With an 80 meter OCFD you have to have 80 meters resonate low in the band in order to get 40, 20, 10 meters to line up right. If you shorten it, cut the same proportion from each side. I usually shoot for 80 m to be at 3.55 - 3.58 mhz. OCFD's are usually divided about 1/3 - 2/3 (though I've had good results with a 29.5% feedpoint), so if you are going to take off 12", take 4" from the short side, and 8" from the long side. Don't just try to tune one band. See what the effects are on all usable bands. Some guys have added another pair of legs, like a fan dipole, only it would be a fan OCFD, in order to gain 30 and 15 meters. Still, that is a lot of bands for the amount of wire in the air. A 66' or 40m OCFD will work 40, 20, and 10 meters, and is an excellent Field Day, Emergency, Portable antenna. I talked to Japan from Louisiana with a 40m OCFD hung between trees at festival. I LIKE OCFD's and have built a number of them for clubs and new hams, all with the same good results as you have. Balun must be a current balun, not voltage. Don't try to get it perfect, that's what you have a tuner for. Get on the air, have fun!
I have one and it works well with one issue. A squirrel ate about 10ft off of it so keep the squirrels away and you will have a nice antenna. Now I wonder if a diversity receiver would help reduce your noise to have a lower noise floor.
I have an 80-10 Carolina Windom which is a similar antenna, that I had up at the same time as a W9INN multi band antenna at the same height. The Windom had a lower noise floor and signals were from a half s-unit to a full s-unit better. They were roughly parallel and probably 75' apart. I'm extremely happy with the Windom and have used it for quite a few years now. At least 15. I use it with a LDG tuner on all hf bands. It's about 35' in the air.
I had one of their DX160 OCF in the air for 8 years. Only had to replace the rope every 2 years. No issues until this year and the wire broke into. So, obviously I purchased another Radiowavz. Actually ordered the DX160 Pro Line this time. Put it up in exactly the same spot the short leg broke that night. Pulled off the long leg off the OLD DX160 and replaced the short leg on the new one and got it back in the air. The next morning the long leg snapped. These are clean cuts like the wire was already nicked in that spot. Kinda scared to order another one from them. Because that was a lot of money. First one was amazing but the upgraded Pro LIne lasted less then 12 hours.
Don't try to pull it quit so tight. You'll never get all the droop out, and a little droop won't hurt anything. Support the balun... and weight of the coax. The whole thing can be a lop-sided inverted V with no problem, but the balun and coax is heavy.
I have a transformer at either end of my property and will be running about 15 to 20 feet from my 110/220 line into the house. I can feel your pain. I wonder if a QRP signal can make it out of or into the mess.
I just purchased the DP84 and it seems to be well built. I was a little confused as to why there were no specs on the antenna other than it is designed for 40 and 80 meters, and it handles 1500 watts. 73 KD5YOU
Will you make a video trimming it when you do? Also which tuner would you reccomend for a base station running 100w FT8? I have an LDG 100 but it says its only rated for 25w digital.
Not really this is an off center fed dipole with a matching transformer G5RV is center-fed and uses ladder line as an impedance match, more along the lines of a double zepp.
Type TFFN/MTW 16 gauge ......machine tool wire. Literally pulled 10s/1000ft of this wire as an electrician for 45 years. Great wire and should weather outside decent for years. Will not stretch much either.
Would have been better being THHN, the common electrical wire I pulled for years, quick look up on TFFN states "Like THHN/ THWN, TFFN is immune to oil and gas; however, it does not really perform well when it comes to water and moisture exposure." Great in conduit, but not made for weather... seems like an oops
See this is why manufacturers need to incorporate kevlar into the shielding, it dramatically reduces the stretch of antenna wires. Hams will gladly pay the extra cost, at least make it a test market option...
Hey friend, what is wrong with this company? I ordered an 11 m³ double bazooka dipole over two weeks ago and the company took my money and I never heard from them. I sent them five emails and they never return I bought directly from the company maybe I should’ve went through eBay so they could’ve poked him a long, I wish they’d hurry up because I can’t put my antenna on the roof where I’m living that’s why I bought a Dipole well, at least I know the man is legit there must’ve been a mistake somewhere
I use this exact antenna and it has performed flawlessly.
The SWR readings made me realize how much I really need to graduate from the NanoVNA to a RigExpert.
In the picture your antenna is parallel with the power lines, or so it appears. That makes a nice transformer, w0fen
I've been using a Radio Wavz G5RV Jr. for a couple of years. Those ends are great, strong and easy to adjust.
I have the 80 short OCFD and love it. I get great reports. And they have great customer service.
With an 80 meter OCFD you have to have 80 meters resonate low in the band in order to get 40, 20, 10 meters to line up right. If you shorten it, cut the same proportion from each side. I usually shoot for 80 m to be at 3.55 - 3.58 mhz. OCFD's are usually divided about 1/3 - 2/3 (though I've had good results with a 29.5% feedpoint), so if you are going to take off 12", take 4" from the short side, and 8" from the long side. Don't just try to tune one band. See what the effects are on all usable bands. Some guys have added another pair of legs, like a fan dipole, only it would be a fan OCFD, in order to gain 30 and 15 meters. Still, that is a lot of bands for the amount of wire in the air. A 66' or 40m OCFD will work 40, 20, and 10 meters, and is an excellent Field Day, Emergency, Portable antenna. I talked to Japan from Louisiana with a 40m OCFD hung between trees at festival. I LIKE OCFD's and have built a number of them for clubs and new hams, all with the same good results as you have. Balun must be a current balun, not voltage. Don't try to get it perfect, that's what you have a tuner for. Get on the air, have fun!
I have one and it works well with one issue. A squirrel ate about 10ft off of it so keep the squirrels away and you will have a nice antenna. Now I wonder if a diversity receiver would help reduce your noise to have a lower noise floor.
Im amazed how much i like my Radiowavz OCF. Its totally replaced my 40/20/10m parrallel dipole.
I have an 80-10 Carolina Windom which is a similar antenna, that I had up at the same time as a W9INN multi band antenna at the same height. The Windom had a lower noise floor and signals were from a half s-unit to a full s-unit better. They were roughly parallel and probably 75' apart. I'm extremely happy with the Windom and have used it for quite a few years now. At least 15. I use it with a LDG tuner on all hf bands. It's about 35' in the air.
do these antennas have balums? Im using the parts of one OCF Windom.
I had one of their DX160 OCF in the air for 8 years. Only had to replace the rope every 2 years. No issues until this year and the wire broke into. So, obviously I purchased another Radiowavz. Actually ordered the DX160 Pro Line this time. Put it up in exactly the same spot the short leg broke that night. Pulled off the long leg off the OLD DX160 and replaced the short leg on the new one and got it back in the air. The next morning the long leg snapped. These are clean cuts like the wire was already nicked in that spot. Kinda scared to order another one from them. Because that was a lot of money. First one was amazing but the upgraded Pro LIne lasted less then 12 hours.
Don't try to pull it quit so tight. You'll never get all the droop out, and a little droop won't hurt anything. Support the balun... and weight of the coax. The whole thing can be a lop-sided inverted V with no problem, but the balun and coax is heavy.
The only band mine was resonate on was 40 meters. But I am happy with the performance
Emmett really believes in his products and stands behind them to back it up.
Did you tune out your coax run? Or is your metering reading the coax plus antenna?
I finally installed mine today, all of my SWR readings were slightly lower than yours except 20m. I’m 2.3 at 14.14.
I run a 240-31 core about 4 ft below 4:1 balun 6 to 10 turns of coax on core helps alot with noise.
I have a transformer at either end of my property and will be running about 15 to 20 feet from my 110/220 line into the house. I can feel your pain. I wonder if a QRP signal can make it out of or into the mess.
are u sure your name is mike i thought my name was mike LOL :) good explanation of the antenna love me some radio wavz.
I just purchased the DP84 and it seems to be well built. I was a little confused as to why there were no specs on the antenna other than it is designed for 40 and 80 meters, and it handles 1500 watts. 73 KD5YOU
Will you make a video trimming it when you do? Also which tuner would you reccomend for a base station running 100w FT8? I have an LDG 100 but it says its only rated for 25w digital.
What is the total length of the antenna? Did you need to shorten it at all?
My HWEF does, 40, 20, 10 no tuner. It does 12, 15, and 17 with an internal tuner.
Mine RADIOWAVZ DX80 came with 14 gauge wire. #14 mtw
Mine as well.
Wonder if they make an EFHW & how it works.
Good to see it works,pity they dont sell a portable version😐
Hey another michigander! Hello from EN73 K8OTY
VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.
AP2KD.
Couldn't you take an 8ft piece of PVC to give it strain relief in the middle and just zip tie it to the antenna?
Upgraded g5rv?
Not really this is an off center fed dipole with a matching transformer G5RV is center-fed and uses ladder line as an impedance match, more along the lines of a double zepp.
Type TFFN/MTW 16 gauge ......machine tool wire. Literally pulled 10s/1000ft of this wire as an electrician for 45 years. Great wire and should weather outside decent for years. Will not stretch much either.
Would have been better being THHN, the common electrical wire I pulled for years, quick look up on TFFN states "Like THHN/ THWN, TFFN is immune to oil and gas; however, it does not really perform well when it comes to water and moisture exposure." Great in conduit, but not made for weather... seems like an oops
Tighten the wires on your meter box on your breaker box
It's a shame it doesn't do 15m because that's my favorite band to work.
See this is why manufacturers need to incorporate kevlar into the shielding, it dramatically reduces the stretch of antenna wires. Hams will gladly pay the extra cost, at least make it a test market option...
My antenna wires aren't far from my antenna wires. They never are. They're always just right there.
Ahh I see you caught my mistake in speaking. Words are only my second language lol.
@@hamradiotube I'm an RFI school bus driver. There's not much I don't catch.
Barton Extension
Cole Radial
Cornelius Inlet
Quigley Summit
Makenzie Corner
Hey friend, what is wrong with this company? I ordered an 11 m³ double bazooka dipole over two weeks ago and the company took my money and I never heard from them. I sent them five emails and they never return I bought directly from the company maybe I should’ve went through eBay so they could’ve poked him a long, I wish they’d hurry up because I can’t put my antenna on the roof where I’m living that’s why I bought a Dipole well, at least I know the man is legit there must’ve been a mistake somewhere
Cartwright Summit
Shany Wall
Prosacco Shoals
Powlowski Mountains
Kessler Isle
Wintheiser Extension
Lueilwitz Mountains
Abshire Ranch
Stamm Valley
Arjun Points
Charles Neck
Bergnaum Isle
Angela Prairie
Hunter Parkway
Antonette Rapids
Ankunding Wall
Kihn Shoals
Jasper Highway
Emmett is one of my favorite humans. He has taken care of me many times! de K4IVE
Jamal Port
Friesen Forges
Lowell Ramp
Hodkiewicz Isle
Larson Causeway
Grant Flats
Ernser Groves
Abbott Gardens
Lolita Neck
Lesly Ville
Jaime Parkways
Quitzon Pass
Stroman Station
sorely disappointed
Thompson Extension