BEST DIY DX ANTENNA

[CB RADIO FREQ]

Hello everyone, I'm just wondering what is the best homemade CB DX antenna.
I do not have a lot of money and was just wondering if their is a way to make a good DX antenna. Any help would be appreciated
- Thanks

 

[RatsoW8]

A dipole antenna is the best, easiest to make and cheapest for DX. Here's a Youtube video showing how to make one for 11m. If you do a web search you'll find a ton of info on dipoles and how to construct one. You can use just about any non-conducting material for the center or support ends of the dipole. I've always used white 1" PVC pipe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-wGDo3cIbo

 

[w9cll]

I second the idea of a dipole, simple to make and cheap

 

[binrat]

Another option that is more expensive is a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna. Or possibly 5/8 wave. Here are a few ideas.
http://www.iw5edi.com/ham-radio/?fabricating-cb-antennas,135

 

[KingCobra_CDX882]

Some Very Good Designs on your link

 

[Henry HPSD]

What it comes down to...

If you are interested in DXing
That means you are interested in receiving at a low angle.

That angle is depends on a few factors.
With the most important thing beeing heigth and polarisation.

Vertical polarised antennas have by nature a rather low take off angle.
If it was simple as that, problem solved...but sadly vertical antennas often "lack" gain.

Now, we can all say: put up a groundplane/5/8 wave etc...but its easy for a horizontal antenna to produce more gain under a lower angle.
And that was your interest (dxing)

There is a down side to that horizontal antenna thingy...
Horizontal antennas need a reasonable height in order to get a rather low take off angle.
And there is a crossing point between verticals and horizontals. Roughly you could say:
Reasonable beeing anything above say..20 feet.

So, if you are limited in height you should focus on a vertical.
If you can place the antenna at say 20 feet (and preferebly much higher) you should go for a horizontal antenna.

Not because the angle will always be lower...but the horizontal antenna in most cases will produce more gain, this cause a horizontal antenna will bennefit from "ground gain". http://www.worldwidedx.com/cb-antennas/142494-pdf-file-take-off-angle-gain-versus-height.html
This could can be really impressive.

With that said, it is not that in all cases its a thumb of rule...no as always there are exceptions.
So, you have one primairy task....how the heck, can i put up anything high

In aspect to antennas.
There are many cheap ways to have a antenna.
The mentioned dipole for sure is a good one.

You can add a reflector and "gain" 4 dB.
2el Skypper “jungle job” | CB Antennas
You can add a director / reflector and gain 5 dB
3el Skypper “spiderbeam” | CB Antennas
(we are still speaking about 50 euros effort)

You can make a hentenna, or a Saturn
Hentenna | CB Antennas

That saturn is the one i like "best" and is attached in the PDF.
that will only cost about 10 euros and will do just about great !

Beyond the mentioned antennas...i think you could say in all fairness...we are not speaking about a low budget anymore.

The forum is here to help if you have troubles with any antenna.
And for sure it is "warming" to work DX with your own couple bucks antenna !

Kind regards,

H.

 

[M0GVZ]

By far the best performance/ease of building antenna is the moxon. 6dbd gain and around 26db f/b. The radiated signal from 100w into that is like putting 400w or more into an imax 2000.

I built one for 10m and at 22ft high with just 100w worked China long path from the UK in a contest....18000 miles...

Plenty of calculators online.

 

[sonoma]

there is a guy selling 1/2 wave dipole antenna's on ebay already made for 9.99 and 4.95 shipping. they look good and already made. thinking about buying one myself even though I do not need one. can not buy the material to do it yoursrlf for 15.00.

 

[sonoma]

Hello everyone, I'm just wondering what is the best homemade CB DX antenna.
I do not have a lot of money and was just wondering if their is a way to make a good DX antenna. Any help would be appreciated
- Thanks

just sent you a PM on the antenna.

 

[w9cll]

there is a guy selling 1/2 wave dipole antenna's on ebay already made for 9.99 and 4.95 shipping. they look good and already made. thinking about buying one myself even though I do not need one. can not buy the material to do it yoursrlf for 15.00.

For that cost the builder cut corners somewhere. I would be leary of something at that price.

Build a dipole yourself, it's not hard, should take you less than an hour to build, cheap and easy to out up. If you have a tree near the house your all set.

BTW I know it's been mentioned here but just because you put up an antenna it does not mean you will able to talk "DX". It's all about conditions, you can spend thousands on a antenna if the band is dead so are you no matter how much power you feed it. When the band is open then a $10 Walmart antenna will allow you to work the world. The simplest antenna is a dipole, not the most efficient for local talking it will provide you a reasonable antenna when the band is open

 

[sonoma]

I just ordered one to see what he has or has not done right. should be here tue or so of next week. the pic he has posted does not look to bad. will see if it is the same when I get it.

 

[Mudfoot]

I just ordered one to see what he has or has not done right. should be here tue or so of next week. the pic he has posted does not look to bad. will see if it is the same when I get it.

Gotta link to that?

 

[vkrules]

Dipole would be the easiest to build. First I think you need to decide how are you going to mount any ant, this will most likely be the deciding factor on what type you will build.

 

[222DBFL]

Is this the one??

 

[222DBFL]

Sorry can't post a photo right now.