getting started that was great. I started with trapped dipole . even on shortwave listing the trapps help. i tell new hams just start and buy a cheap ready made dipole . look at it. study it. and don't be afraid to experiment with it. in fact years back I was given a dipole for free. now i learned about every 3rd harmonic resonates. also 3/4 wave length . so 6 meter with 3/4 wave elements will match up. playing with dipole has taught me a lot. even if it was pre made or given to me. love that DX commander. he has a vertical dipole . and his videos really help me play around and experiment. turns out to be fun. so many ways to do the same thing. what works for me is what counts the most..73's
I started out on the air with a Fuchs antenna that worked on several bands and seemed pretty good. But when I built a resonant inverted-V on 20m with SWR 1.0-1.2 without a tuner on the whole band... I was simply amazed at how far I began to receive signals in the directions of polarization and how little power was needed to be heard. Yes, in order to switch to another band in my case, I need to run to the antenna every time and lengthen / shorten it😀 But such efficiency is worth it)
Such a great video for us new Generals....I learned a lot from this. Thanks for the attitude about buying a dipole vs. building one. I am not an electrical engineer...but I do want to be an efficient operator. Also: I will look at building one sometime later...but for now, I do not have those necessary materials laying around...because I am new to the hobby. ( I wish someone would make a list of a few things new hams should get to make the HF start a bit easier). I think many are like me...I have an HT or two around where I started on 2M...but that is all I have for now. Different types of wires, different connectors, etc are out there, but I have no clue how to begin with them. One step and a time for now for me. I will be on HF soon with a radio, power supply, 20M hamstick, mag mount, and a logbook.
@TheSmokinApe I noticed how hard you work to reply to your people. I also want to give big credit to you for mentioning Dave Kesler. Most people don't share the limelight. I'm a new ham and studying 4-5 hours a day. I just got the ARRL Technician and General books and plan to pass both exams in one sitting after only 22 days of study. Not bragging, just dead serious. Reading every page of both books and burning up pens taking notes and making flashcards. In 22 days I'm gonna shoot for General starting from zero.Already bought my rig: used Yaesu FT-1000MP mark V, with yaesu power supply, yaesu external speaker, Heil headset, and new antenna tuner yesterday MFJ-993B. Now I just need a used Yaesu desk mic MD-100, and I'm designing I kick ass dipole 136' long of 12 ga braided copper, feed is ladder line, no balun because the antenna tuner has a 4:1 built in. I have plans to build many more antennas and wish to be a friend of the show. You and Dave are the best I've seen. I have had several careers and will share my antenna models with you and Dave. I'm very old school and am planning a tube copper beam all handmade. You are the best young cat I've seen (not Mr craft brew....) and Dave is the best Elmer I've seen. Will keep you posted. I live in Marietta GA, a suburb of Atlanta. I'm a micro farm homesteader now. -Dan
I've learned a tremendous amount from Dave... He is a treasure to the HR community. Thank you fo rthe kind words and even mentioning me in the same sentence. Good luck with the test, the shack build out and the antenna. Feel free to reach out anything if you have any questions 👍
Great video! I'm currently building a 6m dipole but after hearing about the fan dipole I'm going to try to make a second one that has 15m 12m 10m and maybe even 6. Thanks 73s
Great video, on half wave thanks!!! Using a NVIS Dipole yes in my yard, very limited on room seems to work best for me, All I have is QRP radios for HF, so for me with QRP, people start telling me NVIS is great for local 150-300mi. But with a few adjustments it appears to get me out of the country from mid-west US area (CO) especially with my G90, not so much with the X6100(Xigue) I agree with your statement, "You just have to be willing to make adjustments and see what work for you" again great video, Thank You!
Do you even lift bro? 73 Haven't heard that one in awhile. I really like your videos and all of the valuable information you provide! Keep up the great work 👍👍
SmokingApe do you have anything in your RU-vid arsenal that would give a breakdown on db vs dbi vs dbm, sometimes it's just best to seek from those who has a lengthy track record of outstanding educational material, such as your channel. Again thank you for all your videos on HF content.
Hi Ape, Very informative. Have all the aluminum tubing to construct a vertical 40M EFHW. I like the design as it does not need any radials. Just a short counterpoise and a 49:1 UNUN. Only waiting for the ground to soften so I can pound in the support mast. My other home built antenna is an inverted terminated U antenna. I use two 12M Spiderpoles spaced about 22 ft and have the wire between the poles sag to allow for wind motion of the fiberglass poles. Boy do they move in the wind. There is a 9:1 UNUN at the feed and a 390 Ohm resistor terminating the end of the antenna to ground. I intend to increase the spacing to 60 ft in the future as described by AA7OK and ditch the UNUN and resistor. Here's a link for info on the terminated inverted U antenna. www.crosscountrywireless.net/terminated_inverted_u.html Stay safe. 73 WJ3U
@@TheSmokinApe Hi Ape, Should have mentioned that the SWR is less than 1.8:1 from 160 - 6m on the terminated U antenna. Nice getting all the bands on one antenna. I do use the internal ATU just to touch it up to 1:1. Stay safe. 73 WJ3U
I have a RTL-SDR radio. I used the dipole antennas. They work for 88 to 108 Mhz. I purchase a preamp in order to recieve higher frequencies. No change with the preamp. I belive I may need a desktop discone antenna? There was a a $54 antanna made by trane? I want to go above 108MH. I live in a apartment so I have a landlord. Can you suggest a desktop discone antenna?
I need a dual band antenna for VHF and UHF (2m/70cm). Can i use a J-Pole instead with one arm about 1/4 of VHF and the other arm 1/4 of UHF? Would a J-Pole work as good as a dipole or is there a downside?
New to ham need some help. I am getting a 991a so I can learn. What is my best option antenna wise for listening on all HF bands? I do not have my license yet but am studying to take the tech and general back to back. I am not concerned about transmitting at this point so please no fud, sad ham, unproductive remarks.
Hey Tony. Single band antennas are tuned to listen on a single set of frequencies, multiband antennas can listen to a few bands. You will have difficulty hearing equally on all bands on a single antenna. I'd recommend a long wire antenna as your best option; I have a video on them. "I am not concerned about transmitting at this point so please no fud, sad ham, unproductive remarks." When asking for help it's a little rude to assume I am going to leave unproductive remarks and perhaps that's why folks leave them.
I am looking to build a 160m dipole. I would like to use ladder line. I watched another dipole video where it talked about the length of the feed line being important. What are your suggestions and if that is the case how long would you try to make the ladder feed line?
When you use ladder line it's referred to as a doublet, I have been meaning to make one myself but I guess I have been lazy. Here is some info on them: ftp.unpad.ac.id/orari/library/library-sw-hw/amateur-radio/ant/docs/Introducing%20the%20All-Band%20Doublet.htm
I am a year late to this video, but have a question, on dipole antennas. How well do they perform when mounted in an attic? Which would operate better, ie. 2M, 440, or HF?
Plenty of folks mount antennas in the attic, just make sure there is no shielding like a metal roof for example. You can put whatever you like up there, HF - 440.
Attics are fine for many antennas. 2 meter horizontals are directional, vertical dipoles are virtually low angle takeoff omnidirectional. 440 is the same. Where a dipole design becomes more directional is in the making of a yagi.
Can you give me a specific part number for the toroidal core choke to fit on my RJ 8 coax? Should I use several chokes? I need to get some of these on my field antenna.
My question is about antenna height vs length. You mention height and show the 3d model and thank you for that. I have basically no option to elevate my antenna. Can length replace height? Can I run 42 actual meters of element along the top of my fence and have an antenna that functions for 7m and 20m wavelengths? Is there a benefit to having an antenna that is much larger than the desired frequency, but in a length of element that is a multiple of that wavelength? I am just exploring getting maybe a usb sdr as a stepping stone to some actual hardware and a license. I am just beginning. I am sorry if I don't know how to ask the question correctly.
Hey C11, you asked just fine. The challenge is how the antenna will interact with the ground, it will definitely impact the far field pattern. My advise is put up what you can, try it out and then make adjustments. Best of luck!
