The length of the antenna needs to agree with the length of the longest radio waves that you want to receive. Shortwave broadcasters use frequencies that are from about 50 to about 400 feet long, and an effective antenna needs to be at least one-fourth of that length — and one-half is much better.

How long should a long wire antenna be?

It is important to use a counterpoise. A standard recommendation (see QST, March 1936, p. 32, “An Unorthodox Antenna”) is an 84′ long end fed and a 17′ long counterpoise (6.5′ for 20m)….Wire Lengths for Various Band Combinations.

Does a long wire antenna need a counterpoise?

On higher floors you’ll need a counterpoise. A counterpoise is simply a long, insulated wire that attaches to the ground connection on your antenna tuner. That’s a lot of wire at, say, 3.5 MHz, but you can loop the wire around the room and hide it from view.

How long is a long wire antenna?

A standard recommendation (see QST, March 1936, p. 32, “An Unorthodox Antenna”) is an 84′ long end fed and a 17′ long counterpoise (6.5′ for 20m)….Wire Lengths for Various Band Combinations.

What is the best wire to use for an antenna?

The best material to support its own weight is steel. You can use a large gauge (say, 14-12) of copper wire which will work. For short wires that won’t bend, solid copper will work. If you are going to attach it to a support structure that won’t flex, finer than 14 would work.

What is the best length for an outdoor shortwave antenna?

I have found that an end-fed outdoor shortwave antenna – 138 feet long (42.05 meters) – will give very good results over much of the shortwave frequency spectrum. If you do not have enough room for a 138 foot end-fed sloper, try a 67 footsloper.

What is a multiband shortwave antenna?

The simplest multiband shortwave antenna for shortwave listening is probably the longwire for most newcomers to building antennas. It is literally, a random long length of wire stretched out from the shortwave receiver antenna connection and attached with some form of an insulator on the opposite end.

Can I use a snap-on antenna with a portable shortwave radio?

Not only does it have a clip to Snap-On to your existing whip antenna, but it also has an adapter to plug directly into the antenna jack on your portable shortwave radio (if so equipped). Some portable radios have pretty good built in antennas and ‘front-end’ circuitry to enable good long distance reception (conditions permitting).

What is a long-wire antenna?

The Traditional Long-Wire Antenna, as its name implies, is a simple single length of wire of a thickness strong enough to support its own weight, insulated or not, as long and high as the local geography allows.