Thread: Radio Question
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Ron DeBlock
 
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Gunner,

Find some thin magnet wire, e.g. #28 or smaller enamel coated. Use that
to make a long wire antenna, it will be nearly invisible. The main rule
for this type of antenna is "longer and higher", so do what you can.

Maybe you can add some thin sticks (fishing rods?) at the
corners of your RV, and use them to support a long wire or loop a few feet
above your roof.

If you can electrically isolate your TV antenna mast from the RV, you can
use that as a vertical antenna. If the mast is non-conductive, attach
some wire to it. Are there any
height limits on the TV antenna mast? Taller is better.

Lots of hams operate from RVs using fold-over or crank-up antennas and
masts. Antenna goes up when you're using it, and disappears when you're
not.

There are a lot of options, if you think creatively. Many hams operate
from RVs and antenna-restricted apartments, condos and developments.
Check ham sites (www.arrl.net, www.eham.net) and rec.radio.amateur.antenna
for ideas.

Your interference problem will require some work to solve. First, get an
antenna outside, connected to your receiver by coax. That should help a
lot. Make sure your computer and peripherals are well shielded, cases
properly closed and screwed shut. You can add RF filtering (inductance)
to cables by wrapping a few turns of the cable around a chunk of
core material - ferrite torroids are best, but any chunk of steel will do.
Radio Shack and others sell cores for that purpose. Add the cores to
every cable exiting your computer, as near to the device as possible.
You may need to add shielding around your monitor (conductive mesh,
grounded).

-Ron