Step by step how to make a 80/40m Fan Dipole with 1:1 Diamond BU-50A Balun.

In this video I show you how to easily build your own 40 meter and 80 meter dual element fan Dipole.
wire is military spec from SOTA BEAMS.
50ohm RG213 coax is also stainless military spec. from eBay
Balun is 1.2 kw 1:1 50 ohm, Diamond BU-50A. from Amazon UK. (not required dipole center is better. see update 2 below)
☆☆☆☆UPDATE ☆☆☆☆☆
I ended up shortening each 40m leg 12" (300 mm) to get 1:1 at 7.1Mhz for the phone band. before the adjustments were made the original length was resonate on the CW part of the band 7.0Mhz which is great if you want that. for myself shortening each leg brought the resonance to the part of the band I wanted.
80m was perfect without adjustment 1:1 at 3.7Mhz.
******UPDATE 2******* I removed the 1:1 Balan and now are using a basic dipole center instead which is slightly lighter - less sagging. Also the antenna has become better as it now provides wider band coverage on both 80m and 40m with low SWR across the entire band. The balan made it narrow coverage for low SWR. This antenna is also great on 10m band.
Its been up for 2 years now and I get great signal reports on it. I recommend building this antenna if you have the space.
Good luck with your build mine is really performing superbly, 80m - DX into USA and Eastern.EU.
40m - West Indies and Japan. Great for into G and EU as well.

[@markg6jvy135]

Nice work Simon, the joys of a long garden 👍
Look forward to seeing how it gets out soon👏👏

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks Mark, its working great so far I'm chuffed to bits. All received on the garden lol yes its great apart from trimming the hedges!

[@nickjordan2765]

great video well done

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks buddy

[@petertompkinson5622]

That was a really well delivered tutorial - very informative and enjoyable.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks Peter glad you enjoyed it. The antenna is still working super. 73

[@AndrewMurphy8383]

@@M0YKSHamRadio they are called a dog bone inslator

[@dxscotland5901]

Good job Simon that wire from sota beams is great and it’s all I use

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks Chris, it does seem to be top notch wire. I'm gonna try the vertical you mentioned with some of the wire next. When the WX improves lol. Have a good week amigo 73

[@MikeM0XMX]

Good job Simon.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks Mike 73

[@101blog]

Good video nicely done especially as it was your first instructional(Outside welding Transit Vans ;-) ) . The insulators are often called Dog Bones...I wonder why!!!?!

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks buddy, yes I remembered the dog bone later the same day lol I wonder ha ha dont think my hounds would like them. Have a good day buddy 73

[@Scif64]

Nice job Simon... Looking to get some of that wire but the smaller gauge... looking forward to seeing your tests. 73s

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks Steve, it sounds well on receive tonight. Will adjust the 40 to get perfect swr then a video to let you see the results. 73 buddy

[@stevenaustin2860]

great vid budd i done the inverted v as you know and i cut mine 33ft each leg sy and about 10 inches tyed back and the SWR was 1.0 right across the band but after seeing this vid im gunna try the 80m aswell good vid budd ill keep you posted how i get on 73

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Nice one mate easy enough and you will be impressed 👍 catch you later 73

[@sudberceni257]

177 / 5,000
Hello, I also own a Diamond BU-50A Balun. Can you help me with the cable length for the 20m band. What is the length of the wire. I still have a Balun from WINDCAMP Gipsy 7-30 mHZ in the specific description, the length of the wire is 5.2 meters

[@bobadkins7377]

Good presentation. I’m glad to have found this, as I’m just preparing to install a similar antenna. Are you still using this one? 73 KE8EC.

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Thanks 👍 yes still working very well for me. Good luck with your new antenna

[@lizzyfan1986]

Great vid Simon...I learned quite a bit
Question: would the 80 meter leg be resonant on 30 meters? Trying to do the math

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Niceone Fred, I would consider a 3rd dipole added to the fan for 30m below 40m v

[@dandypoint]

@@M0YKSHamRadio I am a big fan of fan dipoles! If the dipole is reasonably high, it should always beat a vertical if broadside to the dipole. The dipole does have a null off the end but that varies with frequency. Actually it varies with the height in wavelengths above the ground but since all the dipoles of a fan dipole are at the same height the null varies with frequency. At 50 feet high I don’t notice much null on 40 but on 10 meters the null is quite deep directly off the end.

[@Radioscoutisme_SGDF]

Hello, could it be possible to get the ref of the green cable on ebay please? 73 Vincent

[@M0YKSHamRadio]

Hi Vincent I got it direct from SOTA online store.
Two options light OR heavy. I went for heavy as it handles more power.
www.sotabeams.co.uk/antenna-wire-heavy-duty-green-50m-100m/