[Antennas] B&W TTFD

[Cletus W Whitaker]

de WB2CPN         2004.09.05

If we consider only the HF amateur service frequencies
the TTFD Tilted Terminated Folded Dipole is not really
the antenna of choice.  We're not doing automatic
frequency hopping or Automatic Link Establishing (ALE).
This antenna grew out of the need for a broadband
transmitting antenna which would handle a very wide
frequency range without excessive SWR.  The terminated
Rhombic or very large loop is nice, but their size is
too much for cramped spaces.  No matter what you may
hear, it was developed by the Navy.  The antenna
was designed to hang at about 45 degrees from a mast.
It replaced a wertical wire that used a 200-pound
remote controlled tuner that was mounted on deck.
I have one.  Eventually this antenna was snapped up by
the State Department Foreign Service, and was installed
in their facilities all over most of the world.  The
bottom line is that the loss in the antenna gives it
the low SWR broadband capability, and the loss can
always be made up with a good linear amplifier.

73  Clete