[Elecraft] How Long Is "Long Enough"?

[Wayne Burdick]

Weymouth Walker wrote:

> The subject is: the "shortest" dipole I can get by with 
> when operating portable with the K2 ...


Weymouth,

One possible answer is: use a random-length vertical rather than a
dipole. A piece of wire of any gauge (I use #26, usually) can be tossed
into a nearby tree. In many cases this is simpler than putting up a
dipole--you can get on the air in literally seconds if you keep a weight
attached to the line. It will often outperform a low dipole on
lower-frequency bands.

Another advantage of the random-length vertical is that you can get by
with no feedline, especially if you have a balun available. Instead of
using the balun to convert unbalanced to balanced, use it just as a way
of providing some isolation between the K2's chassis and the antenna.
Eliminating the feedline is the key to minimizing the fiddle-factor in
getting an antenna up.

I've loaded wires as short as 20' on most bands using the KAT2. Avoid
lengths that are an exact multiple of a half wave on any band you plan
to use. Bring a few extra hunks of wire to lay out as radials. 

73,
Wayne
N6KR