Setting up a dipole advice...

This forum provides help with antenna installation, as well as guidance on selecting the right antenna for your radio or mobile setup.
Post Reply
User avatar
Mentor3006
Donor
Donor
Posts: 564
Joined: Aug 22 2007, 09:51
Handle: Mentor / Space City 3006
Real Name: Dave
Antenna: Realistic stainless steel 102
Radio: President McKinley II FCC
Contact:

Setting up a dipole advice...

#412292

Post by Mentor3006 »

So I am in an HOA neighborhood, being able to put up an antenna is going to be difficult at best.

I can conceal a dipole so I ordered one, but not sure how best to install / conceal it. The options are...

In the attic. I can orient north south or east west, but horizontal.

Up the big ash tree in my back yard where I can orient vertically, but not a single clue how I can actually attach it to the tree.

So right now the plan is...

Troubleshoot and fix modulation issues with my Realistic TRC-465 AM/SSB radio + Realistic noise cancelling power mic.
Power it with my PM3-55 110v AC to 12v DC converter.
RG8 to dipole mounted ???

It's always been the antenna that has been the question...

Not going to put the McKinley II FCC in this one since I got that specifically for WX and FM features for my off road 4x4 club stuff, not needed on a base setup...

So what would work better for combined local and skip work? Horizontal or vertical orientation? Attic or tree?
Coils = loss.
Good audio, Quality coax, sturdy mounts, good springs, and a big stainless stick get you out and give you ears!
Mobile 1:President McKinley II FCC, Realistic 102" SS whip, President DigiMike
Mobile 2:Same as 1 but with a WIlson 1000.
Base: Realistic TRC-465 with Realistic noise cancelling power mic. antenna and setup in planning.
User avatar
MDYoungblood
Site Admin
Site Admin
Posts: 10,805
Joined: Jun 12 2010, 20:05
Handle: MDYoungblood
Real Name: Gregory
Antenna: HyGain AV-6160
Radio: Icom IC-746 (non pro)
Contact:

Re: Setting up a dipole advice...

#412293

Post by MDYoungblood »

Installing the dipole in the attic will compromise it as to the surrounding wires, etc., the tree would be better, you will need to get a string over a high branch to pull it up. Make it an inverted V or if you want it vertical, using a pvc pipe or old broomstick to tape the coax to and make a diamond shape, dipole on one side and string on the other, make sure the coax center is up and the shield is down. The coax needs to come off the center at a 90deg angle for at least 4ft on a vertical dipole. You can experiment with this, create a dirty choke at the ground with the coax, 5 wraps at 4.5 in dia.

3's

Greg
"321, West Manchester Township, PA"

Official Moderator - CBRT Complaint Department
User avatar
De_Wildfire
Donor
Donor
Posts: 933
Joined: Jun 14 2009, 19:46
Handle: De_Wildfire
Real Name: Greg
Antenna: Imax 2000. Hex Beam, G5RV dipole, Jpole(UHF/VHF) Austin Suburban Tri Band (UHF/VHF)
Radio: Washington, Tram D201, Tram D64, Robyn 520D, Cobra 139XLR, Elecraft K3S, Kenwood 590S, Yaesu FTM 400DR, Alinco DR-235, ADI-146
Contact:

Re: Setting up a dipole advice...

#412301

Post by De_Wildfire »

Stay away from the attic like MDYoungblood suggested its's compromise. I tried it once and I got a lot of AC noise from the AC wires running along the attic floor and it was a 10 meter dipole. The tree would be good for a dipole. Use a sling shot or throw it as high over the branch as you can get it. You would need to tie the other end to something like another tree or a camo pole with a flag on top. My dipole center point is behind the chimney and going to two huge trees on the ends of the property in a 90 degree configuration. For 10/11 meters, I also use a vertical for local/dx talking. I used four, four foot military masts sticking through a tree and the end of the iMAX 2000 vertical is sticking out the top a little bit. It appears that the rest of it inside the tree isn't affecting the skip or ground wave since I can talk to New Zealand, Australia, Europe and the locals up to 50 miles. I have everything hidden in our HOA here. A dipole, the iMAX2000 and it really took some planning to hide a HEX beam. When there is a will, there is a way. I did a lot of googling on how to hide antennas.
Post Reply