[TriLUG] OT: AM antenna, and RG-58

[sjackson at radarfind.com]

On the subject of an AM broadcast antenna, Rick DeNatalie wrote:

"I'm really looking for something which can go in my attic. As I said
previously I've already got a couple of RG-6 cables and one 300 ohm
twin-lead from the attic down to the cabinet where the receiver is
installed.  I guess some kind of lightning protection would be in order as
well."

Rick --
Because the most effective AM antenna for your application would be a
directional loop, I suggest that you not install it in your attic, unless
you want to listen to only one station.

You can easily build an antenna at home out of discarded junque.  This
Australian ham operator did just that:

http://www.vk2zay.net/article.php/47

Or, you can buy a kit of parts fairly reasonably:

http://www.mtmscientific.com/loop.html

Hope this helps.  E-mail me direct if it doesn't, as this sort of thing is
grossly OT.

To the fellow with the wireless mics:

I have lots of RG-58 which is cheap and easy to buy ... It's the connectors
(and more specifically, installing them) that is best left to somebody who
does such things regularly.  Fortunately, I do.

I've thrown away many cables like you are looking for.  Sorry, but there
wasn't a use (or space) for them any longer.  You can get these for
next-to-nothing at hamfests, but, you have to go to the hamfests!  Richmond
was last Sunday, Kinston is coming up soon, and Charlotte is soon
thereafter.  Might be cheaper to just have me make two jumpers up for you.
Two, 20' one-end BNC male terminated RG-58 jumpers would be $9 each ($4 for
the cable and $5 for the connector).

My suggestion is that you get the largest and most shallow steel baking pan
you can find, used or new.  Aluminum would be OK if it's of a heavy enough
gauge.  Make sure it's at least 2 feet long and a foot wide, and 3 or so
inches deep.  Should be pretty cheap at WalMart or your local thrift store.
Get two.

You'll need two panel-mount BNC panel mount female connectors, like
RadioShack #278-105.  Drill a hole in the middle each of the baking pans to
fit the connector, and mount it, with the solder lug on the inside.  Bring
this to my office at 2 Davis Drive in RTP, and I'll correctly terminate the
cable into the connector for you.   I can also check the antenna VSWR to
make sure you're picking up the maximum possible signal.

Like I said:  this is simple stuff, if you do it all the time.  I couldn't
discern a cron job from a con job.  But build a radio from a broken TV set,
that's me.