Towertalk
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: [TowerTalk] Full-size 30m rotatable dipole has big swing in low SWR

To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Full-size 30m rotatable dipole has big swing in low SWR point
From: W0MU Mike Fatchett <w0mu@w0mu.com>
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 2021 18:06:48 -0600
List-post: <mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Did you model this with software and input the taper lengths etc?  The Antenna will certainly look much longer close to the ground.

Using the free space calculation of 492/Freq us about 24.2 ft per side.



On 10/25/2021 8:03 AM, w5wz@w5wz.com wrote:
Stepping back from the problem to see the entire forest, not the single tree.......

I have built a full-size 30m rotatable dipole using parts from an old Telrex yagi.  Taper from 1-1/4" OD to 5/8" OD.  The length of each side is 23 ft 1 inch.

Mounted on tilt over tower, perpendicular to the boom and 4 feet above a KT34XA.  With the tower tilted over and dipole about 8 feet high, SWR at 10.125 was 1.16 with >1.5 across the band.

Stood the tower back to vertical with the dipole about 30 feet above the ground.  Across the band, SWR >3.5, and the new SWR minimum is now at 10.906 Mhz.

Same 70 ft length of feedline used for all tests at all heights.

What's causing this big change?  Is the KT34XA creating a "too close to the ground" effect?

Mathematically, this indicates I'm roughly 19 inches short on each side.

As built:

468/10.125=46.22 ft total length

46.22/2=23.11 ft per side

At SWR minimum:

468/10.906=42.91

42.91/2=21.45

23.11-21.45=1.66 feet difference

--Scott W5WZ
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________



_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>
  • Re: [TowerTalk] Full-size 30m rotatable dipole has big swing in low SWR point, W0MU Mike Fatchett <=