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Old 9th May 2021, 3:13 pm   #41
Herald1360
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Drone involvement?

Back to inspectors..... just a tape measure, a theodolite and a sliderule would suffice to calculate aerial lengths without leaving the ground
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Old 9th May 2021, 4:46 pm   #42
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Was it ever enforced?

It looks like the sort of thing that might have seemed attractive to a legislator in the early days, thinking that a big aerial would suck all the signal out of the ether and spoil things for others. Or that people living near transmitters could steal electricity.

Anyway, the surprising limitation in the licence has been publicised and no-one has come up with a definite basis. We've had a slight laugh at the silliness of it as well, so let's draw this one towards a close.... Does anyone know anything about the reason for the limitation? Last call!
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Old 9th May 2021, 6:21 pm   #43
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitaion

I've just been searching through my copy of Harmsworth - plenty there about aerials including full constructional and erection details for a 36ft. lattice mast at the far end from the chimney, but nothing as to the reason for the limit. I've always taken it to be aimed, as has already been said, at limiting the nuisance that could be caused by an oscillating TRF receiver.

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Originally Posted by ms660 View Post
So far as I can make out the 140ft length for the double or multiple wire is the total length of the wire or wires, the length of the antenna being a max. of 70ft in the case of a double wire antenna.
In light of which it surprised me to find in Harmsworth a drawing proposing an aerial comprising four parallel 85ft. wires, with a 15ft. downlead to the house to use the rest of the allowance.

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Old 9th May 2021, 6:32 pm   #44
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitaion

Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul_RK View Post
I've just been searching through my copy of Harmsworth - plenty there about aerials including full constructional and erection details for a 36ft. lattice mast at the far end from the chimney, but nothing as to the reason for the limit. I've always taken it to be aimed, as has already been said, at limiting the nuisance that could be caused by an oscillating TRF receiver.

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So far as I can make out the 140ft length for the double or multiple wire is the total length of the wire or wires, the length of the antenna being a max. of 70ft in the case of a double wire antenna.
In light of which it surprised me to find in Harmsworth a drawing proposing an aerial comprising four parallel 85ft. wires, with a 15ft. downlead to the house to use the rest of the allowance.
I read the 70ft for a two wire antenna somewhere in W.W.

I would also say the same regarding radiation.

I also read somewhere that the total length includes a wire that connects to an outside earth point although I can't see that on a copy of a licence I looked at.

I had a look in W.W. for the reason for the rule but not found anything as yet.

Lawrence.
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Old 9th May 2021, 6:54 pm   #45
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Oscillating TRFs like super-regen sets is a good thought. It hadn't crossed my mind. I assume the limitation applied only to broadcast receivers and not to licensed amateurs because they would be using resonant aerials for transmission. Back in the day, the RSGB books covered Rhombics and Beveridges for the landed gentry.

Any earth wire inclusion in the allowance could be dodged by using a water pipe, I suppose. Aerials were a lot less well understood in those days.

David
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Old 9th May 2021, 6:59 pm   #46
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

I was thinking of radiation to telephone/telegraph lines as one of the reasons.

Here's another 140ft reference, this is for the top wire in a T antenna with a center 30ft down lead:

https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/ID...%20erection%22

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Old 9th May 2021, 7:08 pm   #47
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

The 1938 edition of Odhams "The Practical Handyman" has a chapter that includes how to install various types of outdoor and indoor radio aerials. It recommends a wire of about 40' for long wave and medium wave reception, this being the sum of the vertical and horizontal lengths, with the horizontal part about 25' above the ground. For short wave a horizontal dipole arangement using two lengths of wire each 15' long and connected via a twisted pair to a transformer at the set end was recommended.

it says:

" Painted sectional masts, ready for assembly, are made in four sizes, namely 26, 30, 34 and 40 ft., and are supplied, complete with rings for anchoring the upper ends of the stay wires, a galvanised pulley, a halyard, a cleat and sufficient galvanised steel wire for staying purposes. A 26 ft. mast costs under £1."


Interestingly, it recommends not using water or gas pipes for the earth due to the jointing compound ( it calls it "paint" ) used ar the pipe connectors, but instead a dedicated earth spike. Even more relevant today, with the widespread use of plastic pipes for gas and water mains.

Last edited by emeritus; 9th May 2021 at 7:19 pm. Reason: Earthing arrangements added
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Old 9th May 2021, 7:25 pm   #48
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Bottom line is, if there are no complaints then no one cares.
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Old 9th May 2021, 8:29 pm   #49
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

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I assume the limitation applied only to broadcast receivers and not to licensed amateurs because they would be using resonant aerials for transmission.
Not according to Harmsworth, circa 1925.

"Under these regulations the combined height and length must not exceed 100 feet for receiving or transmitting aerials. This length is irrespective of the number of wires employed. By the length is meant the horizontal or main aerial span, and by the height the vertical height above the leading-in point. The regulations allow of the use of a four-wire or any other multi-wire aerial of, say, 75 feet in length, and a downlead of a number of wires 25 feet in length, so that the actual length of wire used in an aerial may considerably exceed 100 feet. The leading-in point is that point at which the wires enter the house... There are no regulations limiting the size of frame aerials and the like or the length of wire which may be used."
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Old 10th May 2021, 8:38 am   #50
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

So is the Bulgin aerial in post #30 six separate wires in parallel or a single wire snaking up and down? (I suspect the latter)
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Old 10th May 2021, 9:32 am   #51
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Quote:
Originally Posted by ms660 View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by merlinmaxwell View Post
On topic, if I am allowed a 100' aerial may I erect a 99 foot vertical?
Might be subject to planning/aviation rules/regs.....check with your local authority....get a decision in writing.

Lawrence.

There wiil be height restrictions in the vicinity of airports. I worked at a factory about a mile from Liverpool Airport. We had a water tower about 60 - 70 ft in height and had to have a red warning light fixed to the highest point.
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Old 10th May 2021, 9:45 am   #52
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Quote:
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'Oscillating TRFs like super-regen sets is a good thought. It hadn't crossed my mind. I assume the limitation applied only to broadcast receivers...'
A glance through our local newspaper editions from the 1920s / 1930s reveals occasional inserts along the line of: 'would the person in the vicinity of 79 Senhouse Street please prevent his wireless receiver from oscillating.'

So the ability to turn a domestic TRF receiver into an interference-providing transmitter would be mitigated partly by having a lesser aerial. Maybe not by much, though, depending on matching and all that.
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Old 10th May 2021, 12:55 pm   #53
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Quote:
There will be height restrictions in the vicinity of airports.
My garden is just (50 yards) within White Waltham airports drone exclusion zone, no higher than the house I expect.
 
Old 10th May 2021, 10:58 pm   #54
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

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Originally Posted by Radio Wrangler View Post
Aerials were a lot less well-understood in those days.
David
By what I've read on the www, I'm not too sure that things have improved a great deal these days either.

Al. / May 10th.
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Old 10th May 2021, 11:52 pm   #55
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Default Re: Household aerial length limitation

Knowing the ingenuity native to these Brittanic Isles, Did anyone ever make a radio 200' long and attach the permitted 100' wire to it?

As soon as any law, rule or patent is issued, then the hunt is on to circumvent it.

David
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