Making a Doublet Antenna ASMR Style - Workshop noises only

[@eddiemcconochie7405]

The one you made for me is a great antenna, 52m top leg and 40m feeder into an MFJ intelligent tuner, works 160 - 6 m and handles the Highlands WX in Lairg no problem. Eddie mm0edz

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Eddie! I'm so glad it's all still working :)

[@Aswaguespack]

I avoid ALL MFJ Products in my shack. I’m MfJ Free!! 😂😂😂 😉

[@melming8751]

I actually loved having no sound and watching you work. It is always interesting to see how some one else does it.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah OK.. That was a risk / experiment. I thought SOME folks may enjoy.. Indeed, it's always good to see how other folks do stuff - for same result..!

[@dondonaldson1684]

I enjoyed it too

[@Schlimm1969]

I think you're about the only person on KZbin who uses a heat gun to shrink heatshrink tubing. Most of the builders I watch do amazing projects in shops with thousands of dollars of specialized equipment then whip out an old Bic lighter when it's time to heatshrink connections.

[@daveN2MXX]

...yet uses a diagonal cutter instead of a crimp tool, which places stress in one concentrated point on the wire and could contribute to failure.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

@@daveN2MXX Yes it works well. It doesn't crimp it though. The idea is to close the gap and hold it - and no more for the solder to flow around. They are not mechanically critical there is no strain on the forks.

[@leapofshed]

Great work Callum! Kept my attention for the whole video, infact probably more than one with talking 😅 Wondered if you had considered velcro tie wraps to keep the legs coiled during shipping? Rather than zip-ties! Advantage of them is they are reusable and can be removed without a sharp tool!

[@sincerelyyours7538]

I use an old Monokote gun for this. About $20 in hobby shops.

[@DearNoobs]

That was actually delightful, i had a bit of rum and just sat back. it's interesting the little details of watching someone else work on something and noticing the ever so slight differences in your own workflow. Thanks for the video cal, i hope your customer enjoys that one ! 73s

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, for folks who have built stuff similar, they will appreciate it possibly better..!

[@timothymaimone8611]

Callum… I watched the video almost to the end. I’ve been on the military and commercial electronics industries for 40 years now, my main concern is having a stress-relief for that 450 ohm, solid conductor wires. If you were to add a half-loop to each side of the conductor it will have “room for thermal stresses” over the years. I’m not a reliability engineer, but I see an opportunity for an engineering update. 73 de KD6UYK (Tim).

[@AAABTonto]

I have the notification on ... and I think I have enough the stuff to make one with, gonna get my note pad & a pencil, see ya shortly ;-]

[@bobve7ezi370]

Nice build Callum. Over the years I've "converted" many ring connectors to fork connectors.

[@migalito1955]

I like your connection at the feed point, nice and secure. I often make folded dipoles because I am a big fan of NVIS and not a DXer. The reason for the folded dipole is it acts as an impedance transformer that offsets the effect of being on or a foot or so off the ground. Your doubling back is surely so insignificant in change to impedance that no negative effects are aquired but nice & secure is aquired.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes.. Agreed :)

[@sincerelyyours7538]

I've decided that a doublet will be my next antenna. I had thought, however, that a balun was needed and I don't see one here. Did I miss something? I have both a manual and a built-in antenna tuner, is one or both of those enough?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It's balanced feeder, so this would attach directly to an outboard ATU (* OR * a balun near the radio somewhere if you wanted a small piece of coax).

[@markrobinson7831]

Enjoyed and watched every minute

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Heck! Well done :)

[@unclemikeyplays]

I'm sitting and watching this to get a sense of how a doublet is made. I have it up on the big screen in my den. My cat suddenly started avidly watching the screen from my lap. Now I'm going to have HER build me a doublet :-D

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well THAT would be a new one!

[@kevinkc3onohelijeepworld953]

Love the comments on the dx50 looks like great antenna wire. My ? Is the window line is that steel wire with copper coating ? Will a magnet stick to it ? Why not use 1 continuous wire from the end of element to the tuner connection ? No splices or connections to corrode. Yes I understand stuffing the wire & weaving it through the Cntr support is a royal pain but I feel it will make it maintenance free for years provided the live towers do not sway to much and break the wire off 😊

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK Kevin, they both do a different job.. You COULD make a contionuous run with DX50 but then you would need spacers to make your own ladder line.

[@shannonestep5506]

Impressive video, Calum! It's always enjoyable to tune into your content. I really loved the ASMR rendition.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you so much!

[@cWatts-zv3oo]

Genuine crowbar technology! Always helpful in antenna builds!😅

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Always!

[@brianyoung9014]

I love hard work, I could watch it all day! .

[@Capt_Duffy]

Real treat to watch this…👍👍

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks!

[@M0XFXUK]

Oh no Cal's at it agian, look out!!! 🤣😂🤣 Great vid as always

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks 👍

[@seanwood8043]

Mighty Fine! As we say in Sippi ! Calum. Enjoyed the process, great attention to detail, and great pack job too lol. Some one in Spain gonna have a merry Christmas and new year! Hope your taking good holiday Christmas break you and your family have surely earned this year ! Rock on DX Commander!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thanks 👍

[@mewrongwayKOCXF]

I should go to work for Callum, He has all the fun toys. lol

[@jamess1787]

Clever trick with the red on the thumbnail. 🍻

[@DXCommanderHQ]

(experiment.. not to be over-used : )

[@robpegs]

Always wanted to know! What is Military Spec??. You see it banded around these days!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, so you are absolutely right to question that. It means is was designed in conjunction with the MOD (Plessey designed this) and needs (also) to be manufactured to that specification (which it is, ROyals Signals still buy it).

[@DonzLockz]

Great stuff Callum. I can watch you work all day! Haha Ofcourse there is always something to learn from your quality work. ;)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Legend!

[@supertorqued72]

I enjoyed seeing your techniques, definitely learned a few things to add to my repertoire. Viewers can speed up and slow down YT videos on a computer with a shift + < (slow down) & shift + > (speed up). This will give the user a range of .25x through 2x. Of course this doesn't work on a live stream.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes! I run almost everything on 1.5 PLUS I am forever hittin right arrow key! I'm so impatient..!

[@DannyNF4J]

Nice work and Good job!! 73 and Merry Christmas....de NF4J

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Happy holidays!

[@ae1tpa92gwtom2]

That was extremely relaxing after a very long day!,,.. cheers n 73

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah.. Nice one Tom...

[@K7TDM_Tyler]

Love the CAD work. Looks like it works!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHA Yes Tyler!

[@jamescstanley5018]

Nice one Cal, of course I got to the end---work fascinates me, I could watch it all day!!! Jim M7BXT

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You and me both!

[@radiostationad0im307]

Is the heat shrink strong enough to provide the strain relief? I’m used to clamping the wires together for that purpose.

[@Ressy66]

I'd imagine so, the marine grade heatshrink has a good glue in it, usually used for ensuring moisture doesnt get in, but its strong enough, the advantage here is, if a branch comes down, it may strip the antenna wire out of it, rather than breaking it, which creates a PITA situation when equal leg lengths matter, rather clever Cal using this method.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Works fine. There is not much strain there.. The harder you pull the line, the more stress is placed on the thimble, not so much the heatshrink. Tests just fine.

[@GoAmateurRadio]

Love the natural sound! nDK NC

[@stevet7522]

Would love to get ahold of that window line center insulator. It looks simple enough that I could make one from a cheap cutting board from a dollar store. Love the video.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Sure.. carve one up :)

[@bartcalder2791]

That"s what I did 2 years ago. Still working.

[@jonthebru]

Doublets are a fairly simple antenna. For me it's the length of the ladder line that limits its use. I just can't get it high enough at this time. Some of the old timers I know use a doublet exclusively, mainly so the signals go in and out with vey little loss. With the right transmatch a doublet is an actual multiband antenna.

[@m0jeo]

I use them portable, believe it or not! QRP and full power, from the car or out walkies. I made a small balun for my Icom 705's remote tuner, and run a big manual tuner with a hefty 1:1 balun from the car.

[@k9eihamradio]

Cal, I like the dipole center.

[@DavidVanDensen]

You do nice work, with great patience. I would like to know what is your opinion of a double G5RV?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Erm.. I don't really care about single wire compromise antennas because I never quite know where my lobes are going to be.. But hey, why not!

[@stevegriffin9552]

Good evening Callum, thanks for a great video. I do hope you and your family. Have a very safe and merry Christmas. And may your New Year’s will bring you health, and also a fun year. Looking forward for your videos into the new year. Take care and stay safe merry Christmas from the hill country of Texas. 73 WD5ENH Steve

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you Steve.. Have a jolly good break yourself.

[@brotheradam]

love to be able to order that antenna center and the two pieces you opened with the crow bar- think I can get the rest here in Jamaica- well, except ladder line..lol..

[@brotheradam]

ok- hard to find ladder line but found antenna wires and those rope thimbles online but not the plastic ones..lol.. old cutting boards or IKEA maybe??lol..for the center..lol.. working on it

[@DXCommanderHQ]

We can do you a doublet centre - and the wire and maybe glue-lined heat shrink.. Talk to me and I can price you up the components.

[@dondonaldson1684]

Interesting to hear the different terminology used between the U.K. and Canada. You use "dog bone" and we use "thimbles". You use "glue lined" and we use "seal wall" heat shrink. We call the connector "spades" and you call them "forks".😊 I have a couple of questions Cal: 1. Why did you need to cut off some of the 16 meters of 450 ohm line? Was that for balancing? Also, those loops where the DX50 folds back to the feed point. Are they just an articulation point or is there any impedance matching benefit? Sorry for the questions, but I haven't seen this type of construction previously. I like the use of the marine plastic cross. Our commercial name over here is "Starboard". Easy to machine. Looks like someone CNC'd that based on your design. Thanks for the great instructional video. Maybe you should apply for the call sign "M0OCD"? 😅 73, VE3NAP

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK, the cutting was the customer requirement and you are correct in that the loops are for strength - and I like your word, "articulation". Yes, we have even newer versions of this plastic doublet centre. They are machined now in a high density material that is marine / UV stable - they used to be water jet and after 3-hot summers COULD (not always) start to crack. But machining in this new stuff gives a better overall finish and should last many years. PS - I love all the translations between our "language"!

[@leapofshed]

Did you ever think about making a doublet without the ladder line… if the whole thing was made from dx50 with some spacers on the vertical portion, then you could avoid all the connections at the doublet center? I bet you could get some amazing lightweight marine plastic spacers made?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Sure.. I do have a drawing for spacers..

[@goobercrow198]

Greetings Commander Cal, question, what material is the wire end thimble made of, nylon? Any idea what affect on the antenna if a stainless steel thimble is used? I figure if it is nylon that UV would degrade the nylon over time. Thanks and keep up the great instructional content.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I think the nylon at the very ends might degrade gradually but strangely, the wire around the thimble will protect it. The other ones are stainless and will have zero effect due to the fact that tuner is going to be employed..

[@kendexter]

What can i say..Very excellent . Like it

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Thank you so much 😀

[@kendexter]

i use a cheap budgie bird nail cutter to de isolate wires in narrow band places and for tiny tiny to 8 gauge ish wires :=) ,the smallest ones looking like a scissor .

[@mikeerstad3705]

So, trying to understand this antenna....appears to be a dipole but with ladder line....what does this ladder line do and are you cutting the dipole wire to length just like another basic dipole without ladder line....Thanks Cullen...

[@DXCommanderHQ]

OK Mike.. Good question. This antenna needs a balanced tuner or similar. For instance an AT4K. You can throw the tuning book out the window and tune the nuts of the antenna with your outboard ATU.. Balanced feeder doesn't care about very high SWR - losses are minimal so the tuner, the line and the antenna become one component (easy way of looking at it). I ran one for a long time and it worked great BUT changing frequency is a nightmare.. You have to retune the antenna again.. Look up AT4K and you'll see what I mean. NOW.. You CAN build something like this with more accurate "dipole legs" (there are charts somewhere and ALSO run a 4:1 balun to coax, THEN use a simple inboard ATU button, but ideally a Doublet needs balanced feeder and a big fat ATU unit.

[@Aswaguespack]

Your customer in Spain should be extremely happy with the antenna. Truly excellent build quality. Speaking of Spain….. sorry guys I can’t resist this …. Rudolph the Reindeer died Recently at age 87. Rudolph was flying over Barcelona when he hit a flock of Seagulls then was hit by a 747. Eyewitnesses reports say the Reindeer in Spain was hit mainly by the plane. My 2£ … 😉😂 de KZ5Y dah di dah

[@DXCommanderHQ]

HAHAHA

[@ronleblanc9832]

truley a work of art . is the ladder lead. 14 or 16 gage wire ?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I don't know.. There is only one type of 450 ohm we can get in the UK.. I would LOVE to get higher quality made myself someday..

[@carelmulder8035]

Nice video Callum! If I may give you a tip: thread the 450 Ohm line further up and then mount the fork clamps so that you can use a longer piece of shrink tubing. Then slide everything back into place. If necessary, drill the holes slightly wider. You don't have to work with that liquid tape than! Thanks, Carel - PA0CMU

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Better idea.. Don't use the top holes :)

[@nevadabadger7925]

Greetings from Reno, Nevada.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Greetings!

[@twelve-voltexperimental9829]

How does the strain relief of the DX50 and loopback to the window wire count in the length of the elements?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Because it's a doublet, the loops are irrelevant when considering the overall size since the customer will have an outboard tuner. They have no consequential effect .

[@M7XCB]

Nowt wrong with your OCD you've made perfect military quality Antenna.

[@REKlaus]

Waiting with baited breath (ok I'll go use some mouth wash ;) )

[@kissingbanditt]

Does that extra pig tail count as the length of the antenna or no?

[@anthonycosta1776]

Yes all the wire is the antenna. Loop and all.

[@Jimigunneful]

Why fork terminals, not ring terminals? And is it possible to buy something like this white plastic center piece joining the dipole halves and ladder line together?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You can go to ring if you want.. Yes, we sell the doublet centre part.

[@Jimigunneful]

@m0mcx do you have a sales website up?

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

Quick question. Would there be any benefit to forgoing the connections and just cutting out window line to the dimensions needed for the legs and using the mounting bracket as strain relief? Basically A Continuous length of wire. That may end up being expensive depending on window line cost I guess?

[@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio]

Window line split into two legs wouldn't have the strength under tension to form the doublet unless you are going to suspend it from a rope. The wire Callum is using has a Kevlar core, so it can support itself. You could reverse your idea - run continuous lengths of DX50 and form balanced feeder using spacers but that gets expensive very quickly just like the window line would!

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

@@StuartM0TTQAmateurRadio Thanks Stuart, still a rookie to doublets. Appreciate it.. was looking at spacers and it does seem cost prohibitive.

[@Yaegermeister163]

What Balun would you recommend for the connection at the end of the ladder line?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Well, personally I would use a balanced ATU else you are into some fine calculation on lengths of elements and ladder line. However, I'm going to try this with a 4:1 balun.. Suck it and see :)

[@luissimonquerol1646]

Muy bueno los dipolo que fabrica muy bueno.saludo..73.51 a la distancia.desde argentina

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yes, very fine. 73.

[@carl-gunnarhillefors7612]

THOURGOUGH WORK BEHIND EVERY PRODUCT AND QUALITY! IT'S WORTH THE AMOUNT YOU DEBIT!

[@Siskiyous6]

I love using a doublet, with an antenna tuner I can really take a fast look at the bands. I have mine cut to 144 foot, an often recommended length. I only have it at 45 feet high, so it is no DX antenna, it has made contacts half way around the world/

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Perfect! Mine was 85 feet each leg - worked a charm.

[@ml.2770]

Why didn't you use a metal crimp on the foldback instead of heatshrink? No criticism, a genuine question. (edited typo - I'm instead of Why)

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Not a crimp. I didn't. You COULD but I once had a flash-over years ago doing that.

[@anthonycosta1776]

I am making an 84 foot doublet which will be a double extended zepp on 20m and should tune well on 40 meters. It will be up about 35 meters high. Do you think this will be Excellent on 20 and 40 ?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You will have "lobes" of RF higher up - and those lobes will work.

[@anthonycosta1776]

@m0mcx That's what I was thinking. I wish you were in the states. You make antennas that will outlast mother earth. Lol. I will definitely mimic your build. 73

[@GPSJayDog22]

Thank you. I enjoyed watching this. Cheers 🙂 N6IWP

[@DXCommanderHQ]

More to come!

[@m0bob]

I have an used doublet wrapped inside a plastic bag inside my garage. I want to put it up in my garden, but I only have one mast, it's 15m (telescopic free standing) and made of aluminium. Can anyone suggest how I can get the centre of the antenna on the mast, but at the same time keeping the ribbon feeder away from the metal? Thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

You don't need to keep it away unless you are a purist. You will find it's just fine. If you are paranoid, then simble U clamps with nylon plastic strips held off only 4-inches / 100mm will be perfect - but try it without first, you will be surprised.

[@m0bob]

@@DXCommanderHQ Thanks Calum, I will hang it up and try it out.73

[@wa6gxq]

How many watts can the antenna handle? Thanks

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Oh.. I would say full legal limit in USA.. Certainly 1,500W. Probably 5kW.

[@ATR_Mid-TN-WX]

What is the gauge of wire for the elements? Or is that important

[@stevet7522]

Not as important as you would think depending on the power you're putting through it. For bare foot (100 watts) 18 or 16 awg is more than enough. I use 14 because I got it cheap.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Not important.. Good question though.

[@ATR_Mid-TN-WX]

@@DXCommanderHQ thank you sir. I have a local ham that has this antenna he made but he didn’t call it a doublet antenna. When I get general I will definitely be making one of these. Thank you for the videos. Very informative

[@BenButler1]

Flickers on 60hz too however if you change the frame rate it seems to go away

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Yeah I ran some tests, but changing the bloomin FPS all the time is a pain in the ass..

[@Aswaguespack]

Callum you left one thing off your workbench before starting this project. “Band-aids” because guys like me will most certainly cut a finger at some point regardless of how careful I try to be 😂 de KZ5Y dah di dah

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Haha! INstead, I do actually keep a supply of Steri-Strips.. Most times I cut myself, I need stiches and Steri-Strips seem to work, holding the tissue together for a few days..!

[@Aswaguespack]

Haha even better…..

[@larschristensen4677]

Hi cal i like your dipole center is there a drawnings of it i like to build my own ??? De OZ2LC

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Just lay some 450 ohm on some paper and draw one out :)

[@larschristensen4677]

@@DXCommanderHQ ah okay was thinking the same i will make a template and router them out and drill the holes i think my ham friends would like one aswell

[@chublez]

Get yerself a nice new 360 cam from the other guys. Bit different to edit but never miss anything for being pointed the wrong way and my battery lasts fine. For longer shots indoors you could just plug in, though. Use any cam you can and we'll keep watching. 73s

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Pls email me link to the camera. Tnx. (although, I'm not made of money.. I need to get what I have working...!)

[@petar-perangrbic8680]

Puno pozdrava od mene poštovanom kolegi odnosno elektroničaru te ga molim za pomoć oko izrade antene da mi kaže koju je žicu upotrebio za dipol da li je žica bakarna ili je čelična izolirana sa pvc izolacijom ja imam primopredajnik yaesu ft 707s, 10w. Pa bih napravio antenu za taj uređaj. Hvala na odgovoru lijep pozdrav.❤.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

The wire is DX50. It will be back in stock again in about 40-weeks. dxcommander.com/product/dx50-wire-by-the-metre/ (although site is SLOW right now due to malicious hacking attempts from Amazon Web Servers in Asia.. Working on it..!) Doublet centre is this one: dxcommander.com/product/450-ohm-doublet-centre/

[@nazairetetreault2664]

Time for a new blade

[@BrianConklin]

I really enjoyed watching you work. It was very inspiring. 73 - KJ7RDY

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@RC-Heli835]

Well I was hoping you'd take it out and deploy it. Oh well maybe next time?

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I did deploy it.. Well, not THIS one since it was for a customer.

[@RC-Heli835]

@@DXCommanderHQ I didn't realize these things went all the way from 6 to 160 Meters. Will The DX Commander achieve that broad a range?

[@dancosminmarza2974]

i thinc you menn a crobar 4 the power suply 😁😁😁

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Ah. OK!

[@saxmusicmail]

LDG at one time made a "talking" auto tuner. (EDIT!!! I should have said "talking wattmeter") A blind ham told me, "If you see one for sale DON'T buy it! Let me know because I know plenty of blind hams who need one." Just thought I'd mention that.

[@saxmusicmail]

LDG's talking wattmeter is back in production now. "The LDG TW-1 provides an aural spoken indication of power and SWR using a digitally recorded voice."

[@saxmusicmail]

The blind ham that told me this was an alternate net control operator for a net that I was one of the regular net controls. He also helped me set up the audio on my Ten-Tec Jupiter and new Heil mic.

[@billstaats1817]

Nice work sir. 73, de K6ZTM

[@Rubedo777]

Extremely bodacious… 👌 ✨ 💯 I shall copy your build which is much more endurable than the plan I have,,, Antenna Alchemist. ✅ 😉 73

[@DXCommanderHQ]

What a great word, "bodacious".. New one for me. Love it.

[@hectorcontreras2816]

nombre del cable paralelo

[@JohnDolschenko]

Bad Idea. That copper is going to stretch. Better to use galvanized 6/6 aircraft wire or stainless.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

It won't strtetch. It's got a Kevlar core.

[@DXCommanderHQ]

Actually.. Even if it did stretch, since it's a doublet you would never know - it's not a tuned length.

[@eddiehatherall2154]

How the hell can you work without talking to yourself? I can't, maybe I'm going mad!

[@DXCommanderHQ]

I cut those bits out!

[@nazairetetreault2664]

Not going to use the kitchen sink