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
I’ll be buying more cutting boards 🔪
Thanks!
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