An external antenna will improve your shortwave reception.
While many shortwave radios have a built-in telescoping antenna, you'll find that some models have a input for an external antenna. If you've got the space for an external antenna, you'll enjoy greatly improved reception if you use it in place of the simple aerial. Designs for shortwave antennas vary greatly, but there is a simple foolproof design that works well for many users.
Instructions
1. Cut three small blocks of wood from your board. Two should be 2 inches long, and the other 3 inches long.
2. Drill two holes in the 3-inch block of wood, each 1 inch in from the end of the block. Insert your bolt, washers and nut through each hole so you have the following order: bolt head, washer, block of wood, washer, washer and nut. Do not tighten the nut yet, just enough to hold all the parts together.
3. Drill two holes in each 2-inch block of wood, one near each end.
4. Cut two pieces of 14-gauge copper wire (uninsulated), each piece 40 feet long. Loop one end of each piece of wire through a 2-inch block of wood and twist the wire so that it is securely fastened.
5. Take the other ends of the copper wires and wrap them around the bolts on either end of the 3-inch wood block. You'll now have a center block, with two wires extending from it, each terminating in wooden block.
6. Slide the connectors of a 300-ohm to 75-ohm transformer onto the bolts, one on each. Tighten the nuts on the bolts to hold the wires and the transformer securely together.
7. Connect an RG-6 cable to the transformer, and the other end to your receiver.
8. Suspend the antenna with ropes attached to the end blocks. The higher the antenna, the better the performance.
Tags: block wood, external antenna, 2-inch block, 2-inch block wood, Drill holes, each piece
