I ve been using attic dipoles since i started shortwave listening in the mid 1970s.
Attic dipole fire.
Loft attic antennas for restricted spaces.
My current amateur station uses an attic dipole that s nearly 60 feet long running along the roof peak with the last eight feet on each end bent along the attic walls.
You should attempt to maintain symmetry in the system by bending the ends of the antenna in equal amounts.
For the most common type of antenna the dipole the high voltage point is the ends of the antenna.
The single most common cause of residential attic fires is electrical malfunction.
Here s the first attempt at a design.
Antennas in the attic are a fire hazard this is one of my most favorite excuses because the factual case of a fire hazard is nearly impossible to make.
Potentially flammable material as i didn t want any arcing to create a fire risk.
Posted on 2015 12 24 by james.
I installed the liquid tight conduit from my mechanical room to the attic of the house fire sealing all structural penetrations to ensure maximum safety while meeting code for electrical work which is not technically required in this case but is a best practice.
When circuits are overloaded and the breaker fails to respond appropriately the excess draw could result in a fire.
The infamous attic dipole.
Hidden attic dipole antenna installation.
The first antenna was a simple zigzag dipole which i fastened to the roof spars using electric fence.
It works quite well or at least good enough for me.
The better your antenna the more success you will have making contacts.
A coaxial cable trap dipole antenna installed in the attic provides a surprisingly effective solution to hf operation on the 10 15 20 30 40 and 80 meter amateur bands at a qth with restrictive covenants that prohibit outside.
This was installed at a previous qth i will be the first or millionth remember i m from fl to affirm that the antenna is the determining factor for success when it comes to one s station set up.