice small cozy shack... under a stairway... a closet actually... Just for radios and ops. My workbench is in the ad hoc man cave (garage) I also have a separate station in another closet for SW listening. And then there's always the back porch, screened in and comfy.... Eventually a deck beyond and a few more hidden antennas!
The adventure continues!!
