Having a large base antenna such as a yagi beam or Antron 99 on the roof is a luxury not all of us enjoy. One of my first ever contacts on 11m, for instance, was with a woman named Dilly who was transmitting from the 15th floor of a unit block in 79 Division. Given the conditions, I’m not sure who was more surprised with the contact — she or I— but to this day it is still one of my most treasured.

Obviously, to use a large outdoor antenna was just not possible for her, but rather than throw in the towel and put her beloved radio hobby on hold until her and her husband's living arrangements changed, Dilly chose to use a home made indoor antenna. Who can complain with 5/7 reports using 25 watts half-way across the globe? Dilly wasn’t, that’s for sure!

Many operators will agree that relocating to a residence that restricts the use of a base antenna is sometimes unavoidable. Employment or financial constraints, for example, can sometimes take us away from an accommodation that allows us to set up an outdoor antenna, meaning our hobby gets shut down and our radio gear, more often than not, sold.

So what can you do if the landlord will not permit such a structure on his property? Or if putting a 12 element beam up is just not possible? Do you set up a portable station in your car and sit in there for hours and hours waiting for propagation? Take a leaf out of Dilly’s book and consider this…

Priced at around $100AUS + postage, the Firestik IBA-5 antenna is one of the best indoor antennas available. Primarily designed to be used from the inside of a building or structure, this relatively small and lightweight vertical antenna is suitable for operators who live in an apartment or unit block that restricts the use of outdoor antennas.

Due to the ease at which it can be assembled, the Firestik IBA-5 has also been used by hunters and campers to establish temporary communications centres. It has also been used with good results in offices and on construction sites.

When fully erected, the Firestick IBA-5 indoor antenna stands just over 5 feet (1.5m) tall. Each kit includes a 'bare-hands tuneable tip' antenna (rated at 1000 watts), a partially pre-assembled base hub assembly, four 30" (76cm) radials, and 18 feet (5.5m) of RG-58A/U Fire-Flex coax cable.

In most cases, the IBA-5 will not out-perform an externally mounted antenna. That goes without saying. Sometimes, however, as was the case with my lovely XYL friend Dilly in 79 Division, anything else is just not possible!

73 de Admin