Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 44

Thread: How do I make a dipole?

  1. #1
    Silent Key Member 5-25-2015 W1GUH's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    NYC
    Posts
    10,471

    How do I make a dipole?

    Disclaimer:


    This thread is what you'd like to reply when you read those ever-present questions!!!

    I want to put up a dipole. I have limited space and can't put up the total length specified by the formula, so will it work OK if it's shorter? Can't use a tuner. Should I put up a G5RV instead? How long would that be. Can I use coax? How about balanced line without a tuner - I remember some BA's used that way.

    What kind of coax?
    If it's a war on drugs, then free the POW's.

  2. #2
    Pope Carlo l NQ6U's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Maritime Mobile
    Posts
    29,890
    I use a G5RV and can tell you that the performance is a bit limited. It works very well on 20m and acceptably on 40m but that's about it. I'm looking to upgrade to something else as soon as finances allow.
    All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.

  3. #3
    Orca Whisperer kf0rt's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Denver 'burbs
    Posts
    11,068
    Quote Originally Posted by W1GUH View Post
    What kind of coax?
    If it's going to be outdoors, I would recommend using the waterproof kind.

  4. #4
    Orca Whisperer
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Buffalo, NY
    Posts
    22,593
    Quote Originally Posted by W1GUH View Post
    Disclaimer:


    This thread is what you'd like to reply when you read those ever-present questions!!!

    I want to put up a dipole. I have limited space and can't put up the total length specified by the formula, so will it work OK if it's shorter? Can't use a tuner. Should I put up a G5RV instead? How long would that be. Can I use coax? How about balanced line without a tuner - I remember some BA's used that way.

    What kind of coax?
    I second using the waterproof coax. If you have limited space, then use a limited space antenna.
    Big Giant Meteor 2020 - We need to make Earth Great Again

    http://www.coreyreichle.com

  5. #5
    Pope Carlo l NQ6U's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Maritime Mobile
    Posts
    29,890
    Best feed line as far as loss goes would be window line. If you need coax and can afford it, LMR-400 is very nice. Don't really need it for HF but if you want coax with the minimum loss it can't be beat. If not, RG-8 is good. Stay away from RG-58, line losses are way too high.
    All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.

  6. #6
    Senile Member WA4TM's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    904
    Instead of shorter can you zig-zag it any? That might cram it in your available space..

  7. #7
    Lord of the Flies kb2crk's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    arnoldsville ga
    Posts
    4,134
    get a tuner and load the neighbors chain link fence as a long wire. hook same tuner to the gutter on your house and load it. think and experiment jackass.


    BTW i have loaded a gutter on a house for use on 10 meters and i have loaded a barbed wire pasture fence for 10 through 160m. i have no idea how long the wire fence was but in a bind it really does not matter.


    a yankee living in the hind end of the bible belt
    some people are like slinkys, not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down the stairs.

  8. #8
    Pope Carlo l NQ6U's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Maritime Mobile
    Posts
    29,890
    Quote Originally Posted by kb2crk View Post
    get a tuner and load the neighbors chain link fence as a long wire. hook same tuner to the gutter on your house and load it. think and experiment jackass.

    Jackass? That seems uncalled for.
    All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.

  9. #9
    Orca Whisperer
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Buffalo, NY
    Posts
    22,593
    Quote Originally Posted by KJ6BSO View Post
    Jackass? That seems uncalled for.
    See OP:
    "This thread is what you'd like to reply when you read those ever-present questions!!!"
    Big Giant Meteor 2020 - We need to make Earth Great Again

    http://www.coreyreichle.com

  10. #10
    Pope Carlo l NQ6U's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Maritime Mobile
    Posts
    29,890
    Quote Originally Posted by KC2UGV View Post
    See OP:
    "This thread is what you'd like to reply when you read those ever-present questions!!!"
    Duh, missed that totally. I thought that remark seemed sort of out of character and un-Island-like.
    All the world’s a stage, but obviously the play is unrehearsed and everybody is ad-libbing his lines. Maybe that’s why it’s hard to tell if we’re living in a tragedy or a farce.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •