Unusual Antenna performance

[whiteastro]

This morning as I was upstairs getting ready to address the day I went to the radio room and decided to turn on my GE Super Base just to see if anything was coming in. On my Super Base I had my Dipole in the attic hooked to antenna port B and I was Amazed the DX that was coming in with almost No Air Noise ( static ) on 38 LSB. So out of curiosity I turned my McKinley on that was hooked to my Star Duster on the same channel and it came in But with much Air Noise. I turned it off and hooked the Star Duster to antenna port A on the Super Base and flipped the antenna switch and again the Star Duster was full of static while receiving. So as a last test I switched the two antennas around on the Super Base 2 Ports and again the Star Duster was Noise y while the Dipole was Very pleasant and almost noise free. Which brings me to ask the question, Is that the way Dipole Antennas are ( less noise y ) ? Or was it just a Fluke occasion. I never used the Dipole much because I have to get back in the attic to shorten it to improve the SWR and even it out across the band. The SWR isn't Bad but I know I can make it better. I put it up in the attic as a experiment because 1 operator always bragged about the merits of a dipole. When I first shortened and tested it on the ground it performed excellent but the SWR climbed when I put it in the attic so that is why I haven't used it much. ( TOO hard for a old guy to crawl around in the attic ) LOL But if I can expect more quite receive, then my Buns will be in the attic as soon as it warms a little. For those who wonder it's in a inverted V pattern as it follows the peak of the house. Have at it !

 

[AudioShockwav]

If your dipole is strung up mostly horizontal it is not as prone to pick up noise.

73
Jeff

 

[whiteastro]

If your dipole is strung up mostly horizontal it is not as prone to pick up noise.

Thanks Jeff that is nice to hear and will Prod me to get in the attic again to adjust the SWR. And I will have to get my Amps. straightened out, then maybe I can enjoy some of this DX that has been rolling lately without all the noise.

 

[AudioShockwav]

From

Dipole vs Vertical: Which Antenna is Better?

The dipole versus vertical question doesn’t really have a single “right” answer, and amateurs will offer different responses based on their individual preferences. It’s almost like the Ford versus Chevy […]

www.onallbands.com

Quote
""
On the downside, verticals have a reputation for picking up more noise than a horizontal antenna in AM/CW/SSB modes. They tend to be more sensitive to vertically-polarized noise generated by lightning or overhead power lines. They also tend to be more expensive to buy........

"
73
Jeff

 

[whiteastro]

From

Dipole vs Vertical: Which Antenna is Better?

The dipole versus vertical question doesn’t really have a single “right” answer, and amateurs will offer different responses based on their individual preferences. It’s almost like the Ford versus Chevy […]

www.onallbands.com

Quote
""
On the downside, verticals have a reputation for picking up more noise than a horizontal antenna in AM/CW/SSB modes. They tend to be more sensitive to vertically-polarized noise generated by lightning or overhead power lines. They also tend to be more expensive to buy........

"
73
Jeff

Thanks for the article Jeff ! I always enjoy learning a little more. Almost 20 years of raising my family made my radio interest take a back seat. You know how it goes, Money flying every where. LOL Mike

 

[whiteastro]

On the downside, verticals have a reputation for picking up more noise than a horizontal antenna in AM/CW/SSB modes. They tend to be more sensitive to vertically-polarized noise generated by lightning or overhead power lines. They also tend to be more expensive to buy

Hey Jeff hear is a crazy question. If horizontal dipole antennas are less noisy then vertical did anyone ever experiment making a 1/4 wave mag mount horizontal dipole antenna out of 2ea. 4.5' whips for the top of a auto or motor home? Just a passing thought !

 

[Riverman]

Hey Jeff hear is a crazy question. If horizontal dipole antennas are less noisy then vertical did anyone ever experiment making a 1/4 wave mag mount horizontal dipole antenna out of 2ea. 4.5' whips for the top of a auto or motor home? Just a passing thought !

Inverted "V" Attic Antenna Using Mobile Whips

My previous setup: A homemade horizontal dipole using two 4' Firestiks atop a 15' mast. I am now using a similar antenna in an Inverted V orientation in my attic. The advantages: 1. The attic allowed me to gain a few feet in height over my 15' mast. 2. The Inverted V is more...

www.worldwidedx.com

 

[AudioShockwav]

There are a couple company's that make mounts for 2 whips to be mounted into for a quick dipole.
Or home brew.

73
Jeff

 

[whiteastro]

There are a couple company's that make mounts for 2 whips to be mounted into for a quick dipole.
Or home brew.

Thanks for the pics Jeff. I never made a dipole or seen one made so I don't understand how they are wired. Looking at the top pic is the shield of the coax wired to one of the stingers and the center wire wired to the other ? It looks like something I would play with in my spare ( HA HA ) time. Where is a good place to buy that top bracket or something like it?

 

[BJ radionut]

Forget the statement "V" has gain!!!!

 

[Riverman]

Where is a good place to buy that top bracket or something like it?

https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/mfj-347

This one allows you to simply screw the PL259 on the end of your coax into the connector on the bracket.

Can purchase it on Amazon as well. And other places.

 

[whiteastro]

This one allows you to simply screw the PL259 on the end of your coax into the connector on the bracket.

Thanks for the info ! PLAY TIME

 

[RT431]

When I was a kid just getting into radio I had a 4' fiberglass whip mounted to the outside of my window sill. My bedroom was on the second floor. It wasn't working very well. My buddy came over to check it out. He took another antenna that I had laying around and attached the antenna to the bottom of the mount pointing down. Wow! Now I was hearing everything. Not knowing much about how things work didn't realize what he did was essentially made a dipole. That setup work well for what it was.

 

[whiteastro]

When I was a kid just getting into radio I had a 4' fiberglass whip mounted to the outside of my window sill. My bedroom was on the second floor. It wasn't working very well. My buddy came over to check it out. He took another antenna that I had laying around and attached the antenna to the bottom of the mount pointing down. Wow! Now I was hearing everything. Not knowing much about how things work didn't realize what he did was essentially made a dipole. That setup work well for what it was.

Yeah I have concocted some strange antennas before but not for CB. LOL

 

[wavrider]

as for small VSWR issue,, put an antenna tuner/coupler inline at the shack and tune vswrs down.

no need climb into the attic anymore,,search zep and extended zepp,, the longer the wire the more gain you get in certain directions.

instead of using coax use ladderline to feed the attic dipole, minimum loss in the vswr mismatch using ladderline.