In this weeks video we build a simple long wire antenna. You might have the parts sitting there in your shack to build one yourself . This antenna is nice and simple to build so give it a try yourself #long wire antenna #2j4ez #antenna
The 20 m wire is only half the antenna you need some ground radials in order to get anything reliably. If possible run a piece of coax all the way outside and then connect your wire as you've done but also connect several wires to the grounded part of the coax also known as the braid and you will improve your signal tremendously
I had longwire 30 years ago. What helped with getting a good signal was using a tapped coil with 12-way switch, which added various lengths to the longwire. Also a balun with earth helped match the impedance.
The DX394 owner's manual suggests attaching a long wire antenna to the "ANT HI-Z" plug on the back - you should that give you better reception that the SO239 input you used here - that's the "LO-Z" input, and it expects something like a dipole antenna instead.
Thanks for presenting your version of a quick and dirty, random wire antenna, you might enjoy greater sensitivity using the Hi-Z input on the DX394 (RCA on rear panel) instead of the Lo-Z (50 Ohm PL259 socket) input 👍 Additionally looping the connecting wires around each other then back on themselves (twisted) would vastly improve the mechanical strength of the join, naturally solder and heatshrink would provide improved weather resistance whilst also further adding to joint strength and added aesthetics 😊
ill give it a try. Solder a RCA connection to the wire then place it in the hi-z socket ? ive never used that socket on the radio. Maybe anther video coming up cheers
Great video. I have a shortwave radio that has a 3.5mm input jack. I have made a long wire antenna that uses an alligator clip to the whip antenna, but how can I attach a long single wire to a 3.5mm jack that I could plug into the 3.5mm antenna input?
I prefer analog if the Signal is very strong you can still hear it. On the digital radio if the signal isn’t very strong it just breaks up and crackles
Thanks for the great advice inbuilding your own Long Wire. I'm about to buy a screened copper wire (30Mts) and drape it all around the back garden, eventually will be connected to a battered old Tecsun S2000. Will get back to you here with the results.
STEVE HORNSHAW shouldn’t need to as your only receiving . If your receiver has a ground socket you can ground it by using a piece of wire from the gnd socket to the mud in your garden tied round a screw driver . But if your on the second or third floor it may act as a antenna you could also place it on copper pipe to ground it if need be
Thanks for video, brings back memories. I am a SWL, I had a DX 394 20 years ago until the grandkids mullered it by spilling water all over it. I had long wire made from old telephone cable. I made a simple antenna tuning unit out of a piece of broom stick wound with magnet wire which I copied from a radio book and it worked. One morning I received the South Island weather forecast from New Zealand to where I live near Dungeness. I was so surprised. I called all the people in the house to have a listen. I don't think Radio New Zealand broadcast on shortwave any more. I still love shortwave radio and listening all around. I received a QSL card from the Marianas Islands last year. They are north of Australia, so the bits of wire do work good sometimes. Thanks again for video again.
Dont see why not as your receiving not transmitting. but you may find you get a lot more interference from the metal roof. the only way to see if you get interference is give it a try
Tell ya what Im gonna try when my rcvr finally arrives. I have a 100' extension cord on a spool. (I roll it out to mow the lawn and wind it back up when Im done) so why buy any wire. I can use an alligator clip to grab any one of the three wires on the plug and the braid I will also connect by alligator clip to a gnd wire from my out door faucet. If needed or desired I can "plug in" another extension cord to the end of the first one, and string em both along the top of my split rail fence. If needed (experiment) loading coils can be wound and alligator clips again used to connect. Since the wire is well insulated I could toss the end over the rioof to get the ant up in the air higher. BTW Alternatives Ive seen: (An article where) a "slinky toy" was used for a long wire. For a loop antenna, a roll of 25 wire ribbon cable stretched around a 55 gal plastic barrel with the ends connected together ONE WIRE OFFSET so s to create a 25 turn coil approx 30" dia. A dipole of two tape measures back to back pulled to what ever length you desire. I guess just let your mind wander and think outside the box. Lotta ways to skin a cat.
Awesome antenna quickie works fabulous on the DX 394 I love mine I think they are really underrated radios thanks for the idea I made one of your brilliant antennas but just used small electrical wire nuts to make connections. Thanks
Very simple but effective temporary antenna. I enjoy doing experiments like thisand in the field with a portable. It is always surprising for sure. Thank you for sharing.
Good, but how can you neutralize all the static electricity that the wire catches, before it goes into the receiver? I once did a simple antenna like this and on the connector I had powerful sparks..
it is surely working, I don't know if the receiver have a 50 ohm input impedence, I just guess it would be better to tune the long wire with a hf balun/autotransformer, with a 9:1 ratio, or more. It would good to make a 2nd part sequel
good vid and good use of random wire for your long wire antenna, how well does the "inverted V" antenna do with this receiver or is that more of a use-by-use case type setup?
I will be building one of these next week. I want to get on the 40 meter band. The ground is still frozen so I will have to wait before putting the base for my vertical multi band antenna in.
Yes, it changes reception quality, but you have no chance of noticing it without costy proffesional equiptment like we have in my Radioclub. For this purpose like in video it's not important at all and you should worry about it.
Good Day. I found this video while trying to find one for an antenna. I have a Radio Shack Pro-97 Triple Trunking 1000 CH Scanner, 20-527, Fire Police Air Ham. I would like to know if this would work for my scanner? Please let me know. Thanks.
This simple antenna will only work on hf bands ie short wave the higher the frequency the smaller the antenna the lower the frequency the bigger the antenna
