Best End Fed Half Wave?

[T23]

I have been researching for a decent antenna for my heathkit dx-40. I have looked at radio wavz end feds, and the qso king so far...

The qso king seems to be a scam from various sources on the net, basically a random wire with a balun and donut transformer. The radio wavz brand end fed can only handle 25 watts AM and 200 wats SSB ( I use AM by the way ).


Suggestions? Or should I just look at a different type of antenna?



T23

 

[W5LZ]

Unless there's some particular reason you have to use an end fed antenna I think a typical center fed 1/2 wave dipole will work as well as anything. They usually have no power limitations (within reason) and are probably the simplest antenna around. They are the 'standard' against which other antennas are measured. They are easy to make and are not expensive.
Are they the best things around? Of course not, but they are about as close to that as the average person can do. If done half-way right, that DX-40 will be 'tickled' with one.
- 'Doc

(The most common 'limit' with an end-fed antenna is the impedance matching device used with them.)

 

[T23]

Thats true with the power limitation being the transformer...

I'll look into it some more...

If I did get one, I would have to orient it in a horizontal V config. Feed point at the peak of the roof with eatch end at a 45 degree angle or so.

It would also be a little more versitile too, the dx-40 has a pi network for tuning, which is a plus.


T23

 

[Moleculo]

If you haven't read W8JI's article about end fed 1/2 wave antennas, it's definitely worth taking the time: end fed 1/2 wave matching system end feed

 

[T23]

Thanks for the info Mole. After reveiwing that page I think I want to avoid an end-fed antenna.

Ok, so what about other types of wire antennas?

The OFC dipole?

Center-Fed with 1;1 balun?

Center-Fed without a balun?

And the various types of bazooka antennas?


T23

 

[W5LZ]

T23,
The antennas you listed are usually 1/2 wave antennas with a difference in how/where they are fed. That difference in how they are fed is for impedance matching purposes. I would expect the same basic performance from any/all of them. Of course there will be some difference in that performance but not huge ones. You can expect that sort of difference between almost any two antennas for a number of reasons.
Probably the most common of them is the center fed dipole with no balun. It's been in use for ever it seems like, and is probably the simplest. There are differences in all of them, some significant to some degree, some not very significant at all. There are, or can be, 'clear winners' for individual circumstances, but nothing 'miraculous' at all.
Pick one and try it. Then pick another one and try it. Was the difference very much of one, and would you say it was worth the effort? Then you tell us!
- 'Doc

 

[T23]

Well I have built and used 1/2 wave center fed before, The receive was noticably better on it than my end fed even at a lower height.

I may just go with the center fed without a ballun. I have tested it as I said, but was concerned about how the bandwith could be affected by the orientation.

T23