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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!brl-tgr!tgr!wmartin@Almsa-2
From: wmartin@Almsa-2 (Will Martin -- AMXAL-RI)
Newsgroups: net.ham-radio
Subject: Re:  SWL Antenna
Message-ID: <1272@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 5-Sep-85 21:30:38 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.1272
Posted: Thu Sep  5 21:30:38 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 8-Sep-85 10:27:23 EDT
Sender: news@brl-tgr.ARPA
Lines: 37

Though the plain long-wire (or "inverted-L" or "random-wire") antenna
usually works best for general SWLing, there are others, like the trap
dipole you mentioned, that are better for the shortwave broadcast bands
or for certain physical facilities. There are quite a few ham-oriented
books on antennae, but for the SWL, they spend too much time and effort
on models that handle the power of a transmitter feeding through them.
For the cost of a couple overseas postcards, though, you can get some
info from a couple good sources:

The BBC's "Waveguide" program this week just discussed a new leaflet
they are printing called "Aerials", which is an introduction to the
subject. They also mentioned that their engineering staff has a separate
antenna-information booklet or handout. Ask for both of these by sending
a postcard to:

Waveguide
BBC World Service
Bush House
London, England (there is a postal code, but I don't know it; this
                 work OK as is)

Also, Radio Nederland has a lot of printed material on antennae, radios,
DXing, etc. Ask for their info on antennas, and also ask for the
Receiver Shopping List and the Publications List. Write to:

Media Network
Radio Nederland
PO Box 222
Hilversum, Holland (again, I think there is a postal code, but this will
                    do by itself, I'm sure, even if there is)

Myself, I've always used the simple longwire; I've never had a house
where the layout of the yard allowed erecting a [somewhat] directional antenna
(like a trap dipole) in the right direction to optimize reception of
what I was most interested in receiving.

Regards, Will