End Fed Gutter Antenna

In hopes of finding a low profile antenna for shortwave listening the rain gutter and downspout on the back porch were tried as a random length antenna.

End fed gutter antenna.

Of all the things in this hobby antenna design and use is the most fun for me. An additional advantage is that the antenna can easily be polarized vertically. You are on air within 5 minutes. The automatic antenna coupler is designed for use with end fed unbalanced antennas such as whips and long wires.

The results have been surprisingly good for shortwave listening using the crane ccradiosw shortwave receiver. Put a telescopic mast against a pole hook the antenna to the top and slide it out. Place any metal rod that is between 3 8 to 1 inch in diameter into the ground then slip our top of mast mount over it. Next run our jumper wire from the top of the alpha match and clip it onto your gutter make sure the jumper wire is not laying on or touching the ground.

The house is made of brick so the entire system is isolated from ground. Rain gutter antenna an end fed multiband antenna larry nelson k5ijb. The links at the end of the article are really good idea joggers. Over a quarter wavelength for 40 meters and almost a half wave for 30 meters.

It can be configured to be used with dipoles and inverted vees as well. Including the feed wire into the shack the total length is in the neighborhood of 42 feet. Take a brillo pad to the feed point tap. Rain gutter which is about 16 feet long across the front of the house.

Also if you have a non aluminum gutter plastic you can snake wire inside as well and load that.