Simple Ham Radio Antennas

This week's news cycle is coming to a close.  Two short weekend shifts will wrap up a good, productive week in the newsroom.  Unlike previous weeks, most of the crises have retreated a little more into the background.  That means I can at last spend some time at the amatuer radio station and destress from the week's activities.  I found several useful antenna articles on the 15 April 2011 edition of http://www.eham.net/ .  These articles can give you some good "skywire" ideas and several ways to operate successfully from restricted home locations.  K2ZS's article entitled "An indoor HF stealth antenna" is a nice read.  The antenna is a loop fed by ladder line attached to a SGC-230 matching device.  I've used similar antennas in the past.  They do work, considering the space limitations.  Apparently K2ZS has accumulated over 1500 QSOs using this arrangement.  You might want to try his indoor loop if you find there is no space to erect a decent outdoor

The shift at the KKBG-FM/KHLO-AM news is just about over...and none too soon.  With another 7.4 earthquake in Japan and the eleventh-hour negotiations over extending the federal government's spending authority, it has been an exciting week in the radio business.  Hawaii received some good news on the tsunami front--President Obama has declared the state a federal disaster area, thus enabling local businesses and state agencies to some relief from the $30 million in damage from the 11 March tsunami.  Kailua-Kona's business district along Alii Drive was torn up badly; the main pier sustained damage;  at least 12 homes were damaged; and one major resort was closed until further notice.  Two other hotels suffered various degrees of damage, but they stayed open.  Compared to Japan, we got off lightly.  Japanese amateur radio operators continue to provide valuable communications and relief support to Norhern Honshu which has suffered greatly in the loss of lives and property.  Accord

For the first time in almost a month things are quiet in the KKBG-FM/KHLO-AM newsroom.  The earthquake/tsunami recovery effort in Japan and the ongoing Middle East crisis have dominated the news cycle for weeks.  Eventhough these topics are still in the daily news, other topics are beginning to lower the priority of March's disasters. Like many communities across the nation, fund raising efforts continue for Japan on Hawaii Is- land.  The support will be needed for months, may- be years as the situation develops.  Japanese hams are doing an excellent job of filling in communications gaps or coordinating recovery efforts where required. Hawaii Island is rebuilding, too.  Most of the tsunami damage has been cleared from business and residential areas.  The state has applied for federal disaster relief funds to cover some of the $14 million in estimated tsunami damage.  Whether Hawaii gets any of the requested funds is unknown, given the current economic condition o

Hawaii is observing Tsunami Awareness Week with a variety of educational and public service campaigns sponsored by local and state organizations.  In light of the 11 March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, this week has special significance for those of us living on Hawaii Island, which is attached firmly to the "ring of fire."  Back in 1946, an April Fool's Day tsunami took out much of the Hilo bayfront with a huge loss of life.  And in 1960, a tsunami struck the city again with large losses of property and life.  So, all of the curent uncertain- ty surrounding the Japanese tsunami, earthquake, and nuclear power plant problems resonates strongly here.  Hawaii escaped with only property damage from the 11 March incident.  Even that was serious enough to prompt a disaster declaration from Gover- nor Neil Abercrombie.  One can't afford to be com- placent these days. Eversince the last tsunami, local residents have regained a sense of urgency and

Hawaii Island is still recovering from the effects of the 11 March 2011 tsunami.  As of today, the Big Island sustained around $14.2 million in damage, with most of the loss to commercial business $11.1 million).  The state is now compiling a full damage assess- ment with the hope of getting some federal disaster relief funds. Local amateur radio operators were active at Hawaii County Civil Defense and provided communication backup where necessary.  Despite some intermod problems on VHF (2 meters), most of the traffic passed got through on time.  Pacific Section Manager Bob Sneider has a complete assessment in his recent section manager report.  I was a bit surprised that our 2-meter interisland links had problems.  Murphy's Law is alive and well. Meanwhile, Japanese amateur radio operators are still helping with recovery efforts north of Tokyo.  The 24 March 2011 "ARRL Letter" has a good run down of those activities.  Like amateurs in this country, Japane