[TowerTalk] Folded dipole

[Jim Brown]

If I wanted the SWR bandwidth improvement of a folded dipole (nice 
for 80/75M and 10M), I would simply build an ordinary dipole, but 
making the conductors fatter by building a 2-wire or 3-wire dipole 
with spacers. That would allow me to feed it with coax, which in 
turn allows me to put a good coaxial ferrite choke up at the 
feedpoint to kill noise pickup on the line. If it was a low dipole 
for NVIS, I would use 50 ohm coax. If it was a high dipole, I would 
use 75 ohm coax.

There are lots of easy ways to build spreaders. I buy 1/2-inch UV-
resistant PVC conduit, cut it into suitable lengths, and drill holes 
through the pieces for the wires to pass through. Some folks use 
wood dowels that they seal against moisture. 

73,

Jim K9YC