Limited Space and Indoor Antennas
Introduction
It is not always practical to erect full-size antennas for the HF bands. Those who live in apartments, condominiums and communities that have codes, conditions and restrictions, may be restricted to the use of miniscule radiators because of house rules, or simply because the required space for full-size antennas does not exist. Other amateurs may desire small antennas for aesthetic reasons, perhaps to prevent the neighbors in their residential areas from becoming annoyed at the sight of a high tower and beam antenna of full dimensions. There are many reasons why some amateurs prefer to use physically shortened antennas, and this page offers information on various schemes that can be employed to realize that goal.
HF Antennas for Restricted Space is an overview of the problem and some solutions. Also of interest are other articles on the subject.
Additional resources
The ARRL has an extensive catalog of books and materials related to Amateur Radio.
Articles
Note: Some of the following articles are in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files. To view and print these files, you'll need a copy of Adobe's Acrobat Reader program. (Version 3.0 or later required). More information here.
- Welcome to Rentsville, DX (86,763 bytes, PDF file)
QST October 1998, pp. 66-67
Living in a high-rise apartment can be an advantage rather than a hindrance. Here are a few things to have in mind even before you start.
- The Care and Feeding of a Condo Antenna Farm (136,694 bytes, PDF file)
QST April 2001, pp. 64-66
Some tips on stealth and diplomacy that may help you enjoy ham radio from your condo.
Additional images
Correspondence: The Venetian Blind
Antenna, QST
June 2001, p. 25 An indoor inverted U wire
antenna
- HF Antennas for Restricted Space
Some hints on hiding an antenna
- Lab Notes - Limited Space Antennas (327,680 bytes, PDF file)
QST December 1992, pp. 85-86
Some hints on putting up antennas in tight spaces.
- Antennas and Grounds for Apartments (491,520 bytes, PDF file)
QST December 1980, pp. 40-43
What do you do when the landlord says "no antenna"?
- Better Results with Indoor Antennas (397,267 bytes, PDF file)
QST October 1979, pp. 18-21
Rules for a successful indoor antenna.
- Compact and Portable Antenna Roundup (681,327 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 1998, pp. 72-78 (Product Review)
This review covers five commercial HF limited space antennas.
- An In-Room, 80-Meter Transmitting Multiturn Loop Antenna (50,347 bytes, PDF file)
QST February 1996, pp. 43-45. Feedback QST May 1996, p. 48.
A little wood, some wire and a handful of components can make a directional antenna for indoor use where outdoor antennas are not permitted.
- A Disguised Flagpole Antenna (729,761 bytes, PDF file)
QST May 1993, p. 65
- The Flagpole Deluxe (2,394,199 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 1978, pp. 29-32
If you've got to hide your antenna, make this flagpole do double duty as an efficient four-band vertical.
- A Five-Element, 2-Meter Yagi for $20 (457,324 bytes, PDF file)
QST July 1999, pp. 34-37
Get about 10dB from a modified Radio Shack FM broadcast receiving antenna.
- A 40-Meter DDRR Antenna (1,556,173 bytes, PDF file)
QST December 1971, pp. 28-32
Basically this antenna consists of a ¼-wave element grounded at one end and wound into a single turn coil, a few conductor diameters above ground.
- A Bite Size Beam (1,678,850 bytes, PDF file)
QST September 1973, pp. 11-14
Use loading coils to shrink the size of a 20-, 15-meter beam.
- The HW-40 Micro Beam (961,772 bytes, PDF file)
QST February 1974, pp. 25-27,31
A two element 40-meter beam with helically wound elements.
- Antenna Aesthetics (15,663 bytes, PDF file)
QST June 2001, p. 97
Think of your neighbors when planning your antenna farm.
- Apartment Dwellers' Slinky Jr. Antenna (412,264 bytes, PDF file)
QST
October 1974 QST,
pp, 22-23
And old design for a shortened dipole
made from a child’s toy that is still popular today
- Flagpole J for 10 Meters (1,221,615 bytes, PDF file)
QST March 1989
Hide your antenna in plane sight.
Note:
Contact information for suppliers mentioned in the above articles should first be confirmed using TIS Address Database Search.
Bibliography (Members Only)
ARRL Periodicals Index Search - This database contains the QST index from 1915 to the present and the QEX index from 1981 to the present. For QST issues from 1970 to the present, and some selected articles back to 1922 (when construction articles featuring tubes began in earnest), identifying keywords have been added to the technical articles. By entering keywords (ANTENNA) or combinations of keywords (CONSTRUCTION ANTENNA VERTICAL HF) into the Title words: field, you may create dynamic bibliographies.
Technical article KEYWORD list. Hints for more successful searching
Suggested keywords for more articles like the ones on this page are: INDOOR ANTENNA LIMITED SPACE ANTENNA
Web Links:
- THE ROCKLOOP
A Compact Antenna for 10.1, 14 & 21 Mhz Bands
- An Attic Coaxial-Cable Trap Dipole for 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 80 Meters
A coaxial-cable trap dipole antenna installed in the attic provides a surprisingly effective solution to HF operation on the 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, and 80 meter amateur bands at a QTH with restrictive covenants that prohibit outside antennas.
Article Reprints:
You can get a photocopy of any ARRL published article for $3
($5 for nonmembers) for each article requested. Contact the ARRL Technical
Department (reprints@arrl.org ),
1-860-594-0390) if you wish to get photocopies.
This information was prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0214. Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information on the Web free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.
If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact:
TIS Coordinator
American Radio Relay League
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111
Tel: 860-594-0214 Fax: 860-594-0259
(email: tis@arrl.org)
Page last modified: 12:17 PM, 26 Jan 2009 ET
Page author: tis@arrl.org
Copyright © 2009, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
