How to Build a Six Meter Ham Radio Dipole Antenna
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- Опубліковано 20 сер 2024
- This video I show you how to build a 6 meter ham radio dipole antenna.
This is another video to help you get on six meter. In this video I explain the half wave dipole antenna and show as an example the dipole that I built.
A half wave dipole is one of the simplest antennas that you can build. The dipole is usually two pieces of wire, attached to a center insulator. The dipole is fed with coax, with the center conductor going to one wire and the shield going to the other wire. The formula to calculate the length of the antenna is Length in feet = 468/ Freq in MHz. So for six meter with 50.125 as the target frequency this works out to 9.34 feet or 4.67 for each of the two wires. Here is a link to a dipole calculator
www.kwarc.org/a...
I build my dipole using ½ aluminum tubing attached to a center insulator that I build out of a piece of Plexiglas scrap that I picked up for free from a window glass store. I added various nuts, bolts, and u-bolts to make up the center insulator. You could also make the dipole by inserting some number 12 or 14 wire inside ½ inch pvc tubing. Or, hang the wire dipole from a tree.
When you build the dipole cut your tubing or wire long, then trim to length by using an SWR meter or antenna analyzer. I use my MFJ antenna analyzer to help me tune my dipole.
I also show my Elk Antennas dual band beam that mounts on the top of the mast. You can learn more about Elk at
www.elkantennas...
I hope this is enough information to help you put together a simple antenna to give six meters a try.
Randy
I built a tapered element 6 meter dipole from aluminum tubing. Using tapered elements eliminates the need to trim the ends by cutting. You just loosen the hose clamp and slide the end of the element in or out to adjust the SWR (similar to tuning a base loaded mobile antenna). Be sure to adjust both ends equally!
The elements are made from 3/4",5/8", 1/2" and 3/8" O.D. tubing purchased from DX Engineering as was the hose clamps, saddle clamps and the center insulator (antenna to mast (vertical) or antenna to stand-off (horizontal) plate.
And don't forget to include a 1:1 common mode choke at the antenna feed point to help prevent any RFI/EMI problems before they happen. A 6" id coil of 6 to 8 turns of coax around a form will work well.
Currently for 10 meters I have an aluminum dipole made from tubing sections for DX engineering. Each element collapses down to a little over 3 feet and can be shortened for working 6 meters. I get great SWR all over the 10 meter band. On field day I had it mounted on a mast on a speaker tripod like you have. I didn't think I needed guy wires. I was wrong! Thankfully no one was hurt and the antenna was fixable. Just a slightly bent element and a broken PVC fitting. All in all a great antenna
Hi Randy,
I have been licensed since I was 14, now 54 and have had loads of fun over th years. I really appreciate you doing these videos to help and encourage the new folks getting in the hobby. I hear so many Hams complain about NO CODE ops. Personally I love CW and as a result of the new licensing we are getting more good operators. In the last several years, I have operated many CW stations that got their start with a no code ticket.
We need to encourage our new Ham ops !
Hello! KC9BGX here. I really appreciate your time in making these videos. I only recently renewed my interest in the hobby, and have been intrigued with 6-meter. I'll be constructing an antenna soon. I hope I'll be able to run into you on that band and gain some knowledge! Thanks!
Our friend Troy, the off grid camper, is curious about HAM radio, I will find him some info, and I know you have helped him as I have, so if you have any getting started info, I encourage you to send it to him. Your videos are great!
Neil
AC2O
An inexpensive tubing cutter makes trimming the ends of the aluminum tubes much easier. No need to mount the element in a vise, and it makes for a very clean and straight cut. Another thing I've found, is that using larger diameter tubing allows for wider bandwidth. :)
Great ideas, thanks.
Thank you for explaining this slowly and thoroughly. Im just getting started so you were very helpful.
Have fun building antennas
Thank you for making a great video. I have had my licence less than a year. Have been taking full advantage of 10 meter, but wanting to learn and try out 6. Have to study so i can get my general and use hf bands.
I have built several simple dipoles in my time and I always call these dipoles when mounted in the vertical plane a "Tricky Stick" and I have always had awesome results from them, simple to build and erect. You can just take the driven element off any old junk beam and get rid of the matching network, split the element in half, leave a 1" to 2" gap between the 2 element ends for the feedpoint then just lengthen or shorten the element tips for the best SWR on whichever band you will be using and then enjoy your diy simple dipole.
Clearly you are a talented builder.
As far as video production, just because you can go over 10 minutes, doesn't mean you have to. First part very wordy.
Jump cuts in first part.
Audio quality very good.
The beginning could not have a more boring background.
Thank you for your knowledge I'm happy your sharing all of your skills for us young guy who don't know very much about this hobby
You are welcomed. We all have lots to learn when we start getting into this hobby. We aren't born with a ham radio gene. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for tutorial. I found your channel yesterday while waiting around for 6m to get busy, actually made 12 contacts in the contest. Thanks again I think I'll order that elk antenna sometime soon.-73
Glad to hear that 6 opened for you..
Hi Randy, thanks for putting this together a few years ago. This was a great help for what ended up being a nearly free to make project for me. 73!
Hope 6 opens up for you
Randy, your tutorial videos are excellent! As another individual commented, they are easy to listen to, very simple to understand, and down to earth. Thank you so much for sharing the simple yet technical pieces of the hobby! 73’s. Mark W5HSJ
Great video!
I just made my first two contacts on 6 meters on 5/10/2014 from my mobile.
My radio FT-450D, and my antenna is the Hustler vertical.
One station was VP9GE in Bermuda and the other was WD4AB in FL.
I hope to work you soon on 6 meters.
Best 73 & Good DX!,
Charles, KD4TVB, Marshall, NC.
Brilliant channel , you get to the point clearly and I understand your descriptions and don't feel stupid or intimidated as with other ham videos many thanks for your time and the effort you put into making the videos. Shane uk England
thanks
Foxjunting ham
Thanks for the great video. My 6m dipole is up and working GREAT. 73's
Amazing to think, and you weren’t to know it when you made the video Randy, you ended up with a perfect antenna for FT8 on 6m!
Actually, I used the two elements on 6 that is part of my HF beam. When the band opens, this will work.
Great Video!! I'm new to ham so I really appreciate folks like you who take the time to share and teach!!
Antennas can be a lot of fun to experiment, play and learn. Have fun and enjoy. Please keep me posted on your work.
Finished building your 2 meter example.And it works great. This will be my next project. Thank You !!!!
Michael Frank Glad to hear that it is working!
I think the connector is an SO-239. See 4:02. You said SO-259. Good video. I like your stuff. It is nice that some one takes the time to give good instruction for new hams. :)
Thanks Randy I still have my loop antenna for 2 and 6 Meters but I haven't made a 6 Meter contact yet but my SWR is still excellent on the antenna and one of my ham radio friends from here in Kokomo said that as long as your SWR was at 2:1 or under I was good to go I love your videos by the way keep producing them and I'll keep watching them.
Randy, thanks again for another great tutorial. I never knew it was that simple.
Thanks Randy. Great video!
Excellent. Wish I would have watched your video 'before' I went to the hardware store. Now I might have to make a special trip for some parts. I never would have thought about the Plexiglas mount. I like how it neatens up the build.
July was one of the magic times on six meters. When it opens, you better be ready and on the air! Randy
Very informative! Six meters I am heading that way! 73 now W7KO
Built this antenna and got it in the air today. Unfortunately, 6m is D-E-A-D dead... but i'll keep poking around at it. Good SWR between 50-51mhz. Thanks for the inspiration!
There is always another way to build it! Whatever works, works!
Nice video. Don't forget to mention 6 meter repeaters. We have one in our area. I'd like to see more activity on 2 meter SSB. W9 DLP
I guess I'll have to invest in a SWR analyzer. I could never get the lengths right. Thanks again, and look forward to your next tutorial or video. Cheers
I need to do this with my 10 meter dipole. Right now it's speaker wire supported by 1/2 inch PVC pipe. The pipe sags. The thinnest aluminum tubing from dx engineering is half the weight of 1/2 inch PVC. That should make for a sturdier antenna. I may also have to do a 6 meter dipole as well. Perhaps do an xmas tree arrangement. Heck, I want to try 2 meter sideband, so might as well stick a 2 meter dipole on top of the six,
Thanks for another excellent video.
This would be perfect for a vacation. I have a sat tv tripod. You could have several pieces of pvc, with ring connectors and make the mast. For strength, you could put dowel rods inside them.
Thank you great job with this video, I just got a new rig that has 6 meter .
Have fun!
Another fantastic video, keep them coming Randy!
I have a 4 element yagi but i wanted something quick and simple so i made one out of some scrap wire and a left over MFJ center insulator... It works!
Thank you so much for your great videos.we all can benefit from your wisdom.love all your vids.73,s
1995
2 curtain pinns alu sqared (remove the plast sliders) -
one pice of plank ca 30 cm.
1 wire connector ( nick name sugar bit)
screws to mount the pinns to the plank.
2 pice of copper wire ( 0.75 mm2 eletric wire bits will do)
mount the sugar bit with a screw
connect wire bits
connect a rg58 cable as long as needed to reach the station.
mount it on a broomstick.
and i did Canada Brazil and Australia to take som of the edges
regards oz1gai
Thanks you. I'm studying in Portland Oregon
Best of luck!
Now to build something for this band. This is an excellent video--as usual from you.
Best 73,
Jonathan KC7FYS/qrp
Good idea being able to use your antenna for either 6 or 10 meter. Keep safe.
Interesting band, that I used to run at 100MW with a Maxon 5 channel "Base Station"!
With all due respect Randy, it is "SO-239",not PL-239 (P=Plug, S=socket)
Just a little note here for everyone...you can use a copper tubing cutter on those elements...much faster and cleaner...
I now have a cutter
Another great video Randy! You must not have made it to Dayton this year. Dayton was great, more people there this year than last. 73's, AD9Z
Also 11meter beam elements are great to use !
@cl4yd0h FM, from being from commercial radio - police cars and so on, tends to be vertical polarized due to simple mobile antennas. The beam doesn't change the polarization, but the way the antenna is oriented,
Randy. Me and my dad just got done building a 6m dipole to your specs.
The 6m band was not open at the time of RX test, so i'll try it again tomorrow afternoon
@steveinkentucky there are many ways to build the system, Have fun figuring out what best works for you. I read the other day, an amateur license is a license to learn!
Thanks for the video!
Randy your videos are excellent and informative and I can't wait for you to produce more of them when ever you have time.73's. Tony Ridlen KC9QVE
+Tony Ridlen Busy moving to OR
+K7AGE be careful and hope to see another video from you in the future! Tony
Most antennas that have tubular elements us Aluminum for the weight and cost differences. Stainless hardware is quite common. The aluminum is what I had in the junk pile.
beautifully built! Look almost commercial!
Hi Randy. Just for clarification. It is a SO-239. Not 259. Other then that. Nice presentation . Thank You
Randy,...Tnx fer all of your help...it is Greatly appreciated !!! ..hv you built a DP trap for 30,17,12 M's ?....I really need to cover those bands and from what I hv read, this is an economical way to approach the problem of Warc band coverage....oh..I.Just passed my Extra Exam a week ago and boy it was a great challenge but very much worth the time and investment of study.For any Generals out there thinking about this upgrade....Go for it !.....Dana WN6OHG
Hi Randy,
Nice video. A coax choke balun wouldn't go amiss near the feedpoint - probably 5 or 6 turns around an aerosol can - something like that.
73 - Rob VK2GOM
@whistlesun Keep listening, the band will open.
Thank you
4S7JR from Sri Lanka
Cool video, it would be nice to see a video on a six or 10 meter yagi.
@K7AGE Thanks Randy for the information I'll see what my primary antenna can do if it can't tune 6 it can't tune 6.
73's. Tony
Hey Randy,
Great video, as you may know I am a big 6 meter fan. I recently posted a video showing some 6 meter contacts using my MFJ-9406 QRP Rig.
73
VE3UK
Because we are dealing with meters, the only thing I wish is to see metric measurements for all the figures (with the olde style, too)--that helps to better illustrate the fractional relationships between the elements and wavelengths.
Sorry to hear that, I am sure 6 would be popular in your area of the world.
@mdf0502 Sure, beams are better. It would be default to build a dual band version.
6 can be dead most of the time. There have recently been openings on the ease. Listen to 50.125 SSB and/or 52.525 on FM for the openings.
If everyone LISTENS the band will never open.
I think you should call cq on 50.125, then listen, then call again.
That's how bands open.
Groovy, I like that hook-up, got an elk 2m/440 on my 18 wheeler ( mirror mount ) but now I can add a 6m! Great video! Kd0iqr. 73's
@cmritchie04 The master is the ARRL Antenna Book, a bit expensive. There is a section on the ARRL.ORG with past antenna articles. Not sure where these are on their new site. You can see more at ARRL if you are a member. Otherwise, Google around for antenna building projects.
@jichus1 First, a beam should always work better than a dipole. I have not had it running during an opening, but I don't think it will make much difference. When six is hot, it smokes!
@tonyridlen Maybe, that antenna may be too long for an antenna tuner to tune it to 6M.
I think, at the cutting of the dipole, I would option for a power tool here; but that is just me.
I want to learn more I need a mentor I my area. This is so cool. I have the radio and need to get my license back.
Look for a radio club in your area, or the ARRL site, for a club that is offering a Technician class.
Probably, if it will be strong enough for the longer 10 meter elements.
Thanks much
@scott231us Not being a UV plastics expert, not sure. I built this for portable operation, so long life in the sun was not a requirement. Sometimes, you just got to do it and see what happens. What is the life, 1, 5 , 10 years, I don't know?
Simple, & very well explained Randy.
Good work !
vy 73's
Ronald ZB3B .-.-.
No balun needed???
Why not slide another piece of tubing inside the one you have and then just slide it in and out to get the best SWR?
Just maybe, it is what he had on hand.
I have it built. I am using your measurements. Be a while before I get to test it. No place to put the new radio yet. I will let you know how it works out. Great video. Now to build a 10-160 antenna. Do you have a video on that?
G-10 fiberglass board works well.
Thank you Randy . great info
He changed his web page. It is about 6x12 or whatever fits you parts.
hello that looks great i am a skywarn weather spotter here in michigan im going to take the ham test so i can get in on the weather net is the testing hard i have a hard time reading
@daleriff Probably, it will be heavier.
I've found that 2 40m ham sticks works on 6 meters in the same configuration.
thanks Randy you got me going
this video is super great i like it
73 ur Friend Rico
PA3BVK
And your caps lock button works great too!
Hi hi :-P
Another great video Randy. Keep up the good work. Ron KA3WEL
sure
I am not understanding why we calculate for 50.125mhz. The band goes from 50.000mhz to 54.000mhz. Why not calculate for 52.000mhz, the center of the band? Thanks.
The 50 MHz band is pretty wide. You can check the antenna to check the SWR at the upper and lower frequency edges .
Thank you for the video
Alot easier to use a pipe cutter, the type for copper plumbing pipe
Great tutorial!
Cool beard!
Great video.
My handheld Yaesu VX-6R says it will do 6m if mars modded. I would like to test this, but I don't think it does SSB. If I cant select upper or lower modes, what will be the result of this test?
Dipoles are about the simplest antenna to build.
Awesome video, could I use 1/2" EMT Conduit for this ?
I have a piece of Lexan,will probably use this .
Thank you, 73
Randy, Will this work if I cut the elements for 28.300? I'd love to do this for 10m SSB
I am curious about antennas. If the dipole were set vertical instead of horizontal, would the antenna still be effective? I imagine it would be omnidirectional verses bidirectional. I know this video is aged and no answer may come, but great video.
yes. Vertical typically for FM. Horizontal for SSB & Data. It the band opens, either will work