Gunner wrote:
Over the weekend, I stumbled into a Panasonic RF-4800 general
communications receiver. It looks like it just came out of the box.
Mint+.

I have some issues that perhaps some of you can help with.

First of all, as some of you know, I spend most of the week working
out of an RV in an RV park. The park rules are such that they really
frown on antennas other than TV. So it leaves out a long wire
antenna.
My TV antenna (no cable in the park) is about 12' to the yagi. So I
have a mounting height issue..the Slinky trick is out.

You are only going to RX right? So, why not do a long wire, or how
about a clothes line lookthing thing strung above your roof? You could
put a "T" at each end of the trailer or opposite corners, then space
insulators, at 6", and make a one strand clothes line. You could do it
in horizontal, or vertical, the birds will love you.


Anyone got a good suggestion for a low profile antenna that will
cover
broadcast to 31 mhz? Vertically polarized, or
horizontally..horizontal would be best. The RV has a surface aprox
7'
wide by 20' long.


Hmmm a few sheets of galvanized and a CB antenna, and you got a ground
plane. Agood set up for a CB antenna. Even a steel cookie sheet and a
magetic mount antenna works.

What about a scanner antenna? RadioShack sells an Outdoor VHF-Hi/UHF
Scanner Antenna Catalog #: 20-176 for $24.99

A long wire can be suspended from a weather baloon, or a kite, if you
really had to.

For a mast, what I've done was to take two 20'lengths of 1-1/2 Rigid
Electrical conduit, and coupled them, then stand it on a rock or
concrete base, and run bailing wire to tie offs along the roof.
Be sure to sink a 5/8" copper plated steel ground rod into the ground
and run a #6 bare copper to the mast.


loop antennas are out. No way to turn it from inside and are a bit
high profile.

Second big question. The only place to put this receiver is within
3
feet of my computer. So Im getting freaking huge birdies all over the
spectrum with the puter/monitor turned on.

The receiver has a 50ohm Pl259 coax connector, as well as a binding
post for a long wire. Plus a binding post for AM broadcast and a
third for FM broadcast.

The RV itself is a damned good Faraday cage. Aluminum siding,
aluminum
window frames and screen. Even the local stations fade to zip when
the door is closed. I have to leave the cell phone near a window to
work. So the antenna has to be external. Shrug.

Anyone got any suggestions? Ive got a chunk of wire tossed over the
roof at the moment, but tis not particularly effective.

Gunner

Rule #35
"That which does not kill you,
has made a huge tactical error"