Simple, Elegant, Low-Cost, Low-Risk.
Someone once said the best things
are usually the simplest, how very true in this case. This adage can be applied
to amateur radio antennas as well for one of the ham radio lessons learned over
the years is- if you can put up a dipole, you should. For
Portable, Stealth, Emergency or Everyday low power operation, a resonant dipole
is one of the most cost effective, highest value, best performing antenna
solutions available. Using these principles, we have created an ultra-portable,
mono-band, rapid deployment, half -wave dipole antenna. Our dipole
requires no assembly and can be erected in minutes. Designed as a QRP
primary antenna, it also functions as a quick deployment auxiliary, emergency
or backup antenna in the event a primary antenna experiences difficulties. It's
also a great, inexpensive gift to give to those involved with amateur radio
that requires no additional finishing. It fits easily into your pocket,
glove box, bag or carrying case. Check out our antennas in
action here:
HamRadioConcepts - Stealth Dipoles
and here:
HamRadioConcepts - FT-817 Portable Communications
For 16.00 you will receive:
Many
experienced hams would agree that it's easy to erect an antenna system inferior
to the standard half-wave dipole, but very difficult to out-perform one. It
seems to me that wire antennas, in general, tend to be overpriced for what you
get. Determining what type of antenna to use for radio operations can be a
frustrating experience but justifying the expense for some of them may even be
more so. As a new ham, I wanted to get on the air with something that was worth
what I paid for it and have it perform to expectations. This wasn't always the
case, either in cost or performance. So I now offer something that I would have
wanted, but could never find: a simple, functional, easy to use and deploy
resonant dipole antenna for around $20 bucks. That's all there is to
it.
I once saw a gentleman bring
his expensive, complicated, difficult to assemble in-the-field multi-band
antenna to an outdoor radio event. While constructing his device, he managed to
drop one or more of the small parts in the bush. Since he didn't travel with a nut
and bolt assortment that was the end of his ability to operate. It's true he
wasn't intending to operate QRP, but 5-10 watts is greater than 0 watts. Seeing
that was one of the experiences that lead to creation of this dipole.
This
antenna is a classic 6M half-wave dipole optimized for QRP / QRP Portable and
Stealth operation. It takes almost no space and weighs almost nothing, and is
nearly invisible 20 feet in the air. It consists of a binding post with a BNC
female connector (BNC Male connectors are also available just let us
know by sending a message), 20 AWG stranded, UL-1007 tinned-copper antenna
wire and two (2) ring connector eyelets at each end, thoroughly insulated with
waterproof marine-grade heat shrink on both ends for maximum strain relief. All
electrical connections are soldered using silver bearing rosin-core solder.
Weighing
less than 5 ounces, (141 grams) this antenna is a half-wave dipole on 6
Meters. When compressed, it fits into a space 4.5" x 2.5" x 1.5"
(115 x 64 x 39mm). Extended, the dipole is cut for the middle of the 6 meter
band. Thus, the entire antenna is approximately 8.8 feet in length. It can be
used in any of the standard dipole configurations, flat-top, inverted V,
sloper, etc. Most often I use the flat top configuration without any center
supports, it's that light. But every operator will have judge the conditions,
landscape, and operational needs for themselves. Like any antenna however, it
should not be used near power lines.
The SWR values have been measured with an antenna analyzer, see the photos for
a chart. The measurements were taken with the feed-point elevated approximately
35' and the antenna configured as a flat-top dipole, wired to 50ft. length of
RG-8x cable, with 6 turns coiled as an choke at the feed-point into a SO-239
adapter, no additional balun or tuner was used (see photo). Used with a tuner,
the results will be even better and may be used on other bands, but see our
other items for additional bands and frequencies.
I have used many antennas over the years and for portable QRP operation, I have
not found any antenna configuration to greatly out-perform the classic
half-wave dipole as demonstrated by this antenna. Many hours of operating and
hundreds of dollars later, I have come full-circle and returned to what I
believe is the simplest, most effective and economical antenna solution. All
things considered (conditions, power, terrain, height etc.) with this antenna
raised close to a 1/4-wave above the ground or more, I have been just as successful,
or more, making contacts with this antenna than with anything else.
Here in the Great Lakes area we have many trees, so to elevate this antenna up
for portable use, one of the better solutions is an arborists throw bag and
slick line. This makes 30 feet or so perfectly routine and reasonable. With
practice and skill, more height can be gained and these items are easily found
on eBay. No doubt each operator will have their preferred method, but I find
these to be exceptionally light, compact, portable and trail-friendly.
Nothing else comes close in terms of value. I have used end fed wires,
portable verticals, rubber ducks, mobile ground-plane antennas, loading coils,
you name it. If purchased retail, all of these things are significantly
more expensive than this antenna. Even as purchased components and hand
assembled, they are all more expensive and will not perform any better. For
example, one can purchase, as I have done, a 9:1 matchbox for an end fed QRP
portable. One would still have to purchase the wire and assemble the antenna.
One also has to pay for shipping and wait for the unit to arrive. In total,
this can't really be accomplished for less than $50... try it. One could also
purchase the individual components and assemble the unit themselves, there are
no special tricks or techniques. In fact, I encourage the
home-brew-antenna-making art, but you would end up spending as much or more.