B&W Folded Dipole (Was: Re: [ICOM] Question abt 746 pro and G5RV combo)

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

We tried one of these at Field Day this year.  While it
loaded up just fine, its radiation efficiency was so poor
in the crowded conditions of Field Day that we hardly
worked  ANYBODY!!!  We took it down and put up
an ancient trapped dipole for 80 and 40 that hadn't
even been adjusted for resonance anywhere and the
the contacts started rolling in.

Conclusion:  While SWR may be good with the B&W,
it is  NOT  an antenna to use in crowded conditions.

Better solution:  Doublet as long as you can make it,
fed with ladder or open feedline (300-600 Ohm)
and whatever balun you can find.  This is what I
use with my IC-746.  My balun is one of the ancient
Heathkit air baluns in an aluminum box.  For 80m
the 746's tuner doesn't have enoug range and I
use a Ten-Tec 238 tuner to get a match on 80m.

Mac - K2GKK/5



----Original Message Follows----
From: Larry Winslow <larry_w at comcast.net>
Reply-To: ICOM Reflector <icom at mailman.qth.net>
To: ICOM Reflector <icom at mailman.qth.net>
Subject: Re: [ICOM] Question abt 746 pro and G5RV combo
Date: Sat, 15 Jul 2006 23:18:16 -0700

Take a look at the B&W broadband folded dipole. The 90' one will tune 80 
thru 10 with no problem - the auto-tuner of my IC-765 handles every ham 
band.. I have one and have never regretted it. Mine is down right now as I 
lost the tree I had one end attached to but I'm about to put it back up.

R&L electronics has an ad in latest QST for the antenna at $199 which is way 
below B&W's price.

73 - Larry WØNFU
larry_w at comcast.net