Suggestions for first HF antenna

[Turbo T]

Try the quad loop, I had a single on 11M and it kicked butt, and then I built a 2 element Quad for 11M and I was on 27.025 making contacts, LOL... Quads kick the most ass, hands down, but their size makes them impractical for use in 160-40M etc... They become quite large at those low frequencies but at 10M it's easy to manage size...

Thanks, I may end up trying making a quad....one question though, I was looking at some of the online pics of how they're made to get an idea of what I'm doing, it looks like most of them show the center lead of the coax and the braided jacket basically connected together after forming the square...that's not correct is it?

 

[443]

Thanks, I may end up trying making a quad....one question though, I was looking at some of the online pics of how they're made to get an idea of what I'm doing, it looks like most of them show the center lead of the coax and the braided jacket basically connected together after forming the square...that's not correct is it?

Quad loops are full wavelength and are driven directly, yes. Depending on if you place the feedpoint (where the coax is connected to the wire loop antenna) on the sides of the loop or the top or bottom of the loop it will be vertically or horizontally polarized. If you are going to talk to 11M stations with it on vertical, make sure you have it positioned where the feed point is vertical, which I believe is on either side of the loop, top or bottom feedpoint would make it horizontally polarized.

Here is a good page for how to make the quad loop for 11M. You can apply same everything 10M and just make the loop slightly shorter for 10M, you could make 1 of each if you want good SWR on 10M and 11M. The info should also be there somewhere about makeing the 75 ohm coax matching system to direct drive the quad loop.

The Ultimate Guide to 11 Meter CB Antennas

 

[WR0220]

What 10m radio are you using? Did you remember to switch the radio to 10m when checking SWR? It's a long shot, but a friend of mine had high SWR after making a dipole for 10m. He scratched his head for days and couldn't figure out why. I went over to help him out, and the first thing I noticed was the radio (2950) was tuned to the 11m band. Once the radio was tuned to the phone portion of 10m the SWR was between 1.4:1 and 1.7:1. Like I said it's a long shot, but something that could have easily been overlooked - especially if the radio doubles for an 11m transmitter.

 

[RickC.]

Tame the dipole before building the quad. Quads present physical challenges that you may not want to mess with right now. I'd suggest using something besides an SO-239 in the center, but that can work OK if it's not subject to much stress.

 

[RatsoW8]

Are you able to post a picture of the dipole and how it's mounted? Maybe a close up of the so-239.

 

[Turbo T]

No problem...here's a few pics, I snapped them in the dark.

The dipole consists of two wires, a red and a green. I made the red the center and the green the ground.

In the pics, the red is nearer to the second story window and the green is closer to the roof edge for the garage, about a foot away from the roof edge.

Both of the cords used to secure the nylon dogbone insulators at either end of the wires are a foot or more.

 

[Turbo T]

Well I thought I'd post an update....

Tonight I decided to make a new dipole out of the same gauge and length of wire. I even reused the same RG8X coax I fed it with as well as the dog bones on the ends.

Two things I did differently...

1. This time I used a 1:1 balun

2. I put the leg of the antenna nearer the second story window, about a foot higher in the air. The other leg was about the same.

Checked the SWR and it was 1.4:1. This was on 28.400.

10 meters I'm guessing was in and out (11 meters seemed to be pretty active), but I did manage to make my first contact tonight on the air with KB3WCT in West Mifflin, PA. About 7:30 PM CST.

Another ham heard me at the same time, I think he said his call was KB3VOO.

Well I'm pretty stoked. Don't know why I had so much trouble with the first dipole. Guess I have some checking to do.

 

[K9GAS]

You should try one with out the balun so you get a confident result.
Balun isn't really necessary for a simple dipole, but it's fine as well.
That way you can give yourself a pat on the back for doing one.
Congrats on getting it where you're having fun. 10 has been down, with
a few stations here lately. At least in my area. I did hear some California today,
and some faint Europe.

 

[Turbo T]

I've noticed 10 meters seems to be fading in and out. I did make a few more contacts....to KD8PBF in Madison Heights, MI and N4DPU, KF4JR both in Panama City, FL and one other in Panama City, said his call was K5PLX but I didn't see his call sign on the FCC website.

N4DPU did mention I was hitting him at an S-2 sometimes going up to S-7.

 

[BJ radionut]

Turbo: Glad things are working out and your "In the Air"
I don't know how easy it was to get that antenna up where it's at but!...

Can you take a fishing pole or piece of tubing and get a small rope or even weed whacker line...something like that thru the opening in that roof trim...Pull the feed point center a foot or so away from the roof edge....
then retie your ends along the roof edges on the gutter nails...
(remember 90 deg. or better angle at center) and that antenna will improve even more IMHO...

Next question: What's that pole at the one end holding up? How tall? Sturdy?

Just asking...always glad to try and help even this way via board to help someone "Get Out There"...

Something else: You have any gear that works on 6 meters?

All the Best
Gary

 

[Turbo T]

Gary,

Putting up that antenna was as easy as climbing out thru the 2nd story window in the pic, while trying not to fall off the roof.

That opening in the roof....I'm going to presume you mean where it sits by the downspout in the pic....I actually now have the left leg tied to that.

Should I move the balun over there at the corner where the left leg is currently tied??

Not sure what "pole" you're referring to.

I do not have any 6 meter stuff at all.

 

[K9GAS]

Turbo, my thought is probably like Gary's, I'm assuming. Can you hang the balun, center, on the pole that's another antenna?? To the right in the pic. Elevate the balun as high as you can reach or simply lower the pole and mount the center of the dipole as high as you can go. Use poly rope,3/16, cheap from anywhere and use about 20' of rope on each end and once you raise the pole back up just tie the rope to the gutter or even where you can reach with a ladder and create an inverted V with the dipole. You'll see a nice improvement over the way it's hanging now. I've used a pulley on my antenna poles so you can raise and lower the dipole like you would a flag on its pole. Easier to work ok or just change it when you want.

 

[BJ radionut]

Yes: You might try moving that center up as high along the roof line as you can get "Safely"....Then run the ends as far away the 2 other directions...this would get the "legs" and the center "In cleaner space" and looks like maybe higher overall....Hope I am making this clear?

I brighten the one pic up....That's a 2 meter Ringo on that pole I seen in your one Pic...correct?
You could tie that (1) leg right below the bottom of the main Ringo and it should not bother it as long as the end insulator is a foot or so off the pole....Those legs do not have to be dead straight they can droop a "little" and not bother the antenna a bit...
Make any sense?
All the Best
Gary

 

[Turbo T]

I do currently have one leg of the dipole tied to the Ringo Ranger. The other end is tied to the corner of the house.

I was afraid if i tied the balun to the Ringo Ranger pole and then branched out the legs, it would bounce off the pole and cause issues. They did say to keep the legs away from metal.

BTW I just made another contact....to KK7WV in NV a few minutes ago.

 

[ahamoperator]

I agree with the other guys posting here, get the antenna up into a cleaner surroundings. Looks like the one side was coupling with your aluminum seemless gutter (guessing) presenting an off-center load... Lots of common mode currents