Attic Antenna Balun Construction

Common mode currents are a major source of noise in coax fed attic dip0les or balanced line fed attic dipoles where the balanced line is handled carelessly.

Attic antenna balun construction.

The dipole antenna i installed was cut roughly for 20m 14mhz but the final tuning has not yet been performed allowing for optimization for the in situ configuration. Baluns for antennas purpose isolate transmission line from antenna suppresses inverted l mode provide balanced output currents into unequal dipole leg impedances misconceptions will affect antenna bandwidth inefficient prone to core saturation provides lightening protection. The attic shortwave antenna wire this is the most importantaspect to improve. An attic antenna is more economical than a rooftop installation to maintain and doesn t entail as many potential repair costs as its outdoor counterpart.

Made from sturdy materials including solid aluminum and a waterproof dipole box this antenna is designed to resist the elements even in a non weatherproofed attic so it can continue to provide your household with free access to tv channels for a long time. Bare copper antenna wire stapled directly on wood rafters causes loss of rf signal energy. Interactions with nearby objects electrical wiring plumbing ductwork and other construction materials may adversely interact with an attic antenna. Follow the instructions that come with the balun.

2016 10 03 at 19 24 k. Such a balun intelligently used can go a long way to eliminating common mode currents in coax. Reduced bandwidth if a shortened length antenna is chosen to accommodate the space limitations of an attic installation it can reduce the swr bandwidth. This is a transformer that can be purchased on the internet or at an electronics retailer.

Dipole antenna balun center. With time bare copper oxidizes the wood where the wire is tightly stapled to absorbs some of this oxidization and forms a loose yet lossy bond with the wire. Mounting an antenna in your attic is easier to accomplish than putting it outdoors mainly due to not having to drill holes in your roof as well as a shorter cable run to the tv. Like the attic dipole.