Have you ever ever put in a covert shortwave radio antenna?

The Hammarlund RBG CHC-46140 (Picture by Wealthy Publish, KB8TAD)

Yesterday, in a remark thread, SWLing Publish reader Dan described a covert antenna he as soon as put in in a pupil condominium:

I’m waxing nostalgic now, however I had an excellent set-up for a few years again within the ’70s. The receiver was a black WW2 Navy surplus Hammarlund RBG CHC-46140. (I nonetheless have it).

I used to be a pupil dwelling in an condominium on prime of a two story, wood-framed condominium constructing. The attic entry for that constructing was from the ceiling of the wardrobe closet.

Throughout a Christmas break I used to be in all probability the one occupant of the constructing. I snuck into the attic and put in a set of 5 switchable dipoles. I had an excellent 60′ of area to work with and the antennas have been broadside to the southwest. This was fairly a memorable listening put up.

After I moved out, I lower the coax to the dipoles and used toothpaste and borrowed items of “cottage cheese” to fill the 5 holes within the ceiling. These antennas are in all probability nonetheless there.

Certainly, I wager they’re nonetheless there, Dan!

In reply to Dan’s remark, Walt Salmaniw, famous:

Dan, jogs my memory after I was stationed in Germany within the early 80’s.

We lived in previous French officer’s quarters. Mainly, 4 story buildings with the higher flooring/attic uninhabited.

The Kenwood R-2000 (Picture: Common Radio)

I put up some good 60 m dipoles in that area, with a purpose of listening to a variety of tropical band DX, which I did utilizing my Kenwood R2000 receiver.

These have been the glory days of dxing!

Thanks, Dan and Walter, for sharing these tales. The thread jogs my memory of a put up we revealed someday again the place one younger listener put in a wire antenna in his dwelling whereas his dad and mom have been away. (I can’t appear to find that put up for the time being for a hyperlink!).

Although not almost as elaborate as Dan and Walter’s antennas, I did set up a small covert antenna as soon as myself.

Within the early 90s, I lived in Grenoble, France, in a 4 bed room home during which three bedrooms have been occupied by college college students. The owner was a fairly fussy aged girl who lived on the bottom flooring. I by no means dared ask her if I may string a random wire outdoors my prime flooring bed room window. Although she was largely honest and even candy at instances, I knew what the response could be if I requested for permission: a agency “Non.”

One night time, I opened the bed room window and thoroughly related a brief wire antenna to a nail on the facet of the home, above and barely to the facet of the window. I needed to stand on the window and hang around of the home to do it.

The Lifelike DX-440

The antenna dangled there the entire 12 months I lived in that room and served me fairly nicely. I’d merely open the window and clip it to my Lifelike DX-440. I did take away the antenna earlier than earlier than I moved again to the States, but it surely was nearly undetectable towards the  exterior wall of the home.

Please remark for those who’ve ever put in a hidden antenna as nicely. (I like these things!) Apart from…who is aware of…your antenna may profit somebody in want of a hidden antenna right now!

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