[Sonnyboy]

I HAVE A PHILCO 16X CONSOLE RADIO THAT I RECENTLY PURCHASED. IT WORKS FINE, HOWEVER DOES NOT HAVE AN EXTERNAL ANTENNA, JUST A PLACE FOR ONE TO ATTACH. ANY IDEAS ON WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST TO USE FOR THIS TO GET MAXIMUM AM AND CB RECEPTION? I CURRENTLY JUST STUCK SOME BELL WIRE ON IT AND GET SEVERAL STATIONS WITH JUST THAT! THANKS FOR YOUR THOUGHTS...

[Ron Ramirez]

Bell wire will work

These sets were designed for use with an outdoor longwire, 50 to 100 feet in length placed as high as possible and as far away from power lines as possible.

However, in today's world of houses close together, homeowner's associations and other such nonsense, erecting an outdoor longwire antenna is not always possible. In these cases, you can sometimes get by with 20 feet or so of wire in the room the radio is in, preferably strung along the wall up at ceiling level. But if the Mrs. won't let you do that, then string the wire along the baseboard.

Don't connect the other end of the wire to anything! And make sure young children don't get near it, or plug the free end of the wire into an electrical outlet or something. Safety first!

[Sonnyboy]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE HELPFUL INFORMATION. I'LL GIVE IT A TRY!! SONNY

[Sonnyboy]

RON. BY THE WAY, YOU DIDN'T SAY WHAT KIND OF WIRE YOU WOULD RECOMMEND FOR THIS ANTENNA. YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE??? THANKS AGAIN.

[Ron Ramirez]

Are you running your antenna outside or inside?

By the way, is there a reason why you are typing in all capital letters? This is considered bad etiquette unless you have a visual problem. Not criticizing, just curious.

[Sonnyboy]

Ron: Cap letters are easier to see as you get older.

I can place the antenna outside but not sure what type of wire is best?

thanks, sonny

[Ron Ramirez]

Okay

I use an outdoor longwire with about 60 feet of 14 gauge, solid, insulated wire. This is wrapped around an insulator at the far end on top of an approx. 14 foot pole. At the house end, it connects to a lightning arrestor of the type used for electric fencing. A ground wire leads from the ground terminal of the arrestor to the house ground rod. Two thinner wires (two conductor bell wire) comes in the house from the lightning arrestor, red and white. The white wire is the antenna lead; the red is ground. Both terminate in small alligator clips.

If you do put up an outdoor antenna, don't leave out the lightning arrestor or ground rod! This is very important! Also, do not leave your outdoor longwire connected during thunderstorms.

If you do a Google search for "outdoor longwire antenna," you will find a few how-to's on installing an outdoor longwire.

[Sonnyboy]

Thanks, great information. sonny