I have been running a home built ZS6BKW antenna as a sloper with the window line running horizontally and I get a great match on 10 meters and even 6 meters. I only have a technician license so that is what I am limited to and haven't tried it anywhere else for obvious reasons. I mainly use it for digital contacts on FT8 and have worked New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, the Falkland Islands, South Africa, Russia, and most of Europe. I'm not sure how it works that way but it does. it slopes from a 15' cherry tree up to the top of a 75' oak tree.
Hi Dave. Quick Q: Does the type of metal used in a dipole antenna matter? Copper vs Stainless Steel I am looking to build an indoor (HOA) multi-band fan dipole antenna, center fed thru a MFJ-913 4:1 Balun. The longest distance I can run is 42', so I'm looking at staying in the 6m - 20m bands with one antenna per band. (6 total) I have several hundred feet of Stainless Steel wire I hoped to use rather than needing to buy a bunch of copper. It's not a money thing, just I was thinking of experimenting with other Ant configs and would like to use the SS wire there as well. The wire is single strand .041" safety wire, and I was planning on twisting 2-3 strands together to increase the dia. of each element. I searched around and I'm hearing both yes and no. Most no's cite Stainless being a bad conductor and power loss due to heating. I'm running an IC-7100 @100W with a MFJ-993B tuner. Coax is 75' of LMR-400. Also, not sure if I'm using the correct balun. It's one I had already. I'd love to get your take on this. 73
My ZS6BKW needed to be shortened 6 inches at each end to resonate within the ham bands, and is also inverted vee with 27 foot apex. As I understand it, the higher the frequency the more the pattern becomes more like a flat top figure 8 at the proper height. Not exactly, but more like it.
Yes, ladderline is a balanced line and will interact with any metal it's run close to... You should stand it off, or better (if possible) let it either free hang, or run along fiberglass or wooden (non-conductive) post/support. Can you use the flag pole as one end of the antenna, or alternatively pick an antenna for the pole that's compatible with a coax feeder?
I am a new General licensed HAM. Just passed the test Last week. I was given a IC 718 and AH-4. I would like to ask if I connect a wire 100ft would be safent to work as multi band?
Yes, but a single wire is not the type of balanced antenna featured in this video. A long/random wire antenna cannot be just any length - the name 'random' is poorly chosen. This is because you should avoid resonant lengths of wire for the bands you want to use it for. Recommended lengths are: 29 35.5 41 58 71 84 107 119 148 203 347 407 423 (feet). A sloper is a common setup for these antennas, but a vertical will also work for the shorter lengths. If you go for a sloper, the feedpoint/tuner should be at the low end because you want the high voltage/radiating bit up high. This is also the reason why you want the end of the sloper away from your house. This type of antenna may need a counterpoise or ground if the SWR is high.
I have been running a home built ZS6BKW antenna as a sloper with the window line running horizontally and I get a great match on 10 meters and even 6 meters. I only have a technician license so that is what I am limited to and haven't tried it anywhere else for obvious reasons. I mainly use it for digital contacts on FT8 and have worked New Zealand, Hawaii, Alaska, the Falkland Islands, South Africa, Russia, and most of Europe. I'm not sure how it works that way but it does. it slopes from a 15' cherry tree up to the top of a 75' oak tree.
Also remember to put the outer screw part of the connector on the coax before soldering or crimping. 73 - Jim WA8MDC
Hi Dave. Quick Q: Does the type of metal used in a dipole antenna matter? Copper vs Stainless Steel
I am looking to build an indoor (HOA) multi-band fan dipole antenna, center fed thru a MFJ-913 4:1 Balun.
The longest distance I can run is 42', so I'm looking at staying in the 6m - 20m bands with one antenna per band. (6 total)
I have several hundred feet of Stainless Steel wire I hoped to use rather than needing to buy a bunch of copper.
It's not a money thing, just I was thinking of experimenting with other Ant configs and would like to use the SS wire there as well.
The wire is single strand .041" safety wire, and I was planning on twisting 2-3 strands together to increase the dia. of each element.
I searched around and I'm hearing both yes and no. Most no's cite Stainless being a bad conductor and power loss due to heating.
I'm running an IC-7100 @100W with a MFJ-993B tuner. Coax is 75' of LMR-400.
Also, not sure if I'm using the correct balun. It's one I had already.
I'd love to get your take on this. 73
My ZS6BKW needed to be shortened 6 inches at each end to resonate within the ham bands, and is also inverted vee with 27 foot apex. As I understand it, the higher the frequency the more the pattern becomes more like a flat top figure 8 at the proper height. Not exactly, but more like it.
If the ladder line is insulated line do you still have to keep it from touching the metal center pole? I want to use a 35' flag pole that is aluminum.
Yes, ladderline is a balanced line and will interact with any metal it's run close to... You should stand it off, or better (if possible) let it either free hang, or run along fiberglass or wooden (non-conductive) post/support. Can you use the flag pole as one end of the antenna, or alternatively pick an antenna for the pole that's compatible with a coax feeder?
I am a new General licensed HAM. Just passed the test Last week. I was given a IC 718 and AH-4. I would like to ask if I connect a wire 100ft would be safent to work as multi band?
Yes, but a single wire is not the type of balanced antenna featured in this video.
A long/random wire antenna cannot be just any length - the name 'random' is poorly chosen. This is because you should avoid resonant lengths of wire for the bands you want to use it for. Recommended lengths are: 29 35.5 41 58 71 84 107 119 148 203 347 407 423 (feet).
A sloper is a common setup for these antennas, but a vertical will also work for the shorter lengths. If you go for a sloper, the feedpoint/tuner should be at the low end because you want the high voltage/radiating bit up high. This is also the reason why you want the end of the sloper away from your house.
This type of antenna may need a counterpoise or ground if the SWR is high.
@@erpece thank you for your knowledge.
Thanks !
Why do they measure the antenna length in feet when the impedence is measured in metric foot ohms per second square?
Because we like feet & inches better.
doublet