Wow, thank you for all of the advice everyone. Apparently I have some
more reading to do...

In the meantime I put together an off-center dipole 48" up 18" down
using aluminum wire. I understand there are probably better options,
but this provides significant improvement over what I had before.

Just one question about this antenna - how would one estimate the
impedance? I don't have an impedance analyzer. I have read in this NG
that the impedance will be roughly 300 Ohm, and that a TV-type balun
would bring it down to 75, which would be better than 300 if not
ideal. I have read elsewhere that it will be roughly 75 Ohm and no
balun is necessary. What is the truth?

I do have a 4:1 balun that would work if impedance is around 300, but
if impedance is around 75 would there be any benefit or harm in using
it?

Thank you all again,
Paul

On Wed, 20 Sep 2006 17:23:49 GMT, Paul Monaghan
wrote:

Just one question about this antenna - how would one estimate the
impedance? I don't have an impedance analyzer. I have read in this NG
that the impedance will be roughly 300 Ohm, and that a TV-type balun
would bring it down to 75, which would be better than 300 if not
ideal. I have read elsewhere that it will be roughly 75 Ohm and no
balun is necessary. What is the truth?

The truth is that a scanner that covers a wide range of frequencies
rarely shows 50 ohms, and that's only over a very narrow frequency
range, so I wouldn't worry about it. Putting on a balun may improve
reception on some frequencies, only to degrade it on others.