Fan dipole question

Quote:

---

If there's one to be had at Dayton this weekend I'm going to pick up a -269 and accessory pack.

---

Wouldn't you rather purchase my complete General Radio RF bridge set and do it the old fashioned way???:lol:

Yeah, I know, don't bother to answer.:lol:

I stopped using that crap when MFJ came out with the complete analyzer (I also f'ed up and bought the one that only shows SWR) first.:yuck: The one that only shows SWR is cute but of little real use.:irked: Best for only taking a quick look at a known antenna to see if something has changed.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WØTKX

I heard that in your FT-901 voice.

---

I did too strangely enough.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by N4VGB

Wouldn't you rather purchase my complete General Radio RF bridge set and do it the old fashioned way???:lol:

Yeah, I know, don't bother to answer.:lol:

I stopped using that crap when MFJ came out with the complete analyzer (I also f'ed up and bought the one that only shows SWR) first.:yuck: The one that only shows SWR is cute but of little real use.:irked: Best for only taking a quick look at a known antenna to see if something has changed.

---

Worked nicely enough for building a fan dipole that needed to be fed with coax into a 50 Ohm impedance transmitter.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KC2UGV

Worked nicely enough for building a fan dipole that needed to be fed with coax into a 50 Ohm impedance transmitter.

---

That's according to your definition of "nicely enough" and at your stage of development in RF knowledge it probably did.

When you advance to understanding the resistive, capacitive and inductive nature of antennas and transmission lines.........................what the hell am I talking about??? Not required for even an Extra class license and in the current plug & play world of ham radio, who the f' cares!?:lol:

Carry on.

Edit: ignore any talk of field strength meters and taking readings at designated points, ignore the idea of RF ground.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by N4VGB

That's according to your definition of "nicely enough" and at your stage of development in RF knowledge it probably did.

---

Yep, it worked it's function well.

Quote:

---

When you advance to understanding the resistive, capacitive and inductive nature of antennas and transmission lines.........................what the hell am I talking about??? Not required for even an Extra class license and in the current plug & play world of ham radio, who the f' cares!?:lol:

---

None of which is really required to build a fan dipole, or even a simple dipole. Which was my point. The device works fine as long as you aren't expecting it to work miracles.

Quote:

---

Carry on.

Edit: ignore any talk of field strength meters and taking readings at designated points, ignore the idea of RF ground.

---

I'll also ignore the banging of the cane on the ceiling :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KC2UGV

I'll also ignore the banging of the cane on the ceiling :)

---

:lol:

How has it been performing? I've had quite a lot of interest in fan dipoles, but have never manned up and built one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KC2UGV

None of which is really required to build a fan dipole, or even a simple dipole.

---

Yeah buddy.:ugh::lol:

Carry on.:lol:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KC2UGV

I'll also ignore the banging of the cane on the ceiling :)

---

:rofl: :rofl:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KU0DM

:lol:

How has it been performing? I've had quite a lot of interest in fan dipoles, but have never manned up and built one.

---

The cane or antenna lol

The antenna has been working fine business, even in in a cramped attic. But, I have a pretty open attic when compared to most. 40 meter (According to pskreporter) seems to working in an NVIS fashion as VA seems to be the furthest I can see reports from, 20 meter I get coast to coast coverage easily on 20 W, and 10 Meters, I was hearing a UK station, but I think the directivity killed me on closing that contact.

Next time were on 75, I'll have to tell about a guy in the next town over who drove his upstairs nosey nieghbor crazy. Lets just say she kept hearing voices. over her TV. Her stereo. The voices The VOICES !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KU0DM

:lol:

How has it been performing? I've had quite a lot of interest in fan dipoles, but have never manned up and built one.

---

I also have to add, the wires can become quite tangled easily while putting it up, unless you put physical spreaders in. Other than the mistake with the MFJ unit, that was the most difficult part.

Yes, that MFJ-269 is one of the best things since sliced bread. I'll never be without one again! One tip for it. Get an unused power connecter for the ext. power in jack, and leave it in the jack when you're not using the '269. It'll act as a "safety" and keep the power OFF. The only thing I don't like about the analyzer is it's easy for the power button to get pressed and run down the batteries. But this trick takes care of that nicely.

OK. We're talking about dipoles and tuning them, and pruning then, and using multiple dipoles on one piece of coax, etc., etc., etc. Look out, here comes my usual :rant: on the :soapbox: ! ;)

Last year doing the hamfest circuit I saw the small Johnson matchbox several times, and the prices were always < $100. I got one without the meter and other stuff -- but with the tuning network clean as a whistle - for $50.00. Here's why you, too, want one of those.

With one of those, or maybe better yet, one you've built (they're easy and cheap to build here's K1JJ's outstandingly easy and effictive design), you NEVER have to prune you antenna. You HARDLY EVER have to worry about "RF in the shack", and you'll have a very easy and effective antenna. The length of the antenna becomes completely non-critical -- the rule of thumb is that any length greater than or equal to a half wavelength on the lowest frequency of operation works just fine -- so you can measure your antenna, put it up, and be done with that part. Plus -- if you want to do an extended Zepp (fun to play with) or a lazy-H (even more fun to play with), the tuner'll tune that, too.

You MAY have to tune the feedline. Impedance varies all over the place depending on the length of the feedline, and it can be tedious to find the length that's good on all bands that you want to opearate but that's a heckuva lot easier than pruning an antenna. And once you've got it, you're done.

Over the years I messed with tuned dipoles, sometimes with frustration, etc., and it took me a good 30 years to get the above about balanced line and link-coupled tuners through my thick skull. What a pleasure putting up a dipole became when I finally "got it!".

Finally, much as I post against them, a "fake" balanced tuner (e.g. single ended with a balun) will do nicely in a pinch. That's what I first used. It's not optimum but will tune a balanced antenna and won't eat up enough power to detract from your fun!

OK....off the soapbox!!! Have fun!!!!

I've been using a balanced tuner I built from specs in the Handbook (I think it was). Anyhow, pix on "that other site".

http://www.miracleantenna.com/MMD.htm

Just use the Miracle Antenna!

They even have video!

http://www.miracleantenna.com/Miracl...a%20Videos.htm

G'day Corey....I wonder if you have considered using a 40 meter dipole fed with 1/4 wavelength open wire feeders and a balanced tuner? With this set up you can then tune 20, 15, and 10 meters....Probably also the WARC bands as well....No more wire tangles and sorting out each antenna with the coaxial fed fan....Many of these old ideas have been lost in recent years and yet it is the simplest way to get on multi bands with the least bother....I would look at building a link coupled tuner....For 40-10 meters a simple inductor say 12uh, a parallel 75pf transmitting capacitor if you run more than 100 watts, and a few turn coupling link over the center of it with a series old 3 gang broadcast gang...You could breadboard this with a few alligator clips to select tappings for each band and you have the world at your feet...The 40 meter dipole then becomes 1 wavelength at 20 meters and so on up the spectrum...No more multiple wires all over the place..:chin:

Bob..VK3ZL..

If you live in a multi story building and don't have a good earth connection it is a good idea to run a 1/4 wavelength of wire from the earth connection on your radio gear around the skirting or anywhere you can conveniently lay it....This will help eliminate RF feedback and other problems....Toss it out the window or stick it in the bathroom...Endless possibilities....

Bob..VK3ZL..

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by VK3ZL

G'day Corey....I wonder if you have considered using a 40 meter dipole fed with 1/4 wavelength open wire feeders and a balanced tuner? With this set up you can then tune 20, 15, and 10 meters....Probably also the WARC bands as well....No more wire tangles and sorting out each antenna with the coaxial fed fan....Many of these old ideas have been lost in recent years and yet it is the simplest way to get on multi bands with the least bother....I would look at building a link coupled tuner....For 40-10 meters a simple inductor say 12uh, a parallel 75pf transmitting capacitor if you run more than 100 watts, and a few turn coupling link over the center of it with a series old 3 gang broadcast gang...You could breadboard this with a few alligator clips to select tappings for each band and you have the world at your feet...The 40 meter dipole then becomes 1 wavelength at 20 meters and so on up the spectrum...No more multiple wires all over the place..:chin:

Bob..VK3ZL..

---

We don't agree on much other than art, tank circuits and antennas Bob.:lol: I guess that's enough.

Open wire feeders and balanced-balanced tuners seem to be fading in popularity among all but the older hams. Why? I have no idea.

The concept of proper RF grounding as opposed to proper home AC distribution grounding is another sticking point that most seem incapable of grasping. Combining those functions is an invitation to problems.:irked:

Fixed my wind damaged open wire connection this afternoon.

It does amaze me that more folks don't do the "all band" doublet (or OCF) with a tuner and balanced line... balun or no.

Easy peasy antenna system. :dance:

Been considering the folded dipole for 20m with the legs added for 40m.