Building a linked Dipole - Multiband for 80/60/40/30/20m

[@olli_k]

Watching him set up the antenna at high speed, I was waiting for the crowd of people to come into frame and start chasing him with the song "Yakety Sax" playing.

[@russellroberts2228]

Excellent, simple antenna project. Why restrict yourself to one HF band, when you can easily convert the classic dipole into a mutiband HF antenna system? Well done! Aloha, Russ, KH6JRM>

[@dandypoint]

Great job! Dipoles are probably the best antenna out there and the link feature makes them perfect for portable use. I am glad you showed the SWR curve moving down when the antenna height was less. I used to move an 80 meter inverted V from CW (3525) to SSB (3795) by changing the height of the ends! Up for SSB and down for CW.

[@dl2man]

Thanks for that comment. I never thought of using that effect to my benefit, before ! That makes sense. You made my day ! I will try that with some "sticks" next time, when I´m out with the dipole. Maybe even longer end strings (I can variate with my rope tensioners) Thanks again. 73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[@KarmaFlight]

WOW! That looks like the area near HHN airport. We stay in Morbach for our layovers. I just put a 20 m dipole in my attic.

[@dl2man]

Nah, that was filmed on the area of the "Ostbayernhalle". No Airfield. Dipole has proven its superiority multiple times now for me, so I´ll probably build some more.... 73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[@jakekattan5515]

Hi Manuel I think you are amazing I have a trusdx radio which I purchased from sonny your approved seller.please keep up the great work that you do for the ham radio hobby around the world god bless you Jake M6LSC

[@pasixty6510]

Thanks for this video and all the great ideas and tips on building that antenna. I am operating portable quite often and I always use halfwave endfeds with a 49:1 impedance transformer. They usually work well on harmonics, e.g. a 10m wire on 20m and 10m. I never ran into problems when I operated from inside the car. I use 10 meters of RG58, which I don’t think is an extraordinary length. I try to keep at least 1/10 Lambda of the feedline outside the car (because it probably radiates) and wind as as much as possible of the remaining coax up (to serve as a common mode choke). Works really good. I worked Indonesia a few weeks ago on 10m in SSB with 20W from Germany, using that setup. I didn’t have my truSDX with me. I am sure, it would have done the trick, too.

[@dl2man]

Hi, I´ve made quite a view Videos on EFHW, the 49:1 broadband Transformer and the U01 Antenna, which is a 80m Full Size EFHW with links, so it can be used on 80/60/40/20/17/15/10m. Latter is my GO TO Outdoor Antenna. This means, if you feed this Antenna at the End, there´s at least 20m Distance between feeding-end and center-pole. Of course this gets shorter, if you just build an Antenna for the higher Bands. But that´s an unfair comparison. I use RG316.

[@pasixty6510]

@@dl2man now I know what you meant. Consider that the fed end mustn’t be necessarily far away or high up. When I look for a position to work from (park the car or find a bench to sit on) I look out for trees in the right distance, throw a line up into that tree, I usually can throw the line into a branch 10 to 15 meters above ground. (learn how to throw lines, any lightweight cord will do, it really is worth wile, there are some good videos on KZbin) Pull up the far end of the wire into the tree and let it slope down towards somewhere near the car. Feed it about 2m above ground and you‘re good to go. My experience is that the wire tunes easier and performs better when fed at the lower end. Did that regularly with a 40 meter long wire. Just try it.

[@snow_keeper]

I wish I could see a video of the complete build of the balun. New Ham and I have no one to teach me. Plus I am female so I have no background in electronics but I really Wa to build it myself. I cannot find help. I love your videos. I just bought the truSDX. It is my first radio. All I need now is antenna. 73 from Alaska ❄️

[@dl2man]

Hi there, You obviously know, how you trigger a german outdoor enthusiast and hunter ;) Solution: Just invite me over to you, and we´ll build one together. Just kidding. The Balun is the easiest part. It´s just some RG316 wound around a FT140-43 core in W1JR Scheme (something to google). While one end of coax goes to BNC and the other end goes to the 2x 2mm Sockets. I´ve pics of it on my page dl2man.de/linked-dipole/ However: A dipole also works without a Balun. The Balun prevents you from running into trouble with common mode currents resulting in potentially odd behavior of the radio. It´s good practice and an option to prevent problems. 73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[@dl2man]

Update: Actually I´d recommend you starting with an EFHW. This is very well documented on my channel and this type of antenna (while involving some minor losses compared to a dipole) is way more forgiving as your first antenna. Start here kzbin.info/www/bejne/aF6Xe2t7eNCim5Y and consume more videas as needed

[@snow_keeper]

@@dl2man Alaska is amazing! I hope you can visit someday! KL5VL ❤️

[@willian.direction6740]

Nice robust antenna, the only thing in my environment would be those nice loops where the links join, they would get caught in the under story on the ground on some summits I visit. Regards to all vk5cz ..

[@alanthomas8817]

well made, thanks for sharing 73

[@DK5ONV]

Looks good Manuuel. I like the Orange Color of 3D Print. This home made Antenna seem to do a good Job for you. Keep up the fantastic Work. 73 de Uncle Günter 💯🙋‍♂

[@mikemiles3068]

Very nice video Manuel👍 I love playing with antennas and I am definitely enjoying your audio improvement. 73 KV5P

[@dl2man]

Thanks. Yes, I like the audio improvement as well. Before that, it was embarassing at least.....

[@125f8]

Manuel. Love this. I can’t make out the cable you said you used and you didn’t mention the push connector used. Could you let me know it Thanks.

[@dl2man]

Cable for Balun is RG316. Coax Cable to connect is RG58. BNC Socket is this type: www.amazon.de/rechtwinklig-L%C3%B6t-Leiterplattenmontage-Schottverbinder-Kunststoffart-BNC-%C3%9Cberwachungsvideostecker/dp/B07X3KG3XT/ 73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[@MatthewAE4JC]

Hello. Nice project. Where did you get the BNC connector for the Balun?

[@Next72Hours]

Amazing what would that cost to produce?

[@mikewhelan5992]

Hi Manuel, I would appreciate details of the connectors you used for the links. Thanks, Mike

[@dl2man]

I´m using 2mm RC Connectors. Available cheap on amazon and ebay.

[@juliocaesarramos5250]

Nice video Manuel. Greetings from Brazil. 73 PU2AOO

[@yannickseibert8647]

Hi Manuel, danke für das Video, das hat mich bestärkt sowas selbst einmal zu versuchen! Zwei Fragen dazu: Wie hast du das mit der Abstimmung der einzelnen Drahtlängen gemacht? Wenn ich die erstmal nur lose mit Kabelbindern festmache, rutscht beim ausfahren des Mastes oft der Draht raus sobald Spannung darauf ist. Und wie ist deine Erfahrung mit dem RG-316, ausreichend für KW? Da gehen ja auch ein paar Meter drauf für die Mittenspeisung. Grüße aus dem Saarland! 73 de Yannick, DO8YA

[@dl2man]

Hi, beim Abstimmen hilft nur aufbauen, abbauen, aufbauen, abbauen, und ich hab 2 Kabelbinder je Draht verwendet. Bei der Abstimmung mit Lüsterklemmen gearbeitet, satt den Lötsteckern. RG316 ist ausreichend für KW, ja. Kein schlechtes Kabel. Ich verwende es aber mittlerweile nur noch für Ultraleicht Sachen. Im Normalfall greife ich auf RG58 zurück.

[@SirWolfCZ]

Just a little tip: The zip ties attaching the wire to the insulator look pretty flimsy, I'd be afraid that the wire will slip through them over time. Since this is a solid assembly that probably won't need to be disassembled, the zip ties can be replaced with a more mechanically robust crimp ferrule. For example, for the DX-WIRE UL, the ferrules from the crimp connectors for the RG-174 work great. 73 de OK2MTB

[@dl2man]

I tried to avoid metal. But I agree: It could be more solid. But your suggestion made me think of something else: shrink tubing.....

[@joshmyer9]

@@dl2man If that's the PTFE-insulated DX wire, I'd recommend changing the chamfers on your link units to smooth fillets. PTFE "creeps" surprisingly quickly, and I had a 20m delta loop that chewed through the corner insulation in a few months. If the wire on your winders is under tension, I can see it the insulation creeping out on those corners. I'm thinking of designing different links, with a channel to run the wire through, to avoid that creep. It would be much like some 20m delta loop tiedowns I designed a few years back. These worked great for avoiding creep in that application. Thanks for posting this! I was thinking of something similar last week, and then N4JAW posted on Mastodon about a "linked dipole" build he was starting. This gave me the name, and I came across this video while looking for other builds to stea… as inspiration. 73 de AJ9BM

[@shadowlab9543]

nice antenna build !!! are you german ?

[@dl2man]

Yes, I am german

[@VladSolovey]

Isn't it easier just unwind desired length of wire than disconnect contacts? With contacts you can't adjust antenna length (except 80m) with different type of ground.

[@dl2man]

We seem to have a different definition of easy.....

[@cavf67]

Hello. Where can I to buy it?. I live in Chile and I got an Tr Usdx recently. PLase you answer. 73 Claudio Vargas CD1FIH

[@dl2man]

Hi, this antenna is a diy project. I´m not selling it, i just share the instructions, dimensions and print files, so you can build one for yourself: dl2man.de/linked-dipole/ 73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[@marcusjenkins]

As a matter of interest, do you swap filaments to print the black letters or do you just paint / mark it to get the black letters?

[@dl2man]

I usually swap filaments. On a Prusa (using prusa slicer), that´s an easy task. On the lid, I´ve just painted it (1:1).

[@carbolit6982]

Tnx fer video!

[@apburner]

Would love to see that housing on Thingiverse. Great design

[@dl2man]

Have a look in the Video description..the Files are available on my Page. I don't upload to Thingverse.

[@apburner]

Sorry. I did not read far enough down.

[@marcusjenkins]

How necessary is the balun / what difference does it make if it's bypassed? I ask because I'm running a 20m resonant inverted V 90deg included angle at just 7m in the peak and I don't have any problems at all?

[@dl2man]

This would be a topic on itself.... With QRP and portable you´ll probably get away without Balun. Once you run 100W over it, you might get burnt when touching your rig (RF burn) and you pick up all the noise outside, and get it in your shack, as well as vice versa. And last but not least: You´re trying to feed a symmetrical device (Dipole) with asymmetrical Cable. This means loss.

[@angelito197502]

What wire you use from balum to transceiver?73

[@dl2man]

10m of RG316. 73 Manuel; DL2MAN

[@angelito197502]

@@dl2man thx.73 angel EA4GSP

[@charliem.9998]

topp ... wie immer .. 73 de DL6RDE, Charlie

[@globetrottermike3262]

sehr schoen

[@USAF-SF]

Outstanding!!!

[@aerizalxesario2971]

Nice going manuel👍 de, YB9UA Rio

[@jackzweifler5696]

Hi , I want to ask is it possible to make double band dipol antenna ( 20m and 40m band) if I will connect 20m of wire on each side ? Will it works on both bands ??? As a full wave on 40m and half wave on 20 m ???

[@dl2man]

A clear no. A dipole is a monoband Antenna, and only useable at Lambda/half. Look at my EFHW Antenna Videos. There you can do such things.

[@jackzweifler5696]

​@@dl2man thank you for a clear answer