My 56ft "Random Wire" Antenna:

When I made the decision to get my ham license, one of my concerns was the antenna.  I knew I wanted to work HF, especially 160m and 80m, since that was where I most likely would find hams working AM.  And, I wanted to work AM (after all my years in broadcasting, I have a passion for AM).  I was faced with limited funds and limited space.

The basis of this antenna grew out of my broadcasting background, where the majority of AM antennas are not optimized for the frequency, but often dictated by height limitations, or may have been designed originally on a different frequency than they currently operate.  The antenna impedance is determined, and an ATU (antenna tuning unit) is designed so the transmitter sees 50 ohms resistive, regardless what the resistance and inductive components of the antenna may be.  In amateur use, we use an antenna tuner, which is really nothing more than an ATU that is adjustable.  My approach, then, was to build the antenna, and find a way to match it.

Now, I must add before moving forward, I know that a properly designed antenna, cut to the proper length, and at optimum height, will probably out-perform my antenna.  But, the point of writing this is to point out that it IS POSSIBLE to get ON the air with whatever you may be able to get IN the air.  I have heard several hams express the feeling that because they have limited space, they cannot operate HF.

I am located in a sub-division in West Boise, and space is limited.  Additionally, while there are no real restrictions on antennas, I did not want to be an irritation to my neighbors.  So, the driving forces were limited space and minimum visual impact.

I took a good look at my house.  The main house is 36 feet long, with the garage extending another 20 feet, about 10 feet lower than the rest of the house.  My supports are 4 feet high, made from 1/2 inch conduit.  The are put together with hose-clamps.  This first picture is the end on the garage, where it is fed by simply connecting the coax to the wire, with the shield of the coax attached to the support.

This is another view of the feed end connection.  Again, very simple.  Theory would dictate I should have probably done some kind of matching here, but I wanted to start out as simple as possible. 

This shows the 20 foot span from the feed point to the peak.

A look at the support where it levels off and continues over the house.

The final 36 feet to the end of the house, for a total length of 56 feet.

The coax from the feed to the shack is about 20 feet, and there is probably 6-10 feet of jumpers and such connecting the sample for the scope, the switching, tuner, and finally, the transmitter.  This particular antenna did load without the tuner almost 1:1 on 80m, and I was able to run my Viking II without the antenna tuner in the beginning.  With the tuner, I am able to match 160m to 10m, and have made contacts on 160, 80, 40, 20, and 17 very successfully, with the most recent 17m contact being in Minnesota with 100w SSB.  (Update 2-18-12 -- I just had the thrill of some true DX.  15m was pretty open today, and I logged two solid QSO's with stations in Japan.)

My whole point in sharing this is to encourage anyone who feels just because space and/or funds may be limited for the putting up the ideal HF antenna, you can be quite successful with whatever you can get in the air.  Put it up, match it, and enjoy HF.  I have gotten very good signal reports all up and down the West Coast, Canada, and the mid west.

In a few years I will be retiring, and moving to property I own in rural central Idaho.  There I have 13 acres, in a nice RF quiet area, and can expand the antenna farm with more ideal antennas.  But I am glad I didn't wait for the "ideal" to enjoy HF !