With help from CT1WV (João), I installed a shortwave antenna.
Antenna design
It’s a spiral longwire approximately 4 meters long. This spiral design was chosen to maximize the effective antenna length within available space.
Positioning
The antenna was positioned 1-2 meters away from the building. This separation is important to:
- Avoid unwanted RF coupling with building structure
- Reduce electromagnetic interference from domestic environment
- Improve antenna radiation pattern
Performance
Despite its relatively compact size (4 meters), this antenna offers good HF reception. The spiral configuration allows compressing a longer length of wire in a reduced space, maintaining good reception characteristics.
It’s an excellent solution for those with limited space who want to explore shortwave bands!
Many thanks to CT1WV for help with installation!