I built a fan antenna right after I got my general. It has 10, 20 and 40M elements. I have it in the attic since Live an an antenna restricted neighbor hood and the antenna work really well. Lot's of fun to build too. This antenna, along with end fed antenna I built, also in the attic, let's me do about anything I want using my antenna tuner.
Just a quick presentation suggestion. For your whiteboard, try taking a Sharpie and marking an "X" on the top and one side of the aluminum edges. This will help the camera to stay focused when you wipe it clean.
My fan dipole is my very first homebrew antenna and I still use it to this day. I made my own balun/choke and used 14g THHN wire. I have the 75m stretched flat/horizontal and the 40 & 20 meter in an inverted V. I can tell you that through experience do not be afraid to bring those legs down. You would be surprised at where you can contact on 100w with it. I have worked all continents including Japan on 100w with my fan dipole. I tuned my 75m first then trimmed my 40 & 20. I found that just by bringing the legs down on 20 & 40 did bring the SWR down rather than trimming them further. I still prefer my fan over my Hexbeam in some instances. Best of luck. Thanks Dave. 73
I have a fan dipole in my attic at our FL QTH with elements for 40, 30, 20, and 17 meters. It is in an inverted V configuration and the 40m element resonates on 15m and the 30m element resonates on 6m so with 4 elements I get 6 bands. It works surprisingly well. I worked 85 countries that past winter with my Icom 7300 and 100 watts on CW. We are in an HOA so no outside antennas are allowed. The condo is a single story so the antenna at the center is probably only about 30 feet high. Fortunately no foil backed insulation is in the attic and the roof is tile.
I use 16 gauge landscaping wire for my wire antennas. I successfully built one for 5MHz for my military detachment for tactical deployment. For home use, I built a dipole center with an SO-239 connected to a 1:1 choke and split into two terminals. I can put whatever length wire(s) I want on it, whenever I like.
When you pull the legs of the dipoles "at odd angles" as you say, and pull the legs down to inverted VEE configuration, you get what is called a "Maypole Antenna." I have run these for over 30 years with excellent results.
Just finished my fan dipole home brew! Excited to use it next week. It’ll be mounted pretty low. Using steal and copper wire. 40m 60m and 75m band half wavelength. It will only be mounted 7feet above ground. Funny you say to not use house wire in use. A co worker was trying to build an antenna using the “grounding port in buildings” I didn’t think it was the best idea.
I have a couple questions regarding fan dipoles, if someone could point me in the right direction. What is the input impedance? Does it stay at 50 ohms (I guess it's actually 73 for a dipole) as you continue to add elements? which brings me to- is there an upper limit to the number of dipoles that can be combined? and finally, does the power half with every element? thank you for these videos, they are very helpful
Hi Dave. I have an existing 20m dipole that is perfectly tuned for 20m digital. If I add a pair of new wires to the existing dipole in fan dipole manner to add 6m capability, will that significantly de-tune my 20m dipole?
Thanks much David, Iam kind a person slow in doing things. I'm glad that I found you. following step by step to help me completed registered FCC number. Just wonder, do you have video how to apply The GMRS License.?
Excellent description! Some combinations do not work; for example, a fan dipole, one for 60 m (5.3 Mhz) and 40 m (7 Mhz) the 40 m dipole does not work.
Okay, question. Since 40M length seem to work well on 15M, does the inverse apply? In other words, if I put a 15M element on a fan dipole, will it cover 40M as well or will it be too short? 73 KG9PN.
Thank you Dave, you just gave me a great idea, make a fan dipole. You see I am short of coax, and as you know you can feed a fan dipole with a single feeder, job sorted. HS0ZQA David
NOTE: Question duplicated from another (incorrect) video If I wanted to build an antenna (a fan dipole, or possibly a fan-"dublet" with 450ohm feeder similar to a G5RV???) for my IC-7300 that covered ALL of the bands from 160m down to 6m, how many legs would I need to do? (Do any of the bands double up on any of the fan legs?) I have an attic space that is ~48' long at the ridgeline that is ~28-30' in the air. For the longer legs, can I wrap them back around (with spacing) and/or possibly use chokes? If I wrap them back around, how many times can I do that? (effectively ending up with multiple"Zs" in each of the longer legs" If I use the 450ohm ladder line, how long can it be or should it be before I switch it over to co-ax? Finally, I can't seem to find consistent data on whether the internal ATU on the IC-7300 can actually tune this type of antenna, how do I determine (specifically) what my SWR is on this antenna (and know that it is below the 7300's 3:1 SWR limit?)
Would it not be a good recommendation as well to also have a 1:1 balun for these? This was my first antenna at 12 yrs old, 40M and 20M inverted V on same coax feeder …
Man I made one 40/20/15 but some jackass tore it up even the mast. I had it in the front yard for tuning and testing and went to have dinner with the xyl and came home to the carnage. Never been so pissed off in my life.
Hello again Dave. Love your videos. I am thinking about a 40, 20, 10 and maybe 6 fanned dipole. I would imagine there is a bad, better and best pattern to use to adjust the wire length to achieve the best results. I know to wrap the wire instead of cutting until the proper length is obtained. Is there one band that it is best to adjust first. And would you think adjusting one would make a big difference to the others. And I would add a choke, most likely a coax choke to prevent rf from coming down the shield. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
can you mount a dipole under an existing dipole eg 80/40m and have 2 seperate antennas say 12 inches apart i have heaps of coax to use up currently the 80 works perfectly like to try the 40m under it
If your 80 works across the entire band, then something is absorbing power and converting it to heat. No 80 m wire antenna will cover the entire band. Rather than stringing one dipole under another, just create a fan dipole. Note that coax doesn't go bad if in storage. I once bought a 500-foot roll of Times Microwave LMR-400 and am still cutting pieces off of that roll.
Ciao Dave, sono Nino Perna IW1DKL, seguo il tuo canale con molto interesse e ti faccio i complimenti per il lavoro svolto. sto terminando la costruzione di una fan-dipole per i 40, 20,15 (in terza armonica sul dipolo dei 40) e 10 metri. Sto già pensando ad un futuro ampiamento: è possibile secondo te aggiungere un dipolo caricato per gli 80 metri? Grazie per il tempo che dedichi a questa attività. Un abbraccio dall'Italia. 73 iw1dkl
I have built two fandipoles, one for 40/20/10 hanging 33ft up between two trees, very happy with it. Although I might change out the 10m with 30m, since 33ft is to high up for the 10m band due to the radiation pattern. Or is it fine at that height?
You are connecting an unbalanced feedline to a balanced antenna. Don't you need a balun at that feedpoint? Otherwise, you will get common mode current and RF in the shack. 73 VE7NDE
is there any dipole antennas that i can make that will work on 15, 20, 40 & 80? that i dont need a turner for ?i use to think the g5rv was that way? is the fan dipole that way of do j have to have a tuner ? sh is really tight im disan\bled & am on limited funds
I built a fan antenna right after I got my general. It has 10, 20 and 40M elements. I have it in the attic since Live an an antenna restricted neighbor hood and the antenna work really well. Lot's of fun to build too. This antenna, along with end fed antenna I built, also in the attic, let's me do about anything I want using my antenna tuner.
Excellent Dave!! Keeping us sharp! "NOT house wire currently in use"
LOL. I fear for who that was for.
Just a quick presentation suggestion. For your whiteboard, try taking a Sharpie and marking an "X" on the top and one side of the aluminum edges. This will help the camera to stay focused when you wipe it clean.
My fan dipole is my very first homebrew antenna and I still use it to this day. I made my own balun/choke and used 14g THHN wire. I have the 75m stretched flat/horizontal and the 40 & 20 meter in an inverted V.
I can tell you that through experience do not be afraid to bring those legs down.
You would be surprised at where you can contact on 100w with it. I have worked all continents including Japan on 100w with my fan dipole. I tuned my 75m first then trimmed my 40 & 20. I found that just by bringing the legs down on 20 & 40 did bring the SWR down rather than trimming them further. I still prefer my fan over my Hexbeam in some instances. Best of luck. Thanks Dave. 73
I have a fan dipole in my attic at our FL QTH with elements for 40, 30, 20, and 17 meters. It is in an inverted V configuration and the 40m element resonates on 15m and the 30m element resonates on 6m so with 4 elements I get 6 bands. It works surprisingly well. I worked 85 countries that past winter with my Icom 7300 and 100 watts on CW. We are in an HOA so no outside antennas are allowed. The condo is a single story so the antenna at the center is probably only about 30 feet high. Fortunately no foil backed insulation is in the attic and the roof is tile.
I use 16 gauge landscaping wire for my wire antennas. I successfully built one for 5MHz for my military detachment for tactical deployment.
For home use, I built a dipole center with an SO-239 connected to a 1:1 choke and split into two terminals. I can put whatever length wire(s) I want on it, whenever I like.
Thank you, Dave. Have a great week and take care of yourself.
Excellent video
When you pull the legs of the dipoles "at odd angles" as you say, and pull the legs down to inverted VEE configuration, you get what is called a "Maypole Antenna." I have run these for over 30 years with excellent results.
Just finished my fan dipole home brew! Excited to use it next week. It’ll be mounted pretty low. Using steal and copper wire. 40m 60m and 75m band half wavelength. It will only be mounted 7feet above ground. Funny you say to not use house wire in use. A co worker was trying to build an antenna using the “grounding port in buildings” I didn’t think it was the best idea.
Wow, such awesome information!
I have a couple questions regarding fan dipoles, if someone could point me in the right direction. What is the input impedance? Does it stay at 50 ohms (I guess it's actually 73 for a dipole) as you continue to add elements? which brings me to- is there an upper limit to the number of dipoles that can be combined? and finally, does the power half with every element? thank you for these videos, they are very helpful
Hi Dave. I have an existing 20m dipole that is perfectly tuned for 20m digital. If I add a pair of new wires to the existing dipole in fan dipole manner to add 6m capability, will that significantly de-tune my 20m dipole?
Thanks much David, Iam kind a person slow in doing things. I'm glad that I found you. following step by step to help me completed registered FCC number. Just wonder, do you have video how to apply The GMRS License.?
Such smart
Im a fan of this show and of polocks so i could become a fan dipole.
Excellent description! Some combinations do not work; for example, a fan dipole, one for 60 m (5.3 Mhz) and 40 m (7 Mhz) the 40 m dipole does not work.
Okay, question. Since 40M length seem to work well on 15M, does the inverse apply? In other words, if I put a 15M element on a fan dipole, will it cover 40M as well or will it be too short? 73 KG9PN.
Thank you Dave, you just gave me a great idea, make a fan dipole.
You see I am short of coax, and as you know you can feed a fan dipole with a single feeder, job sorted.
HS0ZQA David
NOTE: Question duplicated from another (incorrect) video
If I wanted to build an antenna (a fan dipole, or possibly a fan-"dublet" with 450ohm feeder similar to a G5RV???) for my IC-7300 that covered ALL of the bands from 160m down to 6m, how many legs would I need to do? (Do any of the bands double up on any of the fan legs?)
I have an attic space that is ~48' long at the ridgeline that is ~28-30' in the air.
For the longer legs, can I wrap them back around (with spacing) and/or possibly use chokes? If I wrap them back around, how many times can I do that? (effectively ending up with multiple"Zs" in each of the longer legs"
If I use the 450ohm ladder line, how long can it be or should it be before I switch it over to co-ax?
Finally, I can't seem to find consistent data on whether the internal ATU on the IC-7300 can actually tune this type of antenna, how do I determine (specifically) what my SWR is on this antenna (and know that it is below the 7300's 3:1 SWR limit?)
Would it not be a good recommendation as well to also have a 1:1 balun for these? This was my first antenna at 12 yrs old, 40M and 20M inverted V on same coax feeder …
@Daviid Casler fake account you are… reported
Man I made one 40/20/15 but some jackass tore it up even the mast. I had it in the front yard for tuning and testing and went to have dinner with the xyl and came home to the carnage. Never been so pissed off in my life.
Hello again Dave. Love your videos. I am thinking about a 40, 20, 10 and maybe 6 fanned dipole. I would imagine there is a bad, better and best pattern to use to adjust the wire length to achieve the best results. I know to wrap the wire instead of cutting until the proper length is obtained. Is there one band that it is best to adjust first. And would you think adjusting one would make a big difference to the others. And I would add a choke, most likely a coax choke to prevent rf from coming down the shield. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
can you mount a dipole under an existing dipole eg 80/40m and have 2 seperate antennas say 12 inches apart i have heaps of coax to use up currently the 80 works perfectly like to try the 40m under it
If your 80 works across the entire band, then something is absorbing power and converting it to heat. No 80 m wire antenna will cover the entire band. Rather than stringing one dipole under another, just create a fan dipole. Note that coax doesn't go bad if in storage. I once bought a 500-foot roll of Times Microwave LMR-400 and am still cutting pieces off of that roll.
Ciao Dave,
sono Nino Perna IW1DKL, seguo il tuo canale con molto interesse e ti faccio i complimenti per il lavoro svolto.
sto terminando la costruzione di una fan-dipole per i 40, 20,15 (in terza armonica sul dipolo dei 40) e 10 metri.
Sto già pensando ad un futuro ampiamento: è possibile secondo te aggiungere un dipolo caricato per gli 80 metri?
Grazie per il tempo che dedichi a questa attività.
Un abbraccio dall'Italia.
73 iw1dkl
I have built two fandipoles, one for 40/20/10 hanging 33ft up between two trees, very happy with it. Although I might change out the 10m with 30m, since 33ft is to high up for the 10m band due to the radiation pattern. Or is it fine at that height?
You are connecting an unbalanced feedline to a balanced antenna. Don't you need a balun at that feedpoint? Otherwise, you will get common mode current and RF in the shack.
73 VE7NDE
Be sure when walking to always use both feet.
is there any dipole antennas that i can make that will work on 15, 20, 40 & 80? that i dont need a turner for ?i use to think the g5rv was that way? is the fan dipole that way of do j have to have a tuner ? sh is really tight im disan\bled & am on limited funds
Remember the cartoon “Augie Doggie”?
Thank You Dave! KE8QPI
What's wrong with horizontal polarization for FM if all sending and receiving stations are same polarization?
90% of folks running FM are running vertical. You'd have up to 20 db loss just from cross polarizing. SSB CW and digital are mainly horizontal.
@@kansasradioguy yeah I get that, I'm saying specifically, what's the issue with polarization? If everyone is the same, there is no difference right?
@@Justin-bd2dg Right - it’s just that everyone else has standardized on vertical.
"Spook in the air" :)
Great info! AI4BW
👍👏👏
A doublet makes o so much more sense.
He has a fan over his left shoulder... 🐣