10 Meter Dipole Antenna for Ham Radio

In this video, we take a look at a quick 10-meter (10m) dipole antenna for ham radio that I was able to put together from some spare parts I had in the ham shack.
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[@davidm.wilson3736]

Hi, another antenna build for tomorrow morning . Excited, I’ll film this one.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Good luck with it 👍

[@RESlusher]

At least you've never left your coax! I've made that mistake before! After that I always made a load plan! Good stuff, Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

LOL, that hand me laughing. Thanks for watching Richard 👍

[@GregMckenzie-j6m]

just made a 1/2 wave 10 m dipole with your guidance thanks greg

[@TheSmokinApe]

Awesome!

[@tommcmichael8679]

Thank you! I have been fighting my 10m dipole. There was some good info here. Again, thanks!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Tom 👍

[@davidp73]

I made a similar di pole for 20 meters from a repurposed extension chord that my dog had chewed on. I really like the 3d printed holder/bracket that you have there. I made mine from a small piece of plywood. Also I soldered all the connections but I like your connections better for the fact they would be easier to change out in the field. Mine has an SWR of 1.5-1.7 all across the phone portion of the general frequencies. I had to “trim” back a few times as well but it was a good learning experience for me. Nice video

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey David. With the wingnut that’s on there I can keep the elements for 20 and 40 in my back as well and it’s breeze to swap them out. Thanks for watching 👍

[@deirdre_anne]

I really like how modular this is with the ability to easily change out the elements

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yeah, its super handy. Thanks for watching Deirdre.

[@COASTALWAVESWIRES]

Great video, that damn adapter mistake has caught me more than once!

[@TheSmokinApe]

I should keep an adapter box in my pocket! Thanks for watching Walt 👍

[@HOAHamRadio]

For a second there I thought I was watching the start of a new Cahrtenna offering. Now, I can't stop thinking about 10 meter dipoles.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha! Get one up, 10m has been wide open 👍

[@DonzLockz]

the speaker wire is doing great! Cool 3D printed design.👍

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for watching Don, glad you liked it brother 👍

[@HamRadioDX]

Good stuff Ape! Now I can make contact with you on 10 meters! The 3D printed insulator is cool

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for checking it out Hayden. We’ll have to look at schedules 👍

[@FEPLabsRadio]

Nice work Primate!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks FEP 👍

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Nice easy project Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Chuck, kept me busy for a bit 👍

[@RobertLeeAtYT]

Ooops on that antenna trim. This is another reason why I’m a fan of the end fed half wave dipole. Trimming the antenna at higher frequencies requires less precision. Had you cut that same 8 inches from a efhw, you’ll probably be spot on the desired freq center. It’s just more convenient to do too. It’s just one cut, versus two and having to worry about keeping symmetry to boot.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Robert, I did get a little scissor happy.

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

Cool antenna video! Nice results

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Andy, was an easy one to do 👍

[@BrianWM8G]

Nice video! Maybe this’ll be a project for this week

[@TheSmokinApe]

Get after it son, you burning daylight!

[@karlmadsen3179]

I made a graph a lot like that on my spirograph many Christmases ago.

[@TheSmokinApe]

It does kinda look that way

[@jackK5FIT]

For a portable antenna not up all the time any kind of wire will work. I've built 49:1 transformers using scrap 14 gauge scrap wire from old romex. It is still working after 2 years with a efhw 10-80. I like to make antennas out of materials I have instead of going to buy all new (although that will eventually happen). If it works, great. Keep doing it. Jack K5FIT

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Jack, I am with you. I like to build wire antennas and see how well I can do. Thanks for watching 👍🍻

[@wild-radio7373]

Nice!🥰

[@TheSmokinApe]

Howdy Aname, thanks for watching 👍

[@technishn]

I have been listening on 10m FT8 from ZL, recently. Notice you have decodes from there. Agree lots of activity. Current antenna 1.2m broadband loop.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Nice on the loop, I’ve noticed as well. Thanks for watching Kevin 👍

[@Tump2010]

Can't go wrong with a dipole.

[@TheSmokinApe]

You sir, are correct 👍

[@robertmeyer4744]

nice. over cut. been their done that. good thing cheap wire. I have used wire from the trash. should use 1:1 on center fed. that a balanced antenna. this stops RF from coming back down the outside of the shield of coax. I would keep power down on cheap wire. CCA wire is fine. RF is on the surface of the wire. just for the reason of BNC ,I am making M & P coax potaflex 6 . the new stuff with BNC and PL259. I got 50 ft coming of potaflex 7 coming on a reel and BNC adapter coming. the good stuff. and I was lazy. heaving M & P make them with the ends I want and test them . they happy to do that. I will add my own choke when needed. you can also have ABR industries make a great RG 8X with BNC on one end PL259 on outher or BNC on both, can install chokes and protective cover . that would be great for you to prevent that nick on coax. for 10/11/12 and 6 meters their is a outher trick if you ok it is long. cut elements 3/4 wave . this will tune 50 ohm. you get more antenna gain . for 6 meters this is easy. going to make some mono band elements for DX commander. 10/11/12 and 6 meters cut to 3/4 wave . DX commander gave me cut length to start with for that. the next tune will be 1 1/4 wave that getting quite long. for 40 meters do the same with fold back and playing with length you can get a tune on 15 meters. how the DX commander does it with 40 meter aliment . fold back from the top and back down. this a trick to help 15 meters tune. DX commander has a video on this. " fold the end of a dipole back- what's happening ? " you did that on your 10 meter one hear. 10 meters great band when open, I reach the UK from NY fall threw winter when open. summer I get Porto Rico very often. not now, band shift for me. 73's

[@TheSmokinApe]

I use the cheap wire for "throwaway antennas and projects" not for serious stuff, I agree with your point on that. Nice on the potaflex, that looks like good stuff, I am interested to hear how you like it... ABR 8x is mostly what I use because it was cheap, notice I said was, it's gone up considerably. Thanks for watching!

[@robertmeyer4744]

@@TheSmokinApe That why I say get the protective covering for the ABR coax. just use the coax builder and select it and what ends and if chokes . Mike K8MRD ham radio tube has great video on potaflex 7 coax. also on ABR coax. startting to come in now and can order potaflex 6 and 7. comes on a reel and BNC adapter. and can make cables for you what ever end you want. and they test them. cost a bit. not cheap. but will flex and flex stay good. great for test jumpers . also ham radio 2.0 Jason has potaflex 7 in a video. he put power threw it. the antenna torrid got hot but potaflex 7 was just super ! . 73's

[@temporarilyoffline]

Bring out your Techs!

[@TheSmokinApe]

They could be big timing right now 👀

[@bradyseitz2883]

I have a bunch of donut style terriers does size matter mine look about the same

[@TheSmokinApe]

Size can matter for higher power levels, what is more important is the core composition.

[@keimahane]

One thing I have never been clear on, guess I never asked either, is the the length of wire measured to the fold over point or the end point of the wire?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I measure to the end of the fold over 👍

[@keimahane]

@@TheSmokinApe Thank you for the quick reply.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@keimahane no prob

[@Littrell1966]

As a tech, I have been watching some videos on 10 meter dipoles and notice some use a balun and some don't. Does the dipole with a balun work better? Thanks!

[@TheSmokinApe]

People will say you don't need one, and I guess that's true. You don't "need" it but it helps match the antenna to the coaxial. I suggest always using one...

[@bwilkins26]

I looked on your Amazon page and could not find the solderable BNC connectors? Also do you have a good source for coax? Looking for BNC on one end and PL-259 on the other thank you

[@TheSmokinApe]

I will get them added, thanks for checking!

[@ToNzHoLtZ]

Good day sir, so I have a 9:1 UNUN antenna, am I able to plug into my HT ?

[@TheSmokinApe]

No, you wouldn't use it for that.

[@JonFlyTV]

I am curious, what is the reason for the Toroid? I thought you only needed a torroid when you had an impedance mismatch. Can't I just connect the shield to one side and the center conductor to the other?

[@WaynesWorld69]

I believe he's wound it as a choke to stop common mode currents from travelling down the shield and into the radio.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Wayne is 💯

[@michaelbrill1081]

How does it work on San ??? Kb0uzz

[@TheSmokinApe]

No problems on SSB

[@michaelbrill1081]

Ssb

[@karlmadsen3179]

One of life's bigger disappointments: inability to make connection. Whether in ham radio or human areas, not being able to connect is so isolating. What are you looking at!? You talking to me!? I don't see anyone else here! You talking to me!?!