Don’t know how long you have been a ham, but you have captured the way our hobby was 40 - 50 years ago. First you see what’s in your junk box and garage and then experiment and see what happens. Now you know the fun part of ham radio. 73, W4NES
I have used similar fan dipoles. I have a 40, 20 and 10 meter dipoles. The 40meter dipole is on top but it really does not matter. I have the 40 meter dipole built like any single band dipole and all the stress in in the wire. The 20 and 10 meter dipoles are just hanging from the 40 meter dipole with 1/2 inch pvc pipe spacers. My wire is tied to a ceramic center insulator whereas yours is only connected with lugs. I do not use a balun or coil of coax. Balun are usually not necessary and just add weight and loss. I do try and let my coax drop off at right angles from the dipole to minimize coupling. The knots in the wires have an insignificant affect at HF. If I have insulators handy I usually use them but tying the nylon or Dacron rope works just as well. I have been at this over 60 years and it’s hard to beat a simple dipole. Only thing that is better is a Yagi and that requires a tower and rotator. It also only has problems in winter when the band is good and I only liked climbing the tower in good weather! I have worked 100 countries on 4 bands in one weekend with my fan dipole more than once so it works good enough for me. The 40 meter element works on 15 quite well but the 40 must be tuned for the CW part of the band or it will not be resonant anywhere in the 15 meter band.
Great video. As a result I made a 4 band fan dipole. 40, 20, 10 (haven’t added the last band yet) works great! All are below 1.5 SWR . Thanks for giving me the confidence to build it.
Just a suggestion..on your next dipole project, make a pvc T with your elements connected inside the "bar" to protect electrical connection from weather...put your balun on the "down leg" of the T, drill hole at joint, run coax inside the T and then connect to your elements...works great! 73 de Tony/EN72jj
I made 2 Porcupine antennas, one was for high 10, 12, and 17 meters, one was for low 10, 15, and 20 meters. Both worked well. KG7IRJ then in Arizona, now in Ohio.
Nice antenna! Just a little suggestion, place a piece of PVC at the end of each leg. That way you can hang some weight to flip the antenna right side up! Bit on another note, if it ain't broke don't fix it!!!!! 73s de N2NDF
At time 1:20 I had it figured out what you were trying to do. Good idea...multiple dipole in one setup. I would put some sort of weight in the pvc tubes to keep it from spinning if it so does.
Built one of these so far got great swr readings on 80 and 40 meters. I built it for 80 40 20 and 10. keeping my fingers crossed! thanks for the great video! 73s de KK4RGA
Never apologize for making things that function. I've used a random wire thrown in a tree to do QRP with a sock full of lead shot on the leader cord. If you can tune it and make the contact and your SWR is good then roll with it! DE KEØMBA
You could shorten this by taking the 80M dipole, fold it back onto the isolator for 10M and it will make the centre part less strained. Also those knots are not needed. It can self level through standard tension without using loads of paracord. It will make the footprint less, give same results and also more portable if needed. As you did this in 2013 you may have gone to another antenna but if not, maybe try what I have placed here.
468/f MHz = length in feet for a 1/2 wave dipole. Divide by 2 for each 1/4 wave element. Multiply the 1/4 wave in feet by 12 if you want the length in inches. A recommendation for anyone looking to home-brew your own antenna(s). Buy one of the many ARRL antenna books. I like the classic wire antenna series best for HF antennas without a lot of theory thrown at you.
Yes I have built a few even from 6 meters to 160 all bands wire for each band stacked vertical. Im getting ready to build one that will look like a Cage dipole that will be in a circle spacers to hold the wires. I will hang it from a rope gantry running between two trees 60 ft up. I will have a pulley to lift the whole thing up and down from the rope. Fandipole do work nice and no band changing switches needed. I have never seen a design like the one I will make in a Cage Dipole shape.
That's what I thought. He needs to stop apologizing for succeeding at making homebrew stuff work. If it weren't for PVC, duct tape, zip ties, and such there's be a lot fewer people on HF.
Interesting DIY antenna(s)! I want to string up two or three dipoles and this looks like it would work. Trying to keep the back yard from being a wire jungle :D
You can lengthen your 10m by adding a dangling length of wire to the conductors at the end of the wires. I know this video is 8yrs old but maybe this will help someone watching this.
Nice, 80% of my homebrew have had positive and negative results, depending on the bands I was using. This last one that I've been using for almost a year is a Carolina Windom for 10-40. somehow gets part of 80m. even though I've cut to right length. I can adjust on ends slightly. I also did a fan dipole awhile back for 10, 12, 15, 17 20.
Happy to hear that this worked on a FT450. I just got one. I need an antenna for 15/10/6 meters and this might be suitable. I need to put this in my attic as I'm in one of those rabid HOA communities. Can't wait to try it out. Jim NB3P
Sir! Why don't You test a fullsize 80M Loopantenna (fc = 3,690MHz) which will be 272,35 feet (83,0m) Feeder: use a 76 feet (23 m) 450Ohm Ladderline and with MFJ969 tuner You can use You antenna (even on 160M!) a n d on 40/15M, 20, 17, 12 and 10M and 6M band! ☆On 160M it tunes within abt 10 -15kHz, so if You go up/down 30 kHz, then You have to retune. Your antennacoupler should have at least a 4:1 (or 2:1)balun where the 450 Ohm Ladderline connects. F ex MFJ969/962D instruction how a ladderline are to be connected to polescrews at the back.
Indeed. It will tune up on 15 meters. I have been pleased with my project...now I need to find a way to get it up higher in the trees... Thanks for the feedback!
Do you need Vlad and I to assist you in getting it up higher? Let us know... you can send me a message on the packet BBS you and I have running on 2 meters. Just drop me a message in the mail box. I check it daily or you can get me on the 145.210... BTW, are you up on 6m so we can QSO on the FM repeater that covers our area? KV4ATV...
Hey Bob, you can usually get 15 meters out of the 40 meter dipole as well! If I remember correctly it's close 3/2 waves on 15 so with the ATU in the 450 that's another band you get out of your fan! Great video as well. I'm thinking I may put up a fan dipole this weekend if I can find the time. 73 KJ6DRG
The choke should be wider in diameter than what you have wound around the pipe. I would suggest 8 inches or more, but you might want to research that a little more. On the other hand, if you don't have any RF getting into your home, or your neighbors, maybe its ok to leave it alone. If you do get some RF into the shack, you should readdress this topic as a possible solution. Also, take a look at my OCF dipole antenna analyzer band readings on my Google+ account. You will have one wire, and it will work well on many bands if you build it right. Most radio tuners will only tune 3:1 or less, and some won't do 3:1, but will do less. OCFD is 45' x 90' with a 4:1 balun.
New sub here. New ham also. Recently licensed in January 2020 in Texas. I am building a fan dipole for inverted v. I am learning how to secure the separators. Are you still using this antenna? 73
For even better results use open feed line or ladder line (450 - 300 ohm) to a 1:1 balun such as balun design products.Less work and lower losses compared to coax no cutting to tune antenna with ATU.End result is a zepp antenna tunes 80-10m and maybe even 6m
I made tech Jan 11, general Jan 28 and extra Feb 25. I'm wanting to get some hands on experience in. I learn things better hands on. would you recommend this as a first time build? or is there another project you woukd recommend? I have a kenwood 850 hf radio I picked up at a hamfest. only radio I have as of now besides my two meter mobile. thanks in advance. kg5rfo
0:17 An antenna tuner doesn't make a malperforming antenna any better, so investing in a multiband dipole way better value for money. I had one for many years and it performed almost as good as my later 3el yagi. 73 de PA3BSV
It worked well for several years with no problems at all. Within the past year, I have changed it out for a homebrew 80m OCF dipole. I wanted to be able to get on the 80M band and I had a hard time with it on the fan dipole.
Absolutely correct. That's the great thing about a fan dipole...no tuner needed. Mine was sort of ugly, but I used it for many years and it worked great.
I believe it was 18 gauge hookup wire. I do know I got it from Walmart's automotive section. It came in small spools of around 40ft or so. It's been a while since I built it, so I can not be 100% sure. I can say that 3 years later, this antenna is still going strong.
I have one that I am rebuilding and I think I am going to go with 14 gauge stranded THHN. The one I have up now has 14 gauge SOLID and it is getting to the breaking point due to wind, flood, and old age. But hey, when the wire is given to you, you use it, LOL.
Don’t know how long you have been a ham, but you have captured the way our hobby was 40 - 50 years ago. First you see what’s in your junk box and garage and then experiment and see what happens. Now you know the fun part of ham radio. 73, W4NES
That's what I do too! Not even a ham yet! C.B and studying for ham lol.
diy all my antennas i belive the only store bought antenna i have my hf hustler resonate mobile antenna
I give you a thumb up, simply because I like your style, "You have fun with your projects and dont care if its perfect or not" !!
lazy..
I have used similar fan dipoles. I have a 40, 20 and 10 meter dipoles. The 40meter dipole is on top but it really does not matter. I have the 40 meter dipole built like any single band dipole and all the stress in in the wire. The 20 and 10 meter dipoles are just hanging from the 40 meter dipole with 1/2 inch pvc pipe spacers. My wire is tied to a ceramic center insulator whereas yours is only connected with lugs.
I do not use a balun or coil of coax. Balun are usually not necessary and just add weight and loss. I do try and let my coax drop off at right angles from the dipole to minimize coupling. The knots in the wires have an insignificant affect at HF. If I have insulators handy I usually use them but tying the nylon or Dacron rope works just as well. I have been at this over 60 years and it’s hard to beat a simple dipole. Only thing that is better is a Yagi and that requires a tower and rotator. It also only has problems in winter when the band is good and I only liked climbing the tower in good weather! I have worked 100 countries on 4 bands in one weekend with my fan dipole more than once so it works good enough for me. The 40 meter element works on 15 quite well but the 40 must be tuned for the CW part of the band or it will not be resonant anywhere in the 15 meter band.
How dare you , you just took all the "Black Magic" out of antenna design and construction . . . I LIKE IT , Thanks !!!
Thank you for using my program Joe N2IMF
Great video. As a result I made a 4 band fan dipole. 40, 20, 10 (haven’t added the last band yet) works great! All are below 1.5 SWR . Thanks for giving me the confidence to build it.
Working on my own multi-band dipole right now! Thanks for sharing!
Just a suggestion..on your next dipole project, make a pvc T with your elements connected inside the "bar" to protect electrical connection from weather...put your balun on the "down leg" of the T, drill hole at joint, run coax inside the T and then connect to your elements...works great! 73 de Tony/EN72jj
That is bloody awesome!!!
Thanks 👍🏼
73 de VU2EHC
I made 2 Porcupine antennas, one was for high 10, 12, and 17 meters, one was for low 10, 15, and 20 meters. Both worked well. KG7IRJ then in Arizona, now in Ohio.
Nice antenna! Just a little suggestion, place a piece of PVC at the end of each leg. That way you can hang some weight to flip the antenna right side up! Bit on another note, if it ain't broke don't fix it!!!!! 73s de N2NDF
At time 1:20 I had it figured out what you were trying to do. Good idea...multiple dipole in one setup. I would put some sort of weight in the pvc tubes to keep it from spinning if it so does.
Built one of these so far got great swr readings on 80 and 40 meters. I built it for 80 40 20 and 10. keeping my fingers crossed! thanks for the great video! 73s de
KK4RGA
Never apologize for making things that function. I've used a random wire thrown in a tree to do QRP with a sock full of lead shot on the leader cord. If you can tune it and make the contact and your SWR is good then roll with it! DE KEØMBA
Hello Bob! The antenna looks BEAUTIFUL!!! am sure it does the work well!! 73, Joe-k4jga
You could shorten this by taking the 80M dipole, fold it back onto the isolator for 10M and it will make the centre part less strained. Also those knots are not needed. It can self level through standard tension without using loads of paracord. It will make the footprint less, give same results and also more portable if needed.
As you did this in 2013 you may have gone to another antenna but if not, maybe try what I have placed here.
Nice work on the dipole
Thank you for sharing this informative video !
468/f MHz = length in feet for a 1/2 wave dipole.
Divide by 2 for each 1/4 wave element.
Multiply the 1/4 wave in feet by 12 if you want the length in inches.
A recommendation for anyone looking to home-brew your own antenna(s). Buy one of the many ARRL antenna books. I like the classic wire antenna series best for HF antennas without a lot of theory thrown at you.
Yes I have built a few even from 6 meters to 160 all bands wire for each band stacked vertical. Im getting ready to build one that will look like a Cage dipole that will be
in a circle spacers to hold the wires. I will hang it from a rope gantry running between two trees 60 ft up. I will have a pulley to lift the whole thing up and down from the rope.
Fandipole do work nice and no band changing switches needed.
I have never seen a design like the one I will make in a Cage Dipole shape.
Add an extra foot! good job
It don't have to be fancy as long as it works
That's what I thought. He needs to stop apologizing for succeeding at making homebrew stuff work. If it weren't for PVC, duct tape, zip ties, and such there's be a lot fewer people on HF.
Interesting DIY antenna(s)! I want to string up two or three dipoles and this looks like it would work. Trying to keep the back yard from being a wire jungle :D
You can lengthen your 10m by adding a dangling length of wire to the conductors at the end of the wires. I know this video is 8yrs old but maybe this will help someone watching this.
Nice, 80% of my homebrew have had positive and negative results, depending on the bands I was using. This last one that I've been using for almost a year is a Carolina Windom for 10-40. somehow gets part of 80m. even though I've cut to right length. I can adjust on ends slightly. I also did a fan dipole awhile back for 10, 12, 15, 17 20.
Happy to hear that this worked on a FT450. I just got one. I need an antenna for 15/10/6 meters and this might be suitable. I need to put this in my attic as I'm in one of those rabid HOA communities. Can't wait to try it out. Jim NB3P
Sir! Why don't You test a fullsize
80M Loopantenna (fc = 3,690MHz) which will be
272,35 feet (83,0m) Feeder:
use a 76 feet (23 m) 450Ohm Ladderline and with MFJ969 tuner You can use You antenna (even on 160M!) a n d on 40/15M, 20, 17, 12 and 10M and 6M band!
☆On 160M it tunes within
abt 10 -15kHz, so if You go up/down 30 kHz, then You have to retune. Your antennacoupler
should have at least a 4:1
(or 2:1)balun where the 450 Ohm Ladderline connects.
F ex MFJ969/962D instruction how a ladderline are to be connected to polescrews
at the back.
@@carl-gunnarhillefors7612 Wow! That's pretty flexable.
Is the loop square or Delta?
How much power can it handle?
mine has looked like that too, so don't worry about looks, just worry about how it works!!!!!!!!!!!!!
just built one yesterday.. with good swr results for 10-40
Thanks Bob, great idea. I may build one! Dave WR0X
Great job!
Like good job
I have one of these as a 5 band dipole design, folded dipole for 75, total length about 70'. When I move I may set it up as a vertical.
Great vid thanks for sharing
I like this, the wheels are turning in my head...
Add some more smaller PVC pipe spacers, and make the higher freq wires as full wave loops.
Yep. Nothing like new crops for the antenna farmers!
Parabéns amigo pelo vídeo radio amadores
ingenious!
Indeed. It will tune up on 15 meters. I have been pleased with my project...now I need to find a way to get it up higher in the trees...
Thanks for the feedback!
Do you need Vlad and I to assist you in getting it up higher? Let us know... you can send me a message on the packet BBS you and I have running on 2 meters. Just drop me a message in the mail box. I check it daily or you can get me on the 145.210... BTW, are you up on 6m so we can QSO on the FM repeater that covers our area? KV4ATV...
"Everything you read on the internet must be true" - Abe Lincoln Just kidding. Nice work!
Hey Bob, you can usually get 15 meters out of the 40 meter dipole as well! If I remember correctly it's close 3/2 waves on 15 so with the ATU in the 450 that's another band you get out of your fan!
Great video as well. I'm thinking I may put up a fan dipole this weekend if I can find the time.
73 KJ6DRG
What size pvc was used at what spacing for the elements?
what I did to pvc was put electrical tape then a type of rubber glue on holes while antenna was on ground , then evened the antenna...
The choke should be wider in diameter than what you have wound around the pipe. I would suggest 8 inches or more, but you might want to research that a little more. On the other hand, if you don't have any RF getting into your home, or your neighbors, maybe its ok to leave it alone. If you do get some RF into the shack, you should readdress this topic as a possible solution.
Also, take a look at my OCF dipole antenna analyzer band readings on my Google+ account. You will have one wire, and it will work well on many bands if you build it right. Most radio tuners will only tune 3:1 or less, and some won't do 3:1, but will do less. OCFD is 45' x 90' with a 4:1 balun.
An rf choke is not a balun. A balun matches the unbalanced coax feed line to a balanced antenna (dipole).
New sub here. New ham also. Recently licensed in January 2020 in Texas. I am building a fan dipole for inverted v. I am learning how to secure the separators. Are you still using this antenna? 73
Good antn
For even better results use open feed line or ladder line (450 - 300 ohm) to a 1:1 balun such as balun design products.Less work and lower losses compared to coax no cutting to tune antenna with ATU.End result is a zepp antenna tunes 80-10m and maybe even 6m
is there a youtube video showing how to make that
I made tech Jan 11, general Jan 28 and extra Feb 25. I'm wanting to get some hands on experience in. I learn things better hands on. would you recommend this as a first time build? or is there another project you woukd recommend? I have a kenwood 850 hf radio I picked up at a hamfest. only radio I have as of now besides my two meter mobile. thanks in advance. kg5rfo
Usually you can use a 40 meter diapole for 15 meters.
Will this improve reception on SW?
The UV rays in sunlight will not be kind to your red wire. Black is much better.
Give us an update!
0:17 An antenna tuner doesn't make a malperforming antenna any better, so investing in a multiband dipole way better value for money. I had one for many years and it performed almost as good as my later 3el yagi. 73 de PA3BSV
Is that ugly balun big enough to properly function as a balun?
HEY.... isn't that thing at around 3 minutes a choke not a balun?
So how is it doing after some time has gone by ?
It worked well for several years with no problems at all. Within the past year, I have changed it out for a homebrew 80m OCF dipole. I wanted to be able to get on the 80M band and I had a hard time with it on the fan dipole.
How many feet of wire per meter?
I like your "ugly" Balun.
a fan dipole is meant to be resonant. ie.. no tuner needed.
Absolutely correct. That's the great thing about a fan dipole...no tuner needed. Mine was sort of ugly, but I used it for many years and it worked great.
Dumb Question maybe: What Gauge Wire did you use?
I believe it was 18 gauge hookup wire. I do know I got it from Walmart's automotive section. It came in small spools of around 40ft or so. It's been a while since I built it, so I can not be 100% sure. I can say that 3 years later, this antenna is still going strong.
I have one that I am rebuilding and I think I am going to go with 14 gauge stranded THHN. The one I have up now has 14 gauge SOLID and it is getting to the breaking point due to wind, flood, and old age. But hey, when the wire is given to you, you use it, LOL.
wondering why you didn't put spacers in the antenna using thinner 3/8 tubing
pa7yi
8:56 you cut too short ? All you do is solder on a foot of wire then prune and tune again.
Well, you are using enough PVC; Why dont you just make PVC insulators? Nuthin' wrong with that!
Many good Ideas here.... not so good in the execution. But it works... something is better than nothing.
thats a choke... not a balun.
Yes sir, you are correct. It is an air wound 1:1 "choke" balun.
Lol