I have it mounted in a pine tree vertical, yes its prob not ideal to be so close to the main part of tree, but i have limited options right now, mainly need to be out of sight. I am in the country and own the property, but wife doesnt want to see much in the way of antennas. My set up is complety invisable unless your under the tree lookimg for the wires. The bottom of the dipole is about4-5 ft off the ground. Is there any use in adding radials on the ground and what length should they be, the antenna halves are 103" each. Also the ground under antenna is flat one one side and runs down hill on the other. Would it be benificial to put any radials down the hill a bit? Or right under? Any advice appreciated
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Is there any way to add radials under a homemade 1/2 w dipole vertical?
- Thread starter cjruger
- Start date
RatsoW8
Supporting Member, W9WDX ARC Member - WD8T
Won't do a bit of good. What you can do is add two or three more legs to the shield side of the vertical dipole (assuming the the center conductor is currently on top) and turn it into a 1/4 wave vertical.
I thought about doing that, couple?'s on this. is there gain over the dipole with the ground plane? Can i leave the center leg going straight down and just add 2 radials? And do they need to be out at a certain angle or can they be almost straight down but at a slight angle.
Eta: is it important they all be the same 103" or can some
Be shorter?
Eta: is it important they all be the same 103" or can some
Be shorter?
IMHO you are better off with what you have as a half wave dipoloe rather than messing around with it. Changing it to a groundplane will not add any gain and may detract from it. Also you will end up with radials splayed out from the base making a trip hazard or at best an eyesore.
By your description I can only assume this is a center fed vertical dipole.
If this is so, then why do you think you need radials?
How and where will you connect the radials to the antenna?
If I misunderstand your idea, then ignore this post.
There is no need to put radials under a dipole; it is balanced antenna.
Why do you want to?
You might think about putting it up in the highest tree you have - if you are looking for better performance . . .
Robb, the worst installs I've ever had were in trees. If you can't get the antenna out well away from the tree, it's like eaten' ice cream with a broken tooth pick.
I'm waiting for this new theory on radials below a center fed vertical dipole.
Hey CJ, can you tell us how you're running your feed line away from the feed point on this dipole antenna mounted beside the tree?
I dont want to add radials to the antenna, i was wondering if reflectors wires under or say 30 ft out would be benificial. But it is apparant they are not. I agree the problem with the antenna is the close proximity to the main part of tree
The coax runs across the grass, just under 2-3 inches and up the tree. With a couple loops then into the connector as perpindicular as possible. Yes it does run somewhat parallel to the bottom leg fir a bit. Cant really control that.i think im going to just try to get it high as i can and maybe make it so it will stand on its own and above tree.
Here is a pic of the set up
The coax runs across the grass, just under 2-3 inches and up the tree. With a couple loops then into the connector as perpindicular as possible. Yes it does run somewhat parallel to the bottom leg fir a bit. Cant really control that.i think im going to just try to get it high as i can and maybe make it so it will stand on its own and above tree.
Here is a pic of the set up
I was going by your first post talking about radials.
I see the feed point now, and the coax looks to be running away from the antenna correctly...if that is all you can do.
Adding a reflector on/near the ground might be useful if the dipole was horizontal, however I don't see your idea being much of a benefit for your vertical dipole. You may be getting a little directional effects in some direction due to the tree being close, but I doubt the effect would be noticeable just using your radio and it shouldn't ill-effect the match much.
I have said before...when I ask questions I don't intend that my words discourage ideas.
Keep us posted.
I see the feed point now, and the coax looks to be running away from the antenna correctly...if that is all you can do.
Adding a reflector on/near the ground might be useful if the dipole was horizontal, however I don't see your idea being much of a benefit for your vertical dipole. You may be getting a little directional effects in some direction due to the tree being close, but I doubt the effect would be noticeable just using your radio and it shouldn't ill-effect the match much.
I have said before...when I ask questions I don't intend that my words discourage ideas.
Keep us posted.
It probably won't make a bit of difference. However, there's nothing that prevents you from experimenting.
I'm curious, how are you getting out now? Do you get a lot of good skip?
I use a half wave horizontal dipole that slopes a bit to the South. It's no more than 17 feet high on the high end and slopes to about 15 feet. I am still very impressed with it, but I just can't talk or hear anyone closer than a couple hundred miles at the best of times, unless they are locals, but I'm good out to both coasts and the gulf islands. I was wonedering if a vertical would work better?
I use a half wave horizontal dipole that slopes a bit to the South. It's no more than 17 feet high on the high end and slopes to about 15 feet. I am still very impressed with it, but I just can't talk or hear anyone closer than a couple hundred miles at the best of times, unless they are locals, but I'm good out to both coasts and the gulf islands. I was wonedering if a vertical would work better?
Put up a simple vertical and test it out. Nobody can predict exactly how a particular antenna will work in a particular location. Experiment and learn what works for where you are.
I'm even worse off than cjruger. I don't have the tree, I do have an old bare telephone pole though, that is 18 feet tall and close to my rear window that the COAX goes out. And I have a lease that says no antennas. I like the idea of an end fed dipole, but can't make sense of the descriptions for building one. 
I'm even worse off than cjruger. I don't have the tree, I do have an old bare telephone pole though, that is 18 feet tall and close to my rear window that the COAX goes out. And I have a lease that says no antennas. I like the idea of an end fed dipole, but can't make sense of the descriptions for building one.
I agree most articles on the Internet are often not very informative for duplication purposes. Maybe you could look up Homer on this site or do a search on the topic and find HomerBB's stuff.
HomerBB has built end fed 1/2 waves using stuff you can easily find and build from scratch. You might have to ask him some questions on the parts you don't understand or can't decipher from his posts.
He is in his busy time of the year, so give him time to respond.