How to Make a Shortwave Radio Antenna for Less Than $1.00
I own a couple of small short wave radios. When the weather is cloudy, can't even hear the stations out of Tennessee. Will be making this antenna tonight to improve signal strength.
I made one of these cheapo antennas and soldered the wire to the alligator clip for a better connection. It works pretty good. Finding plans for an exterior loop shortwave antenna and will build it and mount it outside for even better receiving from foreign countries.
I made my first SW radio totally by accident, just fooling around with an old clock radio trying to improve the AM DX reception. You just open it up, find the bar antenna, and (provided the design gives you enough space to do so) take a few feet of speaker wire, stripped or not, and wrap it around the antenna. Leave the ends hanging out as your "long wire" (you can add more wire to try to get better reception). Voila, shortwave. Freaked me out the first time it happened ... I didn't know you could do that!
Of course, again, it helps to have a somewhat bigger radio with a larger AM antenna and some space inside the case to maneuver. Smaller radios may be harder or impossible to rig up in this way without a lot of hassle. And, older AM radios seem far superior to newer ones.
I made one of these cheapo antennas and soldered the wire to the alligator clip for a better connection. It works pretty good. Finding plans for an exterior loop shortwave antenna and will build it and mount it outside for even better receiving from foreign countries.
ReplyDeleteDo you have you ham radio tech license, or do you just listen? I've got it in my head to get the ticket and will do so in a month or so.
ReplyDeleteI just listen to ham radio and shortwave Christian stations out of Texas. I use my cell phone for any other kind of communication.
ReplyDeleteI have thought about getting a shortwave radio ham license though. They are great during emergencies.
I made my first SW radio totally by accident, just fooling around with an old clock radio trying to improve the AM DX reception. You just open it up, find the bar antenna, and (provided the design gives you enough space to do so) take a few feet of speaker wire, stripped or not, and wrap it around the antenna. Leave the ends hanging out as your "long wire" (you can add more wire to try to get better reception). Voila, shortwave. Freaked me out the first time it happened ... I didn't know you could do that!
ReplyDeleteOf course, again, it helps to have a somewhat bigger radio with a larger AM antenna and some space inside the case to maneuver. Smaller radios may be harder or impossible to rig up in this way without a lot of hassle. And, older AM radios seem far superior to newer ones.