Thanks for watching. Got a couple weird ideas I'm going try in the next couple weeks and if it turns out interesting I'll likely made a video. I'm not prolific, but I have fun when I do it. :)
Thanks for the great video. I built a linear loaded doublet for 40 meters and have it in my attic space. I have had some success with it but haven't been on as much as I'd like. I need to do some FT8 testing with it to see how it radiates, what direction, etc. I feed with it 300ohm twinlead and use an MFJ 4:1 Balun. I have the LDG Z11 Pro autotuner and it loads it pretty well. The Z11 Pro has controls on it that allow me to tweak it a little so I can usually get to 1:1 even when the auto mode doesn't. One thing I have found is I previously had an endfed and it had a nearly S9 noise level(I live in a suburban area on a small lot) while the doublet was much quieter. I also use that MFJ center insulator, simple but nice little product. Would love to know more about how well this antenna is doing for you.
Sir, you are one of the inspirations to try it! It was just the idea of adding the second fold that pushed me over the edge to actually going for it. I am very glad I tried. Thanks for your videos- they do inspire.
I’ve built my first when you’re loaded doublet Dipole and will be using it for the winter field day coming up on January 29 I took a different approach rather than hanging the wire off of the 450 ladder line like you did I decided to thread it in between the two existing wires so who knows if it will work ! I sure hope so it took me a long time to build it! I’m curious what type of connection you use from the manual antenna tuner to the antenna itself? Any coax or did you run the ladder line the whole way to the junction
Thanks for watching! On myine, I'm running a short lenth of coax (about 5 feet) from the antenna tuner out the window to a 4:1 balun, and then have the window line that's going to the antenna attach to that on its two posts. So it's not completely a lossless trip, but the lossy coax section is really short. I hope yours works good for you on WFD!
@@w8natshenanigans705 how high. We’re you able get your doublet above ground? Does your tuner also have a built in 4:1, so you were actually using 2- 4:1 baluns? How many bands did it work on?
@@PatAutrey It's still only up about 20-25 feet, so it's pretty much regional on 40 but can get most of the US. It works on 80 and up, but the match in the voice region of 80 (75) is not so great. I should realy monkey with the lenth a bit. The tuner does have a 4:1 in it that you can use with twin terminals for ladder line run directly to it. But I opted for the external balun with coax because my window frames are metal and would likely mess with the ladder line.
I didn't really get out of 80 meters what I wanted, at least yet. Even with the manual tuner, I cannot get a usbale match on the voice portion (75m) which is where I really wanted to play. The remedy is supposed to be to try small adjustments to the antenna or feedline length, which I just haven't gotten around to doing yet. That said, on the CW/digital end of the band, it's been usable (though I am terrible at CW so that bit has been NVIS work with a buddy 30 miles away :D )
@@w8natshenanigans705 I have experimented some with linear loading. I had a little more room and only doubled back the outer halves of the 80 m dipole. I guess it was a semi cobra. It did not work so great either in terms of sensitivity or efficiency. It is a compromised antenna, but not sure if anything better can be done in limited space. I am going to try the tried and true coil loaded 80 m inverted V at 30 foot peak. If there was a way to coil load a folded dipole I would do that.
Really liking the sense of humour. And yes, it's a GARDEN.
Only 65 subs? This was a great video. Thank you for taking the time to make the video, people are missing out
This channel is underrated! Nice video and thanks for sharing
I certainly hope you make more videos. That was entertaining, educational, and inspiring.
Thanks for watching. Got a couple weird ideas I'm going try in the next couple weeks and if it turns out interesting I'll likely made a video. I'm not prolific, but I have fun when I do it. :)
Thanks for the great video. I built a linear loaded doublet for 40 meters and have it in my attic space. I have had some success with it but haven't been on as much as I'd like. I need to do some FT8 testing with it to see how it radiates, what direction, etc. I feed with it 300ohm twinlead and use an MFJ 4:1 Balun. I have the LDG Z11 Pro autotuner and it loads it pretty well. The Z11 Pro has controls on it that allow me to tweak it a little so I can usually get to 1:1 even when the auto mode doesn't. One thing I have found is I previously had an endfed and it had a nearly S9 noise level(I live in a suburban area on a small lot) while the doublet was much quieter. I also use that MFJ center insulator, simple but nice little product. Would love to know more about how well this antenna is doing for you.
Great work on linear loading. I have done the same and it works!
Sir, you are one of the inspirations to try it! It was just the idea of adding the second fold that pushed me over the edge to actually going for it. I am very glad I tried. Thanks for your videos- they do inspire.
@@w8natshenanigans705 thank you and keep up the content 👍
I’ve built my first when you’re loaded doublet Dipole and will be using it for the winter field day coming up on January 29 I took a different approach rather than hanging the wire off of the 450 ladder line like you did I decided to thread it in between the two existing wires so who knows if it will work ! I sure hope so it took me a long time to build it! I’m curious what type of connection you use from the manual antenna tuner to the antenna itself? Any coax or did you run the ladder line the whole way to the junction
Thanks for watching! On myine, I'm running a short lenth of coax (about 5 feet) from the antenna tuner out the window to a 4:1 balun, and then have the window line that's going to the antenna attach to that on its two posts. So it's not completely a lossless trip, but the lossy coax section is really short. I hope yours works good for you on WFD!
@@w8natshenanigans705 how high. We’re you able get your doublet above ground? Does your tuner also have a built in 4:1, so you were actually using 2- 4:1 baluns? How many bands did it work on?
@@PatAutrey It's still only up about 20-25 feet, so it's pretty much regional on 40 but can get most of the US. It works on 80 and up, but the match in the voice region of 80 (75) is not so great. I should realy monkey with the lenth a bit. The tuner does have a 4:1 in it that you can use with twin terminals for ladder line run directly to it. But I opted for the external balun with coax because my window frames are metal and would likely mess with the ladder line.
@@w8natshenanigans705 good to know what tuner do you have I have MFJ. 941 e
@@PatAutrey Mine's a 969. Similar but instead of the inductor knob being multi-postions, it's a giant continuous-turn roller knob.
What's your assessment a year later on 80m? This is a very interesting concept
I didn't really get out of 80 meters what I wanted, at least yet. Even with the manual tuner, I cannot get a usbale match on the voice portion (75m) which is where I really wanted to play. The remedy is supposed to be to try small adjustments to the antenna or feedline length, which I just haven't gotten around to doing yet. That said, on the CW/digital end of the band, it's been usable (though I am terrible at CW so that bit has been NVIS work with a buddy 30 miles away :D )
@@w8natshenanigans705 I have experimented some with linear loading. I had a little more room and only doubled back the outer halves of the 80 m dipole. I guess it was a semi cobra. It did not work so great either in terms of sensitivity or efficiency. It is a compromised antenna, but not sure if anything better can be done in limited space. I am going to try the tried and true coil loaded 80 m inverted V at 30 foot peak. If there was a way to coil load a folded dipole I would do that.