Optimum length for ladder-fed dipole
"Rick" wrote in message
...
I'm planning a dipole installation fed with ladder line and a
wide-range antenna tuner.
I'd like to be able to use it on 160 through 10. A half wave at 160
meters is a bit under 260 feet. Is there any particular reason I
should limit its length to 260 feet? I have enough room to make it
about 320 feet... any particular reason I shouldn' t do that?
Since you are using ladder line (assuming you use a suitable gauge for the
power transmitted), the dielectric and resistive losses losses are
insignificant even at relatively high SWR. I doubt it matters much whether
your feedline is 100 feet or 320 feet; most relected power will still get
transmitted out and not be absorbed as heat.
|