Dipole antennas are not just for beginners!

Dipoles are great antennas and not just for beginners! I gave up my towers and Yagis over 30 years ago and went to all dipoles. I really have not missed anything. With dipoles I can work over 100 countries in a weekend DX contest and on more than one band, including 40 meters. My 20 and 10 meter dipoles are just over 32 feet with my 40 meter dipole close to 50 ft. I use it on 15 meters also. They work pretty good. For DX it is good to have them high. How high? As high and you can get them. Most of us should be able get them 30 feet and that works for 20 meters and up really well. Higher is a bit better. Mine are all between 30 and 50 feet. Theoretically the 40 meter dipole works better at 60 feet but even 30 feet works. Dipoles have a broad bidirectional beamwidth off the broadside with a null directly off the tip end. Low dipoles do not have a deep null but a 10 meter dipole at 32 feet will because it is a wavelength high, whereas the null of a 20 meter dipole at 32 feet is much less as it is only halfwave high. 

Yes, dipoles are great for beginners but many of us old timers work plenty of DX with them too!

Comments

  1. MartyJanuary 7, 2025 at 9:33 PM

    I am sold on them. Have at the QTH and use EFHWs for POTA.

    ReplyDelete

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