Building a 12m/17m fan dipole for ham radio

[@arthurgumbus3969]

Hi Chris, Just erected a 20-17-15-10M fan dipole, so far so good. I am separating the elements via 100LB mono leader line and glass insulators. The insulators add weight for separation. The mono keeps the antenna nearly invisible. I used DX Commander wire for the elements... very soft and supple wire. Picture of the antenna is on my QRZ page. 73 Art

[@k2cjbradio]

I’ll check it out!

[@davidbarth8204]

Hey Chris, great video! I have a couple of quick comments that I hope are helpful: 1- My co-worker WA2OQV had built a fan dipole for 10-15-20 meters made out of 3 conductor insulated rotor wire. The wires were kept together and not separated. We used it successfully on many field days. It worked very well and easy to deploy and take down and also had low wind load. Maybe an option for your viewers. It resonated on each band. 2- The regular PEX tubing I believe breaks down when exposed to UV (Ask me how I know!), but I think there is a UV rated type. Not sure if that is available at Home Depot. Quick story: Our AM broadcast transmitter site had several long lengths of PEX tubing routed along the docks out to each tuning hut for supplying fresh water to clean off the geese poop. Well, they all cracked after a while due to UV exposure :( (We have not replaced it yet). 73, Dave WA2SVM

[@k2cjbradio]

Thanks Dave! The PEX may eventually fail on mine. Years ago I tried making a fan dipole with ribbon cable and couldn’t get it to work. Sounds like you did! Definitely a FD or POTA option for sure!

[@johnbkk2274]

Thanks for the excellent video. I am just getting back into ham radio after 30 years away from it. I am planning a fan dipole as the first temporary antenna I make just to get on the air. That is when my new house and shack are built. The vice you used reminded me that I need to get one :) HS0ZQF

[@JosephVE3GKT]

Just cut my own fan dipole for 15/10 tonight before I saw this video! My choice of tubing is 1/4 inch air line! Lightweight, small, and durable. But my antenna is for portable use - not sure how it would stack up to UV over prolonged use. As for the band interaction, the non-resonant element acts as a reactive load for the resonant element. That's why fan dipole bandwidth is narrower than normal dipoles, unless it's an edge case where one band is a perfectly high resistive impedance on the other band - think a 40/20 fan dipole. The 40m legs are non-reactive on 20m. 73 VE3GKT

[@k2cjbradio]

Thanks! I never built one of these before and I definitely learned quite a bit. The good news is it works! 😃

[@michellel1144]

Excellent video Chris. I learned a lot. Won't build one, but am building more brain synapsis😁

[@k2cjbradio]

Thanks! Always good to exercise the brain!

[@walshgeo]

Chris thanks for the video. I’ve never tried making a fan dipole but maybe I’ll give it a try. 73 KB3WAQ George from Reading, Pa.

[@k2cjbradio]

Great! It took a little noodling as you saw but it definitely works!

[@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE]

Thanks very much for this, really interesting and you didn't go into infinite detail so it became boring. It's just right and was enjoyable and informative. I've been thinking of a fan dipole and wonder if you had considered 3 0r 4 legs for other bands? I'm thinking that could get too complicated.

[@k2cjbradio]

Thanks so much! I thought about adding a 30m element to it but chickened out. Hahaha. I did learn from this one that it takes a little bit of tinkering to get it resonant. But it was relatively easy to build.

[@kc8opv]

Fan dipoles are great. Mine is a 5 wire version cut for 40-20-17-10-6 but also does 15 and 12 very well. I've found a 1:1 choke on fan dipoles are necessary.

[@k2cjbradio]

I was going to include 30m on this antenna but chickened out. 😂 The center I got has the 1:1 in it too. Thanks!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Great video and build!

[@k2cjbradio]

Thanks Mike!!

[@philturcotte9225]

What were the final lengths after after all adjustments ?

[@1dragonracing]

great video. just ordered some parts to make this antenna. will be my first attempt at a home made antenna. btw. great hat. fat tire is good stuff! see you on the air. kj7vvn

[@k2cjbradio]

Make sure you leave extra wire in case you need to make the radials a little longer and you won’t have to splice them like I did! Thanks! 73 de K2CJB

[@richarde735]

I realized I haven’t seen you on KZbin in awhile… turns out I’ve been unsubscribed 😣 but I have re-upped again!

[@k2cjbradio]

Welcome back! Thanks!

[@JohnDeeoh]

nice video chris. why not just cut a g5rv for most bands?

[@k2cjbradio]

The Yaesu FTDX 3000 tuner doesn’t like G5RV’s. They tell you not to use them in the manual. Hence this project. Thanks for watching!

[@JayN4GO]

Working on an 80/30 fan at the moment. How did you get the spreaders for stay put? I’m curious why your 12m was off so badly. Definitely coupling ?

[@k2cjbradio]

I think since the bands are not related harmonically it caused some goofy impedance mismatches that required some modification to the length. As for the spreaders i drilled the holes off center so the wire holds the spreaders in place.

[@JayN4GO]

@@k2cjbradio great idea! Mine turned out right the first time which never happens. Haha