New Ham General here running my first radio and antenna. I bought an FTDX-10 and feed it a 40m OCFD, 22'leg and 44' leg. Tunes 6,10,12,15,17,20,30,40. I'm working the world. mAT-30 tuner gives SWR of 1.0 to 1.1 on everything but 6m (1.4) and 12m (1.6). Will tune 80m to 2.1 but I can't get any power out, radio limits it to 8w.
Good info. I have been on the air 60 years and have had many antennas. I can’t say that my best antenna was a dipole but that’s what I have worked most of my DX with! My full size 6 element 10 meter Yagi at 70 feet was good but I have used and am still using a couple 10 meter dipoles. My full size 4 element 20 meter Yagi at 70 feet was quite good but I have used two 20 meter dipoles for many years now. Switching from one dipole direction to another is instant whereas it took time to rotate the big Yagi. Most of my dipoles are and have been “ fan dipoles”. I presently have two 20/10 meter fan dipoles. Easier to handle than my previous 40/20/10 meter dipoles. At my present location I have the 40 meter antenna separate and on much longer coax. I do a lot of contesting and these dipoles allow me to sometimes work 100 countries on three or four bands in a single weekend. Over 1000 QSOs certainly tells me the dipole is a good antenna. As you say, these multiband dipoles are easy to build and tune. I always recommend beginners start with the simple dipole or fan dipole. There are a lot less headaches making it work! No ground or counterpoise necessary. In most cases, unless the feedline just happens to be a critical length I have never needed a choke. Only one of my dipoles has a coil of coax and I really can’t tell any difference. I never did that before, had no reason to do it when I did, so probably will not do it again unless I notice a problem. Keep up the good work. 73, Don
Absolutely agree with you that a fan dipole would be a great option, but only if you have the space to erect one. If you are compromised with regards to space, then the end fed half wave has to be the best choice. My current efhw in a 2 floor apartment runs out through a window, outside of the building for 10m, back into the apartment for 5m to another window on the opposite side and the outside again for approx 5m. This arrangement lets me get into the north east US and Europe from southern England on 20m using 20 watts. I can use 40m for UK and near Europe contacts, but this band is prone to a high noise due to the compromised installation.
Luckily I have a garden with plenty of space. So if I were going to start on 20 and 40 (and hope for 10) would you go for a dipole with 10m on each leg or one with 20m on each leg?
My favorite antenna is a EFHW… worked the world with it… That and a G90 with a great tuner built in
New Ham General here running my first radio and antenna. I bought an FTDX-10 and feed it a 40m OCFD, 22'leg and 44' leg. Tunes 6,10,12,15,17,20,30,40. I'm working the world. mAT-30 tuner gives SWR of 1.0 to 1.1 on everything but 6m (1.4) and 12m (1.6). Will tune 80m to 2.1 but I can't get any power out, radio limits it to 8w.
Good info. I have been on the air 60 years and have had many antennas. I can’t say that my best antenna was a dipole but that’s what I have worked most of my DX with! My full size 6 element 10 meter Yagi at 70 feet was good but I have used and am still using a couple 10 meter dipoles. My full size 4 element 20 meter Yagi at 70 feet was quite good but I have used two 20 meter dipoles for many years now. Switching from one dipole direction to another is instant whereas it took time to rotate the big Yagi. Most of my dipoles are and have been “ fan dipoles”. I presently have two 20/10 meter fan dipoles. Easier to handle than my previous 40/20/10 meter dipoles. At my present location I have the 40 meter antenna separate and on much longer coax. I do a lot of contesting and these dipoles allow me to sometimes work 100 countries on three or four bands in a single weekend. Over 1000 QSOs certainly tells me the dipole is a good antenna. As you say, these multiband dipoles are easy to build and tune. I always recommend beginners start with the simple dipole or fan dipole. There are a lot less headaches making it work! No ground or counterpoise necessary. In most cases, unless the feedline just happens to be a critical length I have never needed a choke. Only one of my dipoles has a coil of coax and I really can’t tell any difference. I never did that before, had no reason to do it when I did, so probably will not do it again unless I notice a problem.
Keep up the good work. 73, Don
Absolutely agree with you that a fan dipole would be a great option, but only if you have the space to erect one.
If you are compromised with regards to space, then the end fed half wave has to be the best choice.
My current efhw in a 2 floor apartment runs out through a window, outside of the building for 10m, back into the apartment for 5m to another window on the opposite side and the outside again for approx 5m. This arrangement lets me get into the north east US and Europe from southern England on 20m using 20 watts.
I can use 40m for UK and near Europe contacts, but this band is prone to a high noise due to the compromised installation.
Well explained and demo'd. Random wire with a 9:1 and tuner?
Luckily I have a garden with plenty of space. So if I were going to start on 20 and 40 (and hope for 10) would you go for a dipole with 10m on each leg or one with 20m on each leg?