[Elecraft] Folded Dipole Antennas

[Don Wilhelm]

Bob is correct, a resonant length is not a requirement for an antenna.  As
long as you can feed it effectively with small losses, any length will
radiate effectively.  Open wire or ladder line feeders will keep losses down
to a minimum.  More information in my antenna article on my webpage
www.qsl.net/w3fpr for those who are interested.

If you are interested in effective dipole lengths not resonant on any band,
see the information on L B Cebik's website www.cebik.com .  He advocates an
88 ft. lenght for 80 through 20 and a 44 ft. length for 40 thru 10 meters -
his choice of lengths is because of radiation patterns produced - i.e. the
88 ft version has only a single lobe up through 20 meters and breaks into
multiple lobes at higher frequencies - likewise, the 44 ft. length has a
single lobe pattern through 10 meters.

The real story is that one can use an antenna of most any length and have it
radiate efficiently, as long as you can keep the losses to a minimum and
bring the impedance at the transmitter end of the feedline to something that
can be matched to 50 ohms.  Beware, the length of the feedline makes a big
difference in feeding non-resonant antennas.  If you are experimenting, make
notes of the length and type of feedline as well as the length of the
antenna.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message -----

> Actually, Edmund, when you have the K2 you can just
> use a plain dipole fed with 450 ohm line and let
> the KAT2 match it for you.  I use a 60 ft long dipole
> here, not resonant on any band, and work 80-10m with it.
> 73, Bob N6WG
>
>