I made a 160 caged dipole. Used 5 spreaders on each leg. Used 4 wires on 2 foot crossed spreaders. Covered the entire band. Won two cw contests for IA on 160. Worked great
For a simpler solution, see September 1993 QST article “A Simple Broadband Dipole for 80 Meters” (PS: The reflection of the desk lamp on the whiteboard surface is distracting.)
Dave, good video. Maybe a stainless steel mesh would work better than the aluminum, but might be cost prohibitive. A folded dipole could be another option, too. 73, AC3HT
@@forgetyourlife I got the EFHW kit from ARRL and a OCF that I will be putting on my 60ft tower with 10ft 1.5 in PVC pipe to hold then about 4.5 feet out from the tower. One on each side. I know that it will not be high enough but it is the best I can do. I hope to have the ends about 20 feet up. I will have bullies with 550 cord so I don't need to climb up to work on it. At 75 I don't want to go up there much.
Trying to be a fair critic here. My take away from your video is that Dave has a Step IR verticle. And any other attempt would be silly. I think the question was about using a conductor with larger surface area to get more bandwidth. Let the guy satisfy his curiosity. Encourage him to build and try new things. I disagree with a lot of things Dave says, but I encourage him to continue making videos.
I agree with critic, but I don’t see the fair part. Dave said that trying the cage was worthwhile on 80 and he never said the StepIR was the only solution. Did you watch the same video I watched?
Yes, I watched the same video. It needed more of a experimental focus. And a optomistic" try it out" theme. Dave's videos are not going to get better if he does not get good / bad feedback
It's very funny for me, as a Telecommunications Engineer, how this ham people think they own the Frecuency spectrum. You have a license mate, most people can get it. you're not special, you are not above anyone because you have said license. a little of humility could do a lot for your cult, sorry, community. This gatekeeping is what is making your group to shrink and disappear. you despise the truckers, you despise the off roaders, you despise the gmrs people. well, remember, you don't own the waves
While I've seen times where your comment is applicable, what in the heck does it have to do with a optimal antenna for the ham bands (the frequencies hams use, unlike the frequencies used by CB, GMRS, Marine Radio, Business and Public Service bands etc...)
Moenibus, I suspect that there is some type of upset behind your comment which does not translate well into this specific video topic. But I can appreciate the sentiment - "I think". Personally I am both a Ham and an electronics engineer. That is I have a license, I am inactive. My interest has always been the actual electronics more than rag-chewing and the banter. Recently I have been considering getting back on the air. I have moved and have no antenna - so I have been watching a bunch of these "Elmer" videos. I cannot say I am impressed. Many of the presenters are simply parrots repeating poorly validated ideas. I see very little real engineering thought. It is a bunch of weeds to dig thru and once and a while something compelling. From that standpoint the term 'cult' may be understood. But is pretty pejorative. I have never worked in RF as an engineer - so I am trying to bootstrap at least to the point where I can distinguish the wheat from the chafe. Well anyway - my comments could also be questioned in the contest of the video also. But I suggest 'peace' as an idea for you to consider. The Ham community is what it is, a subset of humanity with all its diversity and shortcomings. I know I have shortcomings myself, and I suspect you do also.
Dec. 1980 QST has a great article on building an 80 meter cage. I built one, and get better than 2:1 SWR from 3.5-4.0 MHz.
I made a 160 caged dipole. Used 5 spreaders on each leg. Used 4 wires on 2 foot crossed spreaders. Covered the entire band. Won two cw contests for IA on 160. Worked great
For a simpler solution, see September 1993 QST article “A Simple Broadband Dipole for 80 Meters”
(PS: The reflection of the desk lamp on the whiteboard surface is distracting.)
I use the Wolf River Silver Bullet 1000 and it does the job getting me on the CW/FT8 portion of the band....nicely made coil. 73/K6SDW
Thanks for saving me from being board to death I was watching another utube channel
Dave, good video. Maybe a stainless steel mesh would work better than the aluminum, but might be cost prohibitive. A folded dipole could be another option, too. 73, AC3HT
I learned something. Thanks!
Sections of HVAC ducting can run 2-3 feet wide. Rivet or braze them together?
thanks for answering me Dave!...
Unusual design, I didn't know about it.
Fence wire works good as radials. Chicken wire does work although it will corrode much quicker
Antenna tuners were probably developed because of the width of 80 meters and the problem trying to cover it.
Why not a fan dipole with different length legs, to cover different portions of the 75-80m band?
Great question @Frankh77
How about a conical dipole or discone antenna?
Wa0vyz
Do end feed antenna work good on 80m?
Yes as long as the coax which is the other 1/2 of the antenna is long enough. I use 75ft of coax for a 135ft end fed with much success.
@@forgetyourlife I got the EFHW kit from ARRL and a OCF that I will be putting on my 60ft tower with 10ft 1.5 in PVC pipe to hold then about 4.5 feet out from the tower. One on each side. I know that it will not be high enough but it is the best I can do. I hope to have the ends about 20 feet up. I will have bullies with 550 cord so I don't need to climb up to work on it. At 75 I don't want to go up there much.
Trying to be a fair critic here. My take away from your video is that Dave has a Step IR verticle. And any other attempt would be silly. I think the question was about using a conductor with larger surface area to get more bandwidth. Let the guy satisfy his curiosity. Encourage him to build and try new things. I disagree with a lot of things Dave says, but I encourage him to continue making videos.
I agree with critic, but I don’t see the fair part. Dave said that trying the cage was worthwhile on 80 and he never said the StepIR was the only solution. Did you watch the same video I watched?
Yes, I watched the same video. It needed more of a experimental focus. And a optomistic" try it out" theme. Dave's videos are not going to get better if he does not get good / bad feedback
@@Trinitystillmyname Good feedback should be both accurate and actionable. Yours was neither.
It's very funny for me, as a Telecommunications Engineer, how this ham people think they own the Frecuency spectrum. You have a license mate, most people can get it. you're not special, you are not above anyone because you have said license. a little of humility could do a lot for your cult, sorry, community. This gatekeeping is what is making your group to shrink and disappear. you despise the truckers, you despise the off roaders, you despise the gmrs people. well, remember, you don't own the waves
You have posted a very interesting reply in the context of this presentation. I am eager to gain more of your wisdom.
While I've seen times where your comment is applicable, what in the heck does it have to do with a optimal antenna for the ham bands (the frequencies hams use, unlike the frequencies used by CB, GMRS, Marine Radio, Business and Public Service bands etc...)
Moenibus, I suspect that there is some type of upset behind your comment which does not translate well into this specific video topic. But I can appreciate the sentiment - "I think". Personally I am both a Ham and an electronics engineer. That is I have a license, I am inactive. My interest has always been the actual electronics more than rag-chewing and the banter. Recently I have been considering getting back on the air. I have moved and have no antenna - so I have been watching a bunch of these "Elmer" videos. I cannot say I am impressed. Many of the presenters are simply parrots repeating poorly validated ideas. I see very little real engineering thought. It is a bunch of weeds to dig thru and once and a while something compelling. From that standpoint the term 'cult' may be understood. But is pretty pejorative. I have never worked in RF as an engineer - so I am trying to bootstrap at least to the point where I can distinguish the wheat from the chafe. Well anyway - my comments could also be questioned in the contest of the video also. But I suggest 'peace' as an idea for you to consider. The Ham community is what it is, a subset of humanity with all its diversity and shortcomings. I know I have shortcomings myself, and I suspect you do also.