Home station
This page is under construction.
I don’t recommend reading it.
About
Many hams set up a station at home, and this is their primary or sole radio station. This page discusses some of the considerations related to setting up and enjoying a home station.
Considerations
As people experienced in real estate like to say, “location, location, location!” In ham radio terms that means where in your home you have available to set up your shack is a key consideration. Location matters for two reasons:
If you want to set up a station with HF capability, you’ll want and need to put your antenna somewhere else–not in the room with your radio gear. That somewhere else will often be outside although some hams have success putting antennas in an attic. If your antenna or antennas are outside, you’ll need a way to send RF signals to them.
All things being equal, you want your antenna feedlines to be as short as possible. Your feedlines dissipate RF power, although usually not very much if you use decent quality ones. Still, you want to pick a location in your home so that your equipment is as close to your antenna as possible so that your feedlines can be as short as possible.
You’ll need access to electrical power (120 V).
If your situation requires long feedlines, don’t worry. You can still have a grand old time on the radio.
Pick a location that’s most convenient, and build your station there.