[Antennas] Simple dipole

[Chris BONDE]

> Due to construction behind my qth I ran across a bunch of what  
> appears to be some of Ma Bell's old transmission line that had ran 
> overhead before they went to burying it all. My question is would it 
> be ok to use both conductors as one leg of a dipole or would I be 
> better off to split it and use a single conductor for each side..It 
> is solid copper wire spaced about the same as old flat tv wire but 
> much heavier.
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Bill

Too me it depends.

If you spend the time splitting the wire you will have a lot of wire.

If you use both conductors you effectively increase the diameter of the antenna wire 
hence electrically lengthen it.  Not much but at time it helps.

In one experiment that I did many moons ago, I made a long wire antenna with two 
wires about 6in apart.  Both connected at each end.  Much better in reception and in 
transmission and in tuning.

Look at cage antennas for a better explanation.

Also when you do it as a cage with a tuner, I think that the unknown impedance does not matter a hill of beans

Chris opr VE7HCB