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Old February 6th 07, 04:08 AM posted to rec.radio.amateur.antenna
[email protected] mcalhoun@ksu.edu is offline
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First recorded activity by RadioBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 58
Default Optimum length for ladder-fed dipole

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?


I used to have a "dipole" which was about 150 feet on one side and
closer to 200 feet on the other, fed with true ladder line (little
plastic insulators spaced every 6 inches, not the plastic-covered
stuff) up maybe 35 feet. Worked like gangbusters. Locals often
explained that I "got out" so well because my signal was halfway
there before it had to leave the wire. VSWR was often greater
than 10:1, but I didn't care.

--
--Myron A. Calhoun; 2001 Dunbar Road; Manhattan, KS 66502-3907
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NRA Life Member and Rifle, Pistol, & Home Firearm Safety Certified Instructor
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