Curt,
I am happy to share my opinion about the B&W "folded dipole". I have
modeled one and think I remember that it is down about 10 dB compared to a
resonant dipole, at least on the frequencies I looked at. That may sound
like a "dummy load", but it still has benefit for some users:
1. It has a relatively low SWR across all HF, without a tuner and thus is
ideal for a broadband xmtr with untrained or minimally trained operator.
2. Most of the time it will receive as well as a resonant antenna, since it
is still in the region at which atmospheric noise limits the S/N.
3. If a military user needs an additional 10 dB, they can just switch on
the 10 dB PA and they're no worse off.
B&W doesn't hide the efficiency issue too deeply in their ads, to their
credit.
So, I can understand the desireability of such an antenna to some users,
even though I would never want to own one.
73, Joel Hallas, W1ZR
Original Message:
-----------------
From: Curt k3ey@yahoo.com
Date: Thu, 07 Jul 2005 10:18:11 -0700 (PDT)
To: tentec@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TenTec] magic wire antennas
What?s really funny is I also remember all the talk
that review caused about how it was a dummy load.
Please then, someone on here explain why they are
still in business selling their "dummy loads"? Why are
they still being sold? The B&W folded dipoles some
people say are dummy loads too. They use them all over
the world in government installations. So why are
these dummies who make these dummy loads still racking
in the cash after all these years, why oh wise men on
here, why?
--- K5lxz@wmconnect.com wrote:
> Hello All, I remember the Maxcom review in QST and
> it reminded me of an
> anatenna I made back in 1973 that a now silent key
> refered to as a "magic wire
> antenna".
> We were asked to demonstrate ham radio at a
> bicentennial celeberation and I
> made a wire antenna for 80 meters that was made from
> 'steel' electric fence
> wire. This antenna was broad (low swr) from one
> end of 80 to the other. Truly
> I thought for a few moments that we had discovered
> what everyone had been
> looking for.
> Only problem was the kwm2 could not be heard outside
> the confides of the
> operating position. Yep! just another dummie load
> that made me feel like the
> dummy.
> 73s all and good dx,
> Ray
> W5EW
> _______________________________________________
> TenTec mailing list
> TenTec@contesting.com
> http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/tentec
>
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