Ham Radio - Building a 6 meter dipole and testing the 3D printer.

Leonids meteor shower was starting up, so I needed an antenna for 6 meters. Let's make a dipole.
Thingiverse link to the dipole center insulator:
www.thingiverse.com/thing:280...
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[@Al_Dente1]

It may be silly but I remember the meteor showers with Leonard Nimoy - Leonids November. Live long and Prosper.

[@papabaer0572]

Mark H LONG LIFE. AND PEACE. 🖖

[@austinlane9154]

I know I am kinda off topic but does anybody know of a good place to stream newly released tv shows online?

[@abramnehemiah782]

@Austin Lane Flixportal :P

[@austinlane9154]

@Abram Nehemiah Thanks, I signed up and it seems to work :D I really appreciate it !!

[@abramnehemiah782]

@Austin Lane glad I could help xD

[@davemitchell116]

A 40 meter dipole cut for the lower portion of the SSB band (7.160) will be perfectly resonate at 50.125 (7/2 λ) and possibly have a little gain to it, if it's in inverted vee configuration.

[@glenngoodale1709]

It's obvious from what we see and the tone of your voice, you are on a very personal journey, thank you for allowing us to look over your shoulder and enjoy the experience!

[@BubbaWarbucks]

LOL! "I'm sure I packed it, but I dug around my boxes and I can't find it." That totally describes my situation.

[@MoTown44240]

The close proximity to the RV roof is interacting with the dipole. Good luck on a QSO. Keep calling or just listen. 72/73 KB8AMZ

[@yigitkadir3649]

Going to build one for wspr, Thanks for the video amazing work !!

[@kd9kck376]

I will have to try calling on 6m sometime. Mostly been trying FT8 lately out of Chicago,IL with 10 watts into a very similar dipole.

[@edk4590]

Excellent Kevin happy you are able to make things as you need them. Let us know if you get any contacts.

[@wesr.e.3909]

Kevin: You print as slow as I do. It gives MUCH better prints. Excellent video. Happy Turkey Day.

[@rtgideon]

That's Cool Kevin!

[@samglaim4274]

Nice antenna project.... hopefully there will be a band opening soon. 73

[@n8nkqrp595]

That VNA response at ~46.3 looks to me more like one would expect at this freq with a dipole. Every dipole I've ever built came out long using 468, and more so when in proximity to objects. They'll lower your res freq and Z components. Maybe that's your real resonant point. The diff in ant length between ~46.3 and 50 MHz is only ~9.75". Also, the diff in SWR betweeen ~46.3 and 50 is less than the diff in SWR between 50 and ~53.3. Great video Kevin. VERY fun and interesting to watch the travels. Thanks

[@loughkb]

Using an SWR meter and the radio, I observed an expected curve with low point of 1.13 to 1 around 50.8Mhz. The VNA was probably being confused by a noise source or nearby broadcast station.

[@n8nkqrp595]

OK. Cool. Boy what a grin it's gonna be when that band opens up for you! I've never worked it... sounds very fun. Take care

[@Al_Dente1]

I just saw an ad for a Black Friday deal on a Creality3D Ender printer for $159. I may have to order a 3D printer for my upcoming birthday.

[@MDFRESCUER]

Good job.

[@DM-fz3ly]

Great video Kevin!! Hey if you are heading to quartzsite you might think about picking up a bicycle to get around on while you are there (and anywhere you park your RV). Quartzsite covers a pretty big area and a bicycle would save your legs! 73, N7KBC

[@loughkb]

I can't ride one anymore, kills my back. I can walk about a mile at a time. I'll figure it out.

[@MichiganPeatMoss]

Oct 2021: Great video. Wow, two for one! How is your 3D printer holding up? Am thinking about getting similar printer for economical hobbyist projects. Thanks.

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Kevin, Nice antenna build. Hope you get an opening and make some contacts. 73 WB3BJU

[@w0sdjhijodejuan198]

Thanks this was very helpful. Can you please clarify where to make the physical measurements of the legs? Do you measue from the drill holes where the legs attach to the end of each leg, or from the center coax connector to the end of each leg?

[@loughkb]

I measure from the coax out.

[@juddtelemetry8372]

Hi Kevin- Good to see the 3d printer in action. It was your early videos about the Monoprice Mini that made me decide I would be getting into 3D printing but I see you have moved on to anither model. Could you let us know what it is and why you made the change? Thanks Jeremy

[@loughkb]

I talked about it back in the first 3D printing video I made after getting it. It's an Anycubic I3 Mega. Based on the Prusa I3 design, it has a larger build volume and a more rigid frame for possibly higher accuracy. Also it's a heated bed, which should make other materials possible. Two fans allows for part cooling to be optional without risking a nozzle jam.

[@greasydot]

How does the plastic hold up to the uv. I have an old Avanti 174 or Sigma 4 that the hoop stabilizer brackets broke and just wondering if it possibly work for long term use?

[@bernarrcoletta7419]

I was wondering what happened to the printer. Happy Thanksgiving!

[@r188ops8]

Great video, I like 6 metres (used it a LOT in the army), but no one ever seems to want to use it, which is a shame.....Paul 👍🏻

[@loughkb]

Back in Fort Wayne, we had two weekly 6 meter nets. SSB on one night and AM on another night. The AM night was so guys could dig out their old old rigs and warm them up.

[@r188ops8]

I’ve tried to persuade the regulars at my club to have a weekly net, no interest whatsoever, it’s a shame.

[@R2AUK]

Thanks for the video! Here are a few observations. 1) PLA is not the best material for long usage outdoor. I would recommend to paint it (easy solution) or to print the model with ABS (which would be not easy since apparently your printer doesn't have a heated build chamber). 2) I see you decided to connect symmetric antenna with asymmetric feeder without using a balun. This can cause all sorts of weird effects with SWR, like those described in the video. Did you consider to use a symmetric feeder or a balun? 3) Not all countries have 6 meters band. E.g. in Russia we don't have 6, 4 and 1.4 meter bands. Are there other band which would work with meteor showers?

[@loughkb]

If you look at the original model on thingiverse, you'll see it was designed with 1:1 balun in mind. As I said in the video, I was intentionally building the simplest dipole possible. The SWR was just fine when measured with the radio and an SWR meter. The VNA was probably being interfered with by some local broadcast station. People do meteor scatter using 2 meters and I think, even 440 uhf band.

[@darrinpearce9780]

Hey Kevin, thanks for the video. What was that you were running on the laptop at the start of the video??

[@loughkb]

Rsync backup to my file server.

[@dougmatthew9987]

Its very cool that you were able to make your center insulator. Did you make the program or did you find it online?

[@loughkb]

I linked the object in the video description. I designed it.

[@mikeharnett2410]

Try installing a common mode choke.

[@mdritch]

Hello, nice video. Where to you measure each leg from? the loop/knot?

[@loughkb]

The furthest reach of the conductor.

[@92fsoakcreek]

just getting started in my ham radio hobby; so here's a really dumb question. Why is the 1/2 wave 6m antenna 4.67' each side and not 4.92' (6x3.28/4=4.92) is there a fudge factor Im missing?

[@ed-jf3xh]

Check for high noise level in the near 50 Mc range. Might be throwing the vna off because it is so much more sensitive than the swr bridge in the radio. Clibration wouldn't be affected as the antenna isn't connected during cal. Err, I don't think.

[@loughkb]

Yeah, this seems like a reasonable assumption. I've noticed that there is hash noise coming from the RV's power supply. If I switch out the house battery, it reduces almost completely. If I put it up again out in the sticks, I'll re-scan it and probably get a more expected result.

[@ed-jf3xh]

On battery, of course. At least while checking the vna. Cheers Mate.

[@seekerinseattle4863]

Yo Kevin!: Great video! Shame you didn't raise anyone. You might have been heard but didn't hear the reply. Great video of the printer. Way to go!

[@seekerinseattle4863]

De seeker/Jeff WA7LFP

[@OldWhitebelly]

Great video :) One silly point...it's lee-oh-nid, not lee-noid ;)

[@peterlosangelos4108]

Radio newbe here. Tightening the wire in the center of the dipole with a knot, is that ok for these radiofrequencies?

[@loughkb]

Yeah. It's the physical length from center to the end, not the electrical length of the wire that matters, within reason.

[@colincolin30]

How did the 3d printer dipole support work out being in the sun?

[@loughkb]

I've had that and other 3D printed Parts using pla out in the sun for months at a time with very little effect on them. That's not to say they wouldn't get brittle after a year or more. But you could simply print a replacement.

[@problemwithauthority]

I'll listen for you on the bands. I have a 6M copper pipe j-pole up. Other than local 6 meter club, it has been quiet on 6.

[@madcarew.3256]

Damn!why haven't I made one . Where's that wire!

[@RajaramSrinivasan59]

Great video Kevin! You're awesome. 73

[@diverbon911]

I'll aim the beam your way Kevin... KX4EZ