7 ideas for Indoor Antennas

One of the most common problems among new and old hams is related to space  restrictions on antenna setups.

We are thinking particularly about hams who live in apartments in towns, but also about  those who, even owning a backyard or a garden, they have neighbors who are concerned about tower installations, that may focus on possible RFI issues as part of their concerns and that decide to give up.

Indoor antennas can be a valid solution to keep operating Ham Radio, with many different solutions for the VHF UHF bands but even for the HF Bands.

Here below a selection of 7 ideas chosen among our Indoor Antenna links collection.

Indoor

Indoor antenna de F6CYV

IW5EDI

Indoor wire antenna project for 7 Mhz band, basically a bent dipole antenna, design based on a project by F6CYV

RockLoop Antenna

G3YCC

A Compact antenna for 10, 14 & 21 MHz Bands. A multiband portable and indoor antenna suitable for QRP operations based on an original idea by W9SCH that described this small loop in Sprat 60.

A Cheap Indoor Dipole for 80m-15m

NC4JB

NC4JB Josh explain in this article how to setup a simple and cheap indoor dipole antenna that can be used on almost all HF bands

Better Results with Indoor Antennas

W6HPH

A different approach can help you optimize attic-bound aerial by W6HPH

Loop Antenna for 6m

G8BTK

Indoor loop antenna for six meters band, project by Colen Harlow, G8BTK

Indoor Random Wire versus Indoor Magnetic Loop

Comparison of performance between an indoor random wire versus a magnetic loop using psk31

HF Antennas for restricted space

Arrl document about invisible antennas and indoor systems. It is important to consider that few compromise antennas are capable of delivering the performance one can expect from the full-size variety. But the patient and skillful operator can often do as well as some fellows who are equipped with high power and full-size antennas. The "cliff-dweller" may not be able to "bore a hole" in the band as often, and as easily, but DX can be worked successfully when band conditions are suitable.

Magnetic Loop antennas can be a valid solution for apartaments operations. In this case we recommend QRP operations due to RFI and safety reasons

If you are not living in an apartament, but you have other kind of restrictions, you may be interested in hidden antennas alternatives.