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The answer to your question is "it depends". If you already have a 1/2 wave vertical and want to do a vertical dipole, you're likely to see basically the same performance. If your goal is to try and "talk skip" and install the dipole horizontally, then you are probably going to see some differences.

I take it that when you said you want to "build it with an SO-239 and some wire" you mean that you're going to use coax for the feedline and want ot be able to just screw it into the dipole. In that case, all you have to do is solder one of the dipole wires to the center conductor, and the other to the outside barrel part of the connector. Of course, you have to figure out how to mount that stuff so it will last. You should use a 1:1 current balun, or make a choke balun by coiling up quite a few turns of coax (6-8 should do it?) and taping it together. Let us know if you need info on that.

To be honest, it's almost easier to just buy a kit that has that part made for you. Something like this is relatively inexpensive and includes the balun and connections for the wire pre-built:

http://www.k1cra.com/images/products/original/716.jpg

You can get it at K1CRA Radio Store - W2AU 1:1 Balun - For Dipoles Details

BTW, the balun isn't absolutely necessary, but it's a good idea to help prevent common mode current on the feedline.

<blockquote data-quote="Moleculo" data-source="post: 126709" data-attributes="member: 1">The answer to your question is &quot;it depends&quot;.&nbsp; If you already have a 1/2 wave vertical and want to do a vertical dipole, you&#039;re likely to see basically the same performance.&nbsp; If your goal is to try and &quot;talk skip&quot; and install the dipole horizontally, then you are probably going to see some differences.&nbsp;I take it that when you said you want to &quot;build it with an SO-239 and some wire&quot; you mean that you&#039;re going to use coax for the feedline and want ot be able to just screw it into the dipole.&nbsp; In that case, all you have to do is solder one of the dipole wires to the center conductor, and the other to the outside barrel part of the connector.&nbsp; Of course, you have to figure out how to mount that stuff so it will last.&nbsp; You should use a 1:1 current balun, or make a choke balun by coiling up quite a few turns of coax (6-8 should do it?) and taping it together.&nbsp; Let us know if you need info on that.&nbsp; &nbsp;To be honest, it&#039;s almost easier to just buy a kit that has that part made for you.&nbsp; Something like this is relatively inexpensive and includes the balun and connections for the wire pre-built:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.k1cra.com/images/products/original/716.jpg" target="_blank">http://www.k1cra.com/images/products/original/716.jpg</a>&nbsp;You can get it at <a href="http://www.k1cra.com/catalog/product.aspx?productID=706" target="_blank">K1CRA Radio Store - W2AU 1:1 Balun - For Dipoles Details</a>&nbsp;BTW, the balun isn&#039;t absolutely necessary, but it&#039;s a good idea to help prevent common mode current on the feedline.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Moleculo, post: 126709, member: 1"] The answer to your question is "it depends". If you already have a 1/2 wave vertical and want to do a vertical dipole, you're likely to see basically the same performance. If your goal is to try and "talk skip" and install the dipole horizontally, then you are probably going to see some differences. I take it that when you said you want to "build it with an SO-239 and some wire" you mean that you're going to use coax for the feedline and want ot be able to just screw it into the dipole. In that case, all you have to do is solder one of the dipole wires to the center conductor, and the other to the outside barrel part of the connector. Of course, you have to figure out how to mount that stuff so it will last. You should use a 1:1 current balun, or make a choke balun by coiling up quite a few turns of coax (6-8 should do it?) and taping it together. Let us know if you need info on that. To be honest, it's almost easier to just buy a kit that has that part made for you. Something like this is relatively inexpensive and includes the balun and connections for the wire pre-built: [URL]http://www.k1cra.com/images/products/original/716.jpg[/URL] You can get it at [url=http://www.k1cra.com/catalog/product.aspx?productID=706]K1CRA Radio Store - W2AU 1:1 Balun - For Dipoles Details[/url] BTW, the balun isn't absolutely necessary, but it's a good idea to help prevent common mode current on the feedline. [/QUOTE]

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