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Themagikphrog
New member
Username: Themagikphrog

Post Number: 8
Registered: 10-2007
Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 2:51 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I need a base antenna that cannot been seen at all. I live in a trailer park. There are a million restrictions. Can I run a wire up a tree for a antenna. I thought If I use a wire as a antenna, cut it to lenght, paint it and wrap the tree with it, that might work. I have several huge tree's within 10 feet from the trailer. The trailer is all metal siding, metal roof, metal skirting. Thought about a bird feeder antenna. NOPE. Another restriction. I need to find a way. Any ideas would be great.
Thanks. Mike
Michael C Urban
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Tech858
Moderator
Username: Tech858

Post Number: 41
Registered: 10-2007


Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 8:13 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Do you have a restriction on actually mounting a 102" whip on the metalwork of the trailer ? tree would not be very efficient as a good bit of your RF will be absorbed by the tree , possible "PATRIOTIC" flag pole as an antenna , just a couple to try , is it for CB use only or are you needin one for HF ham bands ?? if so try this link even though it sounds weird it DOES work as I have tried it out of curiosity and got very good results.

Go to www.google.com and in the Search Box type in: GRASSWIRE Antenna


Tech858/Jim
MM0TXO
CEF#858
HAM#230
CVC#116

Wavin' a hand at ya' fae Scotland

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Hotwire
Senior Member
Username: Hotwire

Post Number: 2440
Registered: 1-2005


Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 2:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Most will recommend a dipole but being you are surrounded by metal I don't know.
We know its not going to be a very high antenna so, this is what I would do in your situation.
Install the most kick butt antenna you can on you vehicle. Make sure it has a mount where the coax screws onto it outside of the vehicle. When you want to talk inside the house just hook up to the big ol mobile antenna. Standing wave should be no problem and would probably work better than messing with a dipole or some sneak antenna! Thats what I would do!
KEEP IT REAL!
Kenny
cef491(27.115lsb)
2sf491(27.555usb)
Indiana
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Tech858
Moderator
Username: Tech858

Post Number: 43
Registered: 10-2007


Posted on Monday, November 12, 2007 - 4:20 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What Kenny suggested is an excellent idea either that or if you got steelwork on the roof of the trailer why not use a magmount with something like a RM Z-180 antenna that way you could just have the antenna stuck up there when you need it and it is not permanent and not too obtusive .
Tech858/Jim
MM0TXO
CEF#858
HAM#230
CVC#116

Wavin' a hand at ya' fae Scotland

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Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237

Post Number: 893
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Tuesday, November 13, 2007 - 8:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

What sort of crawl space do you have?? Several years back I mounted a 4 by collinear antenna for 11m under a friends house - landlord would not allow any antennas.

This antenna was about 2ft above the ground and stretched out under the apartment complex. He worked over 100 countries in the 2 years he stayed there with just legal CB power.

Give it a try, it may work just as well for you.PM if you want more information.
Simon
Tech237
N7AUS

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Ferd1605
Junior Member
Username: Ferd1605

Post Number: 35
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 8:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i once lived in a trailer park , i for some PVC pipe and put a antron 99 inside with a pully on the top , some rope , a american flaf and mounted it to my deck railing ... it is a right to fly the flag as an american ..
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Dx_freak
Junior Member
Username: Dx_freak

Post Number: 48
Registered: 2-2007


Posted on Saturday, November 17, 2007 - 11:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Lots of great ideas here and for a common problem, I have a 2 friends right now in the same predictament, 1 in a trailer park, 1 in a complex. The one in the trailer, we put a 102 up to the back of the trailer, It is far back and centered so that it cant be seen from street level due to the legnth of the trailer, the 1 in the complex, we put a bazooka diapole up in the top of his appartment and he has metal studs in the rafter area but he still gets out, the antenna on the roof of the car is great also. But 1st time a neigbor sees a sign of interfierence, right to you they will come. They sell great short cb mag mount anttenas that really work great. I think if I were you, Id place 1 in the farthest back of the trailer and in the center to hide it from sight, or, if you have knowlege or antenna thieory, well get you a small tv antenna and do some work to it, convert that thing, put it on a pole right beside you trailer and have a directional tv converted cb antenna and on a small 40 dollar radio shack rotor. Hopfully you arnt in a park were poles arnt allowed. Either way I bid you good luck, make sure your choice is a good 1 so you dont blow your cover and expose yourself to prying eyes so to say.
Richey
DX freak/Mad Dog/Puppet Master
KE5RGT, CEF#885
I can only do the best I can with what I got.
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Tech237
Moderator
Username: Tech237

Post Number: 897
Registered: 4-2004
Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 8:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

tv antennas cannot be efficiently converted to CB usage. The antenna is too small because the frequencies are to far apart. Trying that is likely to damage your radio, as well as being more likely to cause problems.
Simon
Tech237
N7AUS

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Moderator136
Moderator
Username: Moderator136

Post Number: 543
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 9:15 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Well Themagikphrog Michael are there any restrictions on clothes line poles? If not cut a dipole hang your clothes on it and everybody is happy. Hope this helps!
Hal ~ Moderator136 ~ KCØSVC
CEF#136/CEF HAM#23 ~ CVC#004
Moderator136@copperelectronics.com
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Tech858
Moderator
Username: Tech858

Post Number: 57
Registered: 10-2007


Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 3:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good one Uncle Hal !! , just make sure that the wife ain't hangin the washing on it whilst you are TXing or she might end up with a funny hair style or even worse you might just end up with a flat top head where she hit you with a cast iron skillet.
Tech858/Jim
MM0TXO
CEF#858
HAM#230
CVC#116

Wavin' a hand at ya' fae Scotland

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Mdiver
Advanced Member
Username: Mdiver

Post Number: 542
Registered: 11-2003
Posted on Sunday, November 18, 2007 - 7:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

GOOD ONE JIM HEHE
STEVE
CEF-252
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Ferd1605
Junior Member
Username: Ferd1605

Post Number: 36
Registered: 1-2005
Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 12:52 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

On the TV antenna idea , it would take some trial and error , but with the masting for a tv antenna , run it up the side of the trailer , at just above the roof line , figure out a way to insulate the lower part from the upper part . ground the lower mast to the trailer/ground , the insulated upper mast would need to be less than a 1/4 wave long , with a TV antenna mounted on the top of it with ALL the elements grounded with wire , etc , ... the TV antenna would be acting as a top loaded capacity hat ... kinda hard to describe here, but i have done it before for a 40 meter antenna and it worked good .. Now , per FCC rules/law EVERYONE has a right to have a TV antenna on atrailer/condo/apartment to recive LOCAL tv signals .. i fought with the trailer park idiots several times on that , and with a lawyer sending them a letter stating the FEDERAL law .. i got another antenna , {besides the antron 99 hidden inside my PVC flag pole} . I was lucky to have a great location where there was a water way in my back yard , was always damp so a ground rod and a few buried radials and a metal downspout and gutter was loaded up for the lower bands {40 , 75 , 160 meters } . not the best antenna , but hey , worked with what i had at the time .
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Bruce
Senior Member
Username: Bruce

Post Number: 4554
Registered: 9-2003


Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 11:21 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

HI-PAR made beams from TV antenna stock back in the 60's for 6 and 2 meters. The things worked VERY well and if you stacked and phased a pair they held up against the best out there.

Hi-Par is long gone ...... sadly .....

You could feed the twinline and use the antenna as a top hat .... sneeky idea but sometimes you got to out smart them .
On 6 since 66
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Crackshot
Intermediate Member
Username: Crackshot

Post Number: 335
Registered: 10-2005
Posted on Sunday, December 09, 2007 - 4:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Move out of the park if you can is what I would suggest.
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Kj7gs
Junior Member
Username: Kj7gs

Post Number: 47
Registered: 12-2004
Posted on Saturday, December 15, 2007 - 12:23 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You could just go mobile.

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