Thinking about setting up a base station at my apartment

[ImageJPEG]

The only problem is I can't install antennas and what not. However, i was curious if I could try to install an antenna in a tree.

My only question is, would it be possible to use the earth as my ground plane? And if so, how could I go about doing so?

[Night Crawler]

i was curious if I could try to install an antenna in a tree.

Sure, you can even make your own and save some money.
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My only question is, would it be possible to use the earth as my ground plane? And if so, how could I go about doing so?

If your talking about using only the earth as the groundplane you could but the antenna would have to be ground mounted and wouldn't work as well as one with radials.
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[ImageJPEG]

So there's no way to put an antenna in the tree and some how make the earth as the ground? Unless I have a long antenna starting at the ground and supported by the tree?

[Night Crawler]

Here's a simple solution to your problem I've used this type of antenna out of motel rooms when traveling and nobody knew it was there not even the maid while cleaning the room.

Use 22 to 28 gauge enameled wire for the antennas radiator it's almost invisible use any length you need to throw it over the nearest tree then run it to the window.

Make or buy yourself a simple L-network tuner they're cheap $30-$50 connect the wire from the tree to the antenna tuners input and for the RF ground or counterpoise use speaker wire connected to the ground lug on the tuner and run it along the baseboard on the floor in the apartment.
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[ImageJPEG]

Where could I by an L-network tuner? I seem to not be able to find them to buy...

[Night Crawler]

Google MFJ-16010 you should be able to find one new or used for a decent price.

[ImageJPEG]

Is it possible to use too long of wire?

[Night Crawler]

No,that why it's called a Random Wire you can make it a 1/2 mile long if you have enough real estate the longer the better actually.

[ImageJPEG]

So even if it's longer than the wavelength it'll be better than the radial being the actual wavelength?

[Jr750]

Hi Image,

You can also use a Dipole, It can be put inside your home or if you can hang it out side it will work also. I have mine laying on the roof of my garage and it works great.
This is the one I have [Please login or register to view this link]

[ImageJPEG]

So I could just throw that dipole into a bunch of trees? I don't know, I'd think it'd be easier to hide the antenna if I used a tuner because it's only a small wire. Any more tips or information about the tuner?

[ImageJPEG]

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How's that? Is this what I'm looking for?

[Night Crawler]

So even if it's longer than the wavelength it'll be better than the radial being the actual wavelength?

The longer the better if the radiator is a wavelength or longer at the operating frequency (for 11 meters that would be around 36 feet) it is then reffered to as a Long Wire at 72 feet it would be 2 wavelengths long at 108 feet 3 wavelengths in theory at around 4 wavelengths long 144 feet it will show a gain of 3db over a dipole and will increase with gain with each wavelength added.

So I could just throw that dipole into a bunch of trees? I don't know, I'd think it'd be easier to hide the antenna if I used a tuner because it's only a small wire. Any more tips or information about the tuner?

This is what you'll have to do.
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If you use a dipole the wire used to make it will have to be able to support its weight and the coax attached to it which isn't going to be that invisible also after it's installed it will have to be tuned for swr if your able to do that without any nosy neighbors watching then use a dipole.

On the other hand the random wire can be installed in the middle of the night without any peeping eyes by tying the wire around a sock filled with sand and tossing it over the nearest tree or over your neighbors roof coax isn't needed and the tuner will match the radio to the antenna.

[352 Smiley]

just get a imax 2000.ant. put it in the tree then run a ground wire to the base of the tree and put a ground rod in the ground and hook up the wire and there you go.

[Finnpower]

I have an IMAX 2000 in a tree, about 10 feet off the ground and have been able to work DX in the USA and Europe with it.

Now, I am going to raise it, but before I do that, I am going to paint it satin green using Krylon Fusion for Plastic rattlecan paint so it blends in better. "Out of sight, out of mind" right?

Another option is the "no ground plane" B-100 short vertical antenna. I used one for a bit - already black in colour so no one would really notice that thing in a tree. Laying on the floor of my garage before I mounted it to a post, I was getting the big guns on Channel 6 full scale on my Uniden radio.

There are quite a few possibilities for you

Best of luck and keep us posted!

[Buzzweiser]

There are many antenna's you can use for an apartment. A lot of it depends on your apt. I currently use a homemade dipole. I pop it up vertical for local and horizontal for dx. If you have attic access you can put an antenna up there. I see you are considering a tree. Antron 99's work well in a tree and really don't need ground plane's on them. The IMAX will work good there too but it is a bit larger antenna. When trying to be sneaky about an antenna smaller is sometimes better. And like the one gentleman suggested, spray paint won't hurt it. But for all intents and purposes a wire dipole is about as stealthy as you can get. If you can get way up in that tree make a dipole out of insulated wire of some kind and mount it as high up as you can. Just make sure your center lead on the coax is your upper element. the lower piece can hang straight down or be lashed to a branch. Just don't go past 90 degrees to the upper half of the antenna. Just build the antenna on the ground somewhere before hand and get the match and everything before putting it up the tree. A good wire for the dipole is a brown 10ft. cheap extension cord but any almost any kind of wire will work. If you're going to run QRP power then even the thinnest wire will work but the larger the wire the more power it will handle plus the larger wire will be more broad banded.
Another one of my favorite antenna's to use at an apt. is a 102" whip. These work great for garden apts. or anywhere you have easy access to the rain gutters. I like to use the old cheap gutter antenna mounts and simply clip the antenna to the gutter when I want to operate. The gutter itself will act as your counterpoise. In reality almost any mobile antenna will work this way, but the 102" whip is a full 1/4 wave antenna just like a 1/4 wave base antenna. Plus if for some reason you don't get enough counterpoise you can simply add wire to the mount to get it, or add 3 or 4 and make a ground plane. These also work well for a balcony antenna although the building will sometimes block certain directions. Just mount it to the balcony railing instead.
Good luck with your installation. There are some really smart people here with devious minds when it comes to sneaking up antennas. I'm sure someone will give you a cool set-up to use.

Have Fun!!

73's

Buzz

[Buzzweiser]

To set the record straight I'm not really a new duck!! LOL

[AGeezer]

Funny you should inquire about apartment base stations. I run a Radiowavz double bazooka in an inverted V on my 3rd floor balcony. Works pretty well. Not the greatest ears due to geography but I get out locally just fine and although I rarely try to talk skip, southeast Texas knows I exist.

[231]

Maybe building a simple vertical wire dipole just away from the tree trunk would suffice? The wire doesn't have to be very heavy gauge and depending on the type of tree may not be visible at all unless you are really looking for it. You'll have a little soft spot on receive in the direction of the trunk...but not too bad. I've done that with pretty good results and certainly without needing a tuner as the dipole is usually cut to dip on the center frequency you want to run. I'd probably not run a big amplifier, in fact I'd probably try and run barefoot for awhile until you are sure you aren't getting into neighbor's (nor yours) electronic devices.

You wouldn't need to worry about 'ground plane' if it's up in the air...and a dipole already has counterpoise.

Just a thought.

Good luck.