Survival communications antennas

LiveToShoot · 07-12-2008, 08:03 AM

Someone posted a note that they purchased a Select-A-Tenna....and, I wanted to post this detailed info about the unit should anyone be interested in buying one too...so you'd know more about the different models and what they are designed to do...

Select-A-Tenna AM Radio Antenna

...in a SHTF situation, it's always good to have a quality antenna to hook to your FM/AM radio so you can stay abreast of what's happening.

Are there any other good FM/AM radio antenna recommendations?

neophyte · 07-12-2008, 08:41 AM

Long wire covers the spectrum. Non directional,

Users in all-metal buildings or campers, where AM radio signals do not suitably penetrate, find this unit effective because a long wire outside antenna and ground may easily be connected to the 541-M. This allows the good outside signals to be ported through the 541-M which is then placed next to the radio, for operation just like the 541 model.

LiveToShoot · 07-13-2008, 03:24 PM

Craig,

What type/gauge of long wire do you recommend using for this application?

...I'm working on improving AM reception through my radio, using an external antenna jack, so I can receive a clear broadcast of Coast to Coast with George Noory and the group:
COAST TO COAST AM WITH GEORGE NOORY

Thanks...

jimkim · 07-13-2008, 03:29 PM

The length or the wire can be tuned to the freq. of the carrier wave.
LONG-WIRE ANTENNA

LiveToShoot · 07-13-2008, 03:49 PM

JK,
Thanks for the info...

jimkim · 07-13-2008, 03:55 PM

your welcome.

neophyte · 07-13-2008, 04:45 PM

Any gauge will do. Generally 12 in solid or strand; for strength. wind, rain, ice, heat.
Hang it in the higest spot. Use a bow and arrow, with fishing line tied to a string, tied to one end of your wire. Some have used the attic of there home and ran grid patterns with 22g and smaller. LOOK NEAT.

I like it.

Heat will change your transmit. Makes the wire longer. Need some sort of antenna tuner or do it with a balum wire wrap.

LiveToShoot · 07-13-2008, 04:50 PM

^ thanks...

LiveToShoot · 08-02-2008, 09:17 PM

Well, I ended up buying a Diamond X300 2m/440 antenna for the ham side of emergency com. I bought the mast and mounting hardware this past week. Now, I'm just waiting for the RG58U to arrive...then I'll get it all set up.

For the AM side of com, I gave in to the compact antenna thinking and bought a Select-A-Tenna, model 541-M, to hook to my Bose radio/cd player...so I can tune in clearly to Coast to Coast in the dark hours.

Otter · 08-03-2008, 07:42 AM

For receive antenna almost anything will work, lenght is not an issue. For transmit antenna the lenght is critical for good SWR (Standing Wave Ratio,) the percentage of power reflected back to the transmitter.
468/Frequency will give you the proper overall lenght of wire for a half wave dipole, connect the centre conductor of coax to one wire, the shield of the coax to the other wire and stretch them in opposite directions, at least a half wave above the ground. Subtract 5% from the overall lenght for an inverted V, where the feed point is the apex and the wires slope down.
If you want to transmit on 14.3 MHZ on the 20 meter band for the Intercon / Maritime Mobile Nets you would have a dipole aproximately 65.45 feet long, for an inverted V you would have an onerall lenght of 62.18 feet, or 31 feet each side of the apex.

07-12-2008, 08:03 AM	#1
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,071	Survival communications antennas Someone posted a note that they purchased a Select-A-Tenna....and, I wanted to post this detailed info about the unit should anyone be interested in buying one too...so you'd know more about the different models and what they are designed to do... Select-A-Tenna AM Radio Antenna ...in a SHTF situation, it's always good to have a quality antenna to hook to your FM/AM radio so you can stay abreast of what's happening. Are there any other good FM/AM radio antenna recommendations? __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

07-12-2008, 08:41 AM	#2
neophyte Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,587 Blog Entries: 2	Food for thought Long wire covers the spectrum. Non directional, Users in all-metal buildings or campers, where AM radio signals do not suitably penetrate, find this unit effective because a long wire outside antenna and ground may easily be connected to the 541-M. This allows the good outside signals to be ported through the 541-M which is then placed next to the radio, for operation just like the 541 model. __________________ Craig By the standards of most

07-13-2008, 03:24 PM	#3
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,071	Craig, What type/gauge of long wire do you recommend using for this application? ...I'm working on improving AM reception through my radio, using an external antenna jack, so I can receive a clear broadcast of Coast to Coast with George Noory and the group: COAST TO COAST AM WITH GEORGE NOORY Thanks... __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

07-13-2008, 03:29 PM	#4
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 2,051 Blog Entries: 11	The length or the wire can be tuned to the freq. of the carrier wave. LONG-WIRE ANTENNA __________________ Jan. 4, 2007...Gasoline $2.10/gallon HMMM? Jim

07-13-2008, 03:49 PM	#5
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,071	JK, Thanks for the info... __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

07-13-2008, 03:55 PM	#6
jimkim Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Near the Little Ocmulgee river in GA Posts: 2,051 Blog Entries: 11	your welcome. __________________ Jan. 4, 2007...Gasoline $2.10/gallon HMMM? Jim

07-13-2008, 04:45 PM	#7
neophyte Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,587 Blog Entries: 2	Wire Wrap Any gauge will do. Generally 12 in solid or strand; for strength. wind, rain, ice, heat. Hang it in the higest spot. Use a bow and arrow, with fishing line tied to a string, tied to one end of your wire. Some have used the attic of there home and ran grid patterns with 22g and smaller. LOOK NEAT. I like it. Heat will change your transmit. Makes the wire longer. Need some sort of antenna tuner or do it with a balum wire wrap. __________________ Craig By the standards of most

07-13-2008, 04:50 PM	#8
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,071	^ thanks... __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

08-02-2008, 09:17 PM	#9
LiveToShoot Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Northwest USA Posts: 2,071	Well, I ended up buying a Diamond X300 2m/440 antenna for the ham side of emergency com. I bought the mast and mounting hardware this past week. Now, I'm just waiting for the RG58U to arrive...then I'll get it all set up. For the AM side of com, I gave in to the compact antenna thinking and bought a Select-A-Tenna, model 541-M, to hook to my Bose radio/cd player...so I can tune in clearly to Coast to Coast in the dark hours. __________________ "Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." -Unknown

08-03-2008, 07:42 AM	#10
Otter Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vermont Posts: 955 Images: 6	For receive antenna almost anything will work, lenght is not an issue. For transmit antenna the lenght is critical for good SWR (Standing Wave Ratio,) the percentage of power reflected back to the transmitter. 468/Frequency will give you the proper overall lenght of wire for a half wave dipole, connect the centre conductor of coax to one wire, the shield of the coax to the other wire and stretch them in opposite directions, at least a half wave above the ground. Subtract 5% from the overall lenght for an inverted V, where the feed point is the apex and the wires slope down. If you want to transmit on 14.3 MHZ on the 20 meter band for the Intercon / Maritime Mobile Nets you would have a dipole aproximately 65.45 feet long, for an inverted V you would have an onerall lenght of 62.18 feet, or 31 feet each side of the apex. __________________ Life is too important to be taken seriously.