How To Build a WAGO Dipole for HF - Portable Ham Radio Antenna!

[@daxthedestroyer9061]

Thanks, definitely going to build one of these! One tip, I use inline wago connecters for my tuned elevated radials and if you are planning to put wires in and out of them more then a couple of times I highly recommend you tin the ends of the wires. (At least for stranded wire)

[@deankq4adj125]

This is brilliant Dude! Excellent tutorial!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Glad you liked it, and thank You!

[@KustomRadioFrequency]

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing, always trying to minimize the Kit this is a great solution

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks for the support! It's all about keeping it minimal and portable! Keep an eye out for the livestream today ;)

[@KF0NNQ]

Nice build and the choke is really nice. Just me, but I'll pass on the earrings. Lol, thanks, and 73, Bill.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Youre looking at this wrong..... if you buy her earings, and she hates them... and they happen to work as a dipole, you won!

[@Sonicgott]

You know, it’s funny after I work on a WAGO to Anderson Power Pole connector that KZbin recommended this video soon after…

[@mortimersnerd801]

..an AI gotcha...big money and big marketing knows all...

[@Ubergamer256]

Yesterday I wired up a LifePo4 battery to use as an external addon to my ecoflow solar battery. Hours later my feed was filled with videos about “this one hack can extend your battery!” videos showing what I had just done 😂

[@jklewis54]

So, is this a stand-alone QRP dipole, or you insert small wire in the ends of the WAGO connector... newbie here.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Hello ! This dipole would require your desired wire length on each insert. Here's what you need to know: 1. Determine what band you want. Lets use 20m, for an example. 20m spreads across 14.000mhz - 14.350 mhz. 2. Now, lets determine where I want to operate. I typically like voice on the General Portion, but sometimes, I jump down to 14.074 for some digital modes. In my eyes, the best thing to do here is to cut in the middle of the 20m bands, 14.175.. 3. We now have a frequency we want to tune for, now lets calculate: Length (feet)= Frequency (MHz) / 468. (Side note: If you know the Velocity factor of the wire, it's Length (feet)= (Frequency (MHz) x Velocity factor) / 468. If you don't know it, no worries, really). So the length of our dipole should be L = 14.175 / 468 or L = 33.0158730159 lets just make that 33.0 That is the total Half wave now we need to divide by 2. so 33 / 2 = 16.5 feet per side (I would cut a few inches more). 4. We now have a rough idea of the length of our dipole and we cut two 16.5ft sections. Alternatively, you could use this calculator - www.everythingrf.com/rf-calculators/dipole-antenna-length-calculator Good luck out there!

[@ragheadand420roll]

Wow thats crazy. Yesterday i saw an ad for a litebulb and it gave me an idea

[@WaschyNumber1]

🖖That's what I asked if that would be not better than other connectors, nice. 👌

[@rk2lz2]

I use WAGO 221for years as band switches of my home made portable Inverted V multiband dipole((80-60)[phone]m bands). 73 de Rumen/ LZ2AF

[@EC5ABG]

Gran trabajo!!73.

[@Redbelly357]

Rule #1. Never overthink a dipole.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks for watching

[@albertrivera3241]

I really need to build this and try to improve it with 3d printing. Thanks

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I may try this week, if I finish my work. I feel confident about the use and durability without the 3d printing, but I do think that will definitely add more "Curb appeal" to the project, while giving it added protection / minimal weight increase.

[@ShawnDumas]

i think the wire and shrink links are not correct in the description (they both point to the toroid) also, do you have a link to the CMC tester? pls&thx

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Corrected the links ( I hope) . and here is the CMC Test Rig, Thanks! electronics.halibut.com/product/common-mode-current-choke-test-rig/

[@ShawnDumas]

@ tyty

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

@ShawnDumas thank you!

[@KH6ML]

Well done

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thank You for your kindness.

[@ThePortableHam]

We have make those disclaimers for the same reason, a curling iron says do not insert into bodily orphus just sayin good video dude I'm going to need to build 1😂

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks for the support.... and ewwww. lol

[@Obeeewaan]

a small oops ... the links for magnet wire and heat shrink seem to lead to the ferrite core instead.. 🤔😎

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Corrected! Thanks

[@N5XHIworkshop]

You could superglue the 550 cord to the wago for add strength 💪

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I find the glue in the marine grade tubing works. Good idea though.

[@TheGeekiestGuy]

It's port hard to get decent marine grade great shrink out here. You'd think we'd have a harbor freight or someplace that stocks it.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

No harbor freight by you?!

[@dougdaniels]

Nice build, as always. Would the FT140-43 with an SO-239 run 100W SSB?

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I think 100w would be acceptable with a mode that is lower duty cycle. If you use a ft140-43, you could consider upgrading the magnet wire to 18awg.

[@Pyroteknikid]

Is it me, or, did you forget to scrape the enamel off of the magnet wire to the BNC outer tab? Clearly there is a connection, but it looks like the solder did not wet the wire.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

could be. thanks for the good input!

[@WECB640]

Stocking stuffer. 👍

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

It would be a great gift to someone! "He went to Dudes" :). Hope you're well!

[@WECB640]

@@HAMRADIODUDE So far, so good. Found a ground loop in the shack. Got a 1:1 audio transformer installed now. See you on the air. Thanks Dude. 73

[@robert8342-w7x]

Where did you find those small s clips

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Home Depot in the Key section. Here is an affiliate link _ amzn.to/3DyDN8E . They also make a no lock version, which is cheaper. Thanks.

[@mortimersnerd801]

It's cute....but did you ever check the efficiency of this little balun/unun/transformer? If you can put 20 or even just 10 watts CW into it for 1 min and it doesn't get hot/warm.....

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thanks, cute is what the plan was for. Are you suggesting a Autotransformer from high impedance to low impedance would be more efficient than a 1:1 winding? I am uncertain I am processing this correctly. Thanks.

[@Johann-ZS6L]

Remember to take it down after using it ; dew, garden sprayers and rain will leave moisture seeping into the female connector and eventually the male connector... With co-ax feedline. Moist Seal the termination unit with high grade compound!!!

[@alvarogaitan2529]

great job terrific 73 from kb2uew

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thank You so much! 73!

[@tubeDude48]

I use a zip-o lighter to burn off the enamel. That way you won't nick or cut the wire off!

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

This is a good tip, I will try with a zippo! Thanks

[@bradleyparsons]

An “enhanced” version with additional 3D part would be grand.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

i think i will. thanks

[@bradleyparsons]

@ thanks my dude.

[@Ascania]

The singular of Megahertz is still Megahertz, not megahurt. The unit is named after Heinrich Hertz.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

k

[@ragheadand420roll]

So what youre saying is.. the coils.. go round the outside..round the outside.. round the outside. 😂 ✌️🇺🇸🙏

[@don_n5skt]

I have this really dumb idea of making a doublet out of this. I have some 300 Ohm ladder line that I bought from DX Engineering. WAGO at one end of the ladder line and then move the 1:1 and BNC down at the othejr end of the ladder line. Hmmmm. Thanks for all the clever ideas.

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

That could be really fun! I'd love to give it a shot when it warms up. happy holidays.

[@don_n5skt]

@@HAMRADIODUDE The weather has been amazing here. 72 degrees. Happy Holidays

[@TrevorClarke]

Good video! Minor nit..Wago is a German company so it's pronounced vah-go

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

Thank you! Odd question, can you help me with one more ? Felo (a brand of wire strippers I use). 73 cheers

[@TrevorClarke]

@HAMRADIODUDE not sure about that one

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

@@TrevorClarke Thanks though! Have a good one.

[@TheTdub]

Sean, the WAGO connectors should have a slot on the side of them so you can marry them together much like the Anderson power poles use...

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

they should, but i do not recall them having them. I'll go home and check

[@HAMRADIODUDE]

I double and triple checked. If they do, I cannot get them to marry. Thanks!