Magic Carpet Apartment Antenna For HF Ham Radio

Live in an apartment? Want to get on HF but can't put an antenna outside? WATCH THIS VIDEO!!

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#hamradio #hamradiotube #parksontheair

[KHWI]

UT5UF is from Ukraine, but the W6 prefix means he's operating from the 6-call region of the US (California).

[dennisjoiner]

It does work. I used a "Texas Bug Catcher" coil, alumnum foil rolled out in an "X" under a metal mixing bowel that had a bumper mount connector in the middle of it's bottom. Oh, and a telescopic section above the coil. I worked 40 and above with that on my aparment livingroom floor using 50 watts from my Ten Tec Scout.

[ronwolenski-nwcr]

I'm moving into an apartment right now and I was trying to figure how to antenna. This video came out right on time! Going to have to try this out. Thanks Mike!

[floydteter]

Really appreciate episodes like this. So many of us have to live with highly compromised antennas for one reason or another. So it's good to see you exploring solutions like this!

[tonywheelz]

dude the tv in the back animating everything is totally cool

[Ammed_KNSTX]

Hey Mike, Michael is now using Faraday Cloth instead of the Stainless Steel screen. The cloth seems to work just as good and it’s way more portable.

[Johnyrocket]

I live in a condo. I use a telescopic whip on the balcony sticking out at a angle. Works fine

[hkmps]

I liked how you had the antenna components pop up on the TV in the background. Very nice.

[laszlokovacs]

There's always a way. Did it once as a demo. It worked. Put it by a window or better yet out on the balcony and performance will likely improve.

[MENSA.lady]

Thanks for confirming the YL net on 14.332 still active. I was a regular on it when I was ZC4MO way back in 1969. Happy to give the YL's what was often a new country for their log.

Ian G4JIU

[don_nskt]

Awesome Mike. I just picked up Michael's latest gadget which is Faraday cloth. Gonna try it tomorrow for support your parks along with the 17' whip. The Faraday cloth is conductive and does not roll up like that. Since it is more cloth like, it just folds up. Anyway, great video. BTW, that is an awesome T-Shirt you had on. Fits you to a T. 🤣

[pseudo_goose]

My (ground floor) apartment is just about long enough for a 20m dipole. I set up an inverted V using just a painters pole, and I could pick up FT8 signals from all over North America, and even some in Europe!

You're absolutely right, it is a compromise, but what matters is getting on the air. There's still plenty to do!

[vezdx]

That’s great! A while ago I threw a wire inside the apartment and worked Croatia, Italy on FT8. FT8 does some magic, unfortunately for me I have no interest in it

[kellyfrigginwilkins]

Ha! I just moved to Conroe! New to ham radio and loving your videos.

[MarioVe]

Thank You for your Video on the Apt antenna, it's a problem I am luck enough to be able to install an en Fed in a U format cut to 7.1 Mhz, outside (6th Floor) that works great for SSB ... we need more video's like your's, thank you.

[IndependentNewsMedia]

Great video, practical for people with housing with restrictions.

[jeffreyreid]

Thanks--added a WRC mini to my WRC Collection of stuff--that and the 78"antenna Now I have all three! Will try with Faraday Cloth in hotel room and Xeigu G-90 to see how it shakes out. If all there is is FT 8, 4 and JS 8 Call, etc--then its a start at least.

[pnesap]

Awesome metal screen antenna. I dabble in crystal radio and AM DXing. Ham radio seems like a good way to meet guy friends 👍

[John_Henry]

Thanks for the tip. Now that MFJ has shut down and the MFJ-1624 Apartment Antenna is no longer available I am looking for any solution I can get.

My one doubt is that you did this in a HOUSE. Which probably has a wood frame. I live in an actual apartment building, with NO BALCONY that probably has iron girders or iron rebar in the walls. So it will more likely work as a big Faraday Cage.

[Sonicgott]

Window screen is really easy to get. If the feet of the antenna are not conductive, you can make a wire with two scissor or gator clips, clip one to the base of the antenna and the other to part of the screen. I think that works okay, too. Please correct me if I’m wrong. - KF0QNM