[Elecraft] Antenna Question

[Don Wilhelm]

Neil,

When you see an antenna element folded back on itself like that, think 
"linear loading" (look it up in the ARRL Handbook or similar).  There is 
no "magic", but it is one way of shortening an antenna.  It is not as 
efficient as a full length antenna, but is more efficient than using 
loading coils.  Everything is relative.
If you have the space to put up full size half wave dipole antennas, 
that is the way to go.  If you need shortened antennas for the lower 
bands, linear loading is one way to achieve resonance with shortened length.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/17/2012 11:26 PM, Niel Skousen wrote:
> I'm pretty sure I've seen this antenna on the net, but don't recall the name nor have I been able to find a link to a description / design data.
>
> The county ERC has a 'shortened fan dipole' with three parallel elements, spaced about 18-24" apart on each side.   the longest element folds back around the mid-length element toward the shortest element.   The antenna end insulator / guy rope is attached to the long element, where it folds back.   There appears (from the ground) to be a 6~8" insulator / gap between the end of the shortest element, and the longest element where its been folded back.  no traps, loading coils, or loading resistors that I can see.
>
> I'm assuming three or four band coverage (80, 40, 20, and 15 ??) with a 75m dipole, a 40m dipole (with 15m as a freebie), and a 20 m dipole.   but would be interested in more technical details if anyone can decipher my text description above…
>
> Thanks
> Niel
>