The Wire Dipole Antenna
Wire Dipoles are simple, inexpensive and easy to build. The wire length is calculated by the wave length desired. A full wave length is not required to build a good working antenna. The common rule is to cut the antenna length in half, creating a half wave with good harmonics. An example is 80 meters full wave would be approximately 250 feet long. Half would be 125 and a quarter wave would be 63feet, even more manageable but not as efficient.
Many charts and calculators are available on line to make it easy. I have used West Mountain Radio for calculating lengths and checking harmonics for possible dual use.
One popular antenna for Tech licensed hams is 10 meters. I still love working it today. So what do you need to make a dipole antenna? Lots of variations like the PVC pipe and caps to make an egg to protect the connections and a place to hang it from. Pictured is an egg being repurposed to another band and a bare bones 6 meters dipole antenna small enough to roll up and put in your pocket.
Found this great video on a simple, cost effective build of a 10 meters, dipole antenna.
Hang your antenna to a workable height from the top eyelet, stretch the antenna wires out flat or inverted V and tune as needed. Many use insulators but I have had no performance problems tying off the antenna wires with para cord. Use the same hardware and different lengths wire for different bands.
73’s KF0FND
2 Comments
N0SPC
I’ll be buying more cutting boards 🔪
Thanks!
KF0FND
Found Walmart has nice thick ones with a handle cut into it for less then $2 and the dollar store has thin ones for about a dollar. Make nice para cord, antenna wire, etc holders with little work.
KF0FND