Experimenting with an Off Center Fed Dipole Antenna
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- čas přidán 3. 09. 2022
- I put up an OCF Dipole antenna in a portable situation while traveling and working in Poland #OCFdipole #WireAntenna #hamradio
This antenna can be purchased on eBay:
ebay.com/usr/gniklat1
I had a Windom at 8 feet above ground , cut for 75 Mtr phone band and used 100 watts power. Resulted in big DB over S9 signals up to 100 miles during the day, and up to 250 miles with big signal at night. Fed with 300 ohm twin lead at the 1/3rd point.
Wow, You got Callum! That's awesome. Can't wait for the next video. KO4HPC.
Thanks Adam! Yes that was so cool, I’ve always been a big fan of his channel.
I believe that diploe antennas have great advantage Over many other Antennas !! I know many will not agree with Me !! But that's fine !! 😏
If you have the space for them they’re excellent.
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES , agree to a certain extent , I run a diploe antenna just for 11 meters , and it's amazing even with different atmospheric conditions !! Who ever created this antenna was a genius !!
Again, your videos don't disappoint. Awesome contact with Cal! 73
Thanks David! Yes that was a great moment. 73
Hi Walt, great video and great results you got from that ant. 20m up and down, but I will keep checking 20m for you.
73 brian
Thanks Brian, I think conditions are going to be rough for a little while. We just had a big solar flare that was aimed right at us.
Looks and sounds great. I've never had one of these, but they sure work well and have a great reputation. Well done.
Thanks! I really enjoyed this antenna. I'm headed back to Poland in a couple weeks for work. I actually left it there to put back up when I return.
Nice video, Walt. Glad to hear your antenna is working well. Enjoy your vacation from the HOA. 73, K8MSH
Thanks! It’s a great antenna, thanks for supplying me with a great performer. 73, Walt K4OGO
Awesome!!! You got Lord Callum! He is on my dream sheet of contacts.
Thanks for watching Jeremy, that was a fun QSO!
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES I am very jealous. I always try to catch him on air during his streams but all I ever hear is the pile up. One of these days.
Hey Walt.. I see you're keeping yourself busy and having fun.. Looks like that antenna does a nice job.. Thanks for keeping us all entertained and informed.. 73.. k0klb
Thanks so much Kevin, if we could just get the band conditions better things would be perfect!
A good Contact to Lord Callum. This OCF seem to do its job well.😎👍
Awesome video as usual. I am a big fan of windoms, and it is one of my go to-designs for having an easy multiband antenna. And yes, having participated in this weekends field day event, I can confirm that conditions were pretty poor.
Happy to see you work A44A. I tried hard to get him, but no luck.
Thanks Morten, hopefully conditions will get much better soon!
that's such a cool design.
Nice at some point I plan on getting out on 10 & 6 m KF0HRF SCOTT
Awesome! Thanks for watching. 73, Walt
Great job again Walt, keep em coming! 73
Thanks Tim! 73
I've always liked the OFC antennas. I ha one that I built a number of years ago, that will do 80 40 20 17 12 and 10. I then found an article that showed adding 2 more wires to give you 15 and 30. As is I can work all those band no tuner, except the high end f 10 (FM portion) and even some of that is usable before you need the tuner. And as I tuned mine for about 3.750, then CW portion of 80 needs a tuner. Even then the highest SWR on 10 and 80 is only around 6:1. Not huge.. I have bot tried the 15 and 30 elements yet, but with out them, swr is over 30:1!
Great video as always and very cool first contact! I have the Palomar Engineering 80-10 version of this permanently installed at my QTH in NH about 20 miles inland from Portsmouth. I set it up as an inverted V 35' high at the center with the ends running N-S. I easily make it to CA and all over Europe when band conditions are good. 40-10 I can touch up SWR with the IC-7300's internal tuner but 80 requires an external tuner, most likely due to the low center height. 10m has been really good lately with several 5-9 contacts in Germany and Texas.
That’s awesome, this is definitely a great permanent antenna. I wish I had room for it at my home QTH in Portsmouth, Virginia. Thanks for sharing! 73, Walt K4OGO
I'm really wanting to try this antenna. Thnx Waly. :)
I’m getting ready to put up a similar antenna in Poland next week!
Nice one Walt! How's it like living somewhere free of the HOA?
In my home country it's so good when it comes to placing antennas, once you buy a house it's really yours. So hams can place as many antennas as they want. And even though they do, neighborhoods don't get jammed with external antennas all over. Most of the antennas you see are placed on nicely built towers and 85% of them have single trapped triband yagi.
73s
Thanks André, yes I’m enjoying being free from the HOA life! 73
I run an antenna like this ocf is an excellent antenna
Thanks!
Thank you so much Gary! 73
Awesome work Walt! 73
Thank you! 73
I just passed my general a few weeks ago I’m thinking about getting one of these or Maybe different brand or close to this for my first HF antenna. I watch all youre videos appreciate what you do.
Thanks for watching and congrats. Hope to catch you on the air. 73, Walt
Great video! I can attest to the efficiency of an OCFD. I've had an MFJ-2010 40-6 OCFD dipole set up permanently at my Idaho QTH for over 4 years. With the apex at 28 feet, I wasn't expecting much, but with my G90 I've worked a VK, several europeans, and most US states with my measly 20 watts, mostly on 20m. If you have the space, the OCFD can be amazing.
Absolutely! and those measly 20 watts work well. Love my G90!
Put a t240-31 toroid below unun with 8 to 10 turns of coax. Would really clean up receive. Works well on my 160m ocf. Take care.
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
I use a OCF for my office radio. I love it. The lonely vertical may just be coming down since I haven't used it since i got the OCF from Palomar eng. KI5IQE
An OCF dipole was my very first antenna when I got into HF. It was great on 40m and so so everywhere else, but I made hundreds of contacts with it, got my first clean sweep in 13 Colonies, nearly got a WAS, and several other accomplishments. I've moved on to something else now but I would not hesitate to throw it back up if I needed it.
Have you thought about getting into POTA activations? It seems right up your alley! There are many POTA parks in Poland and most have never been activated before. What an opportunity if you decide to go out and activate some during your trip.
Yes, I've given it some thought, my main portable location at home on the beach is actually park K-1299 but I usually want to work DX on the beach and haven't activated POTA for that reason. I'll eventually make it happen. i really enjoy making CZcams videos of my portable adventures and I'm not sure CZcams needs another POTA video LOL. Thanks for dropping by the channel. 73, Walt
@@COASTALWAVESWIRES POTA is growing so much and your videos are fantastic, I'm sure a couple of activation videos would be big hits! I still need to get K-1299, but I did activate K-0929 Fort Monroe when I was last in Va. Beach for work. Great location, somewhat eerie at night working the late shift in the dark on 80m in drizzle and fog. :) Enjoy your trip and 73! Dan
@@N4XTL thanks Dan, yes I think you just convinced me to do that activation at First Landing State Park. All the best and 73!
Hi Walt, I've just bitten the bullet and ordered a off centre fed dipole, I'll be using it with my 12 meter DX commander mast as a inverted V be interesting to see how it compares to the usual end fed verticals I go portable with. Cheers for the video Walt, Adam G7CRQ
Thanks for watching! I’ve had great luck with OCF dipoles. All the best and good DX!
Hmmmm….run it out as an Inverted V? I think I need to consider it for the one installed at my home QTH. Another fun, informative video Thank you W1FYG
Thanks so much for watching! 73, Walt
Nice video, what direction in the antenna pointing ? Please consider strain relief for the coax, or over time the coax inner will break. Keep up the good work 👍
Thanks, it’s pointed WSW so about broadside to Norway from where I’m at in Poland. This is a temporary setup so I think the coax will be ok. Thanks for watching.
Great video. Need to try that. "You're 59 at 006", can I ask what the 006 part is? I have tried to google it and never figured it out. Thank you.
Hi greetings from the UK!
Great story about your first contact with Callum.
I am used to using a linked dipole for 40 and 20m works well on very low power between 1 and 5w.
Is the OCFD much different from a symmetric dipole?
On another note, I will be operating portable by the beach during the next 2 months. What vertical antenna would you recommend?I like to operate on 40, 20, 17 and 15m and I don't mind a mono band antenna as long as they are light.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi Vitor! I would highly recommend a RYBAKOV vertical for the beach. It’s my favorite Multiband vertical and perfect for the beach if you have an antenna tuner.
Nice one! Cool that you hit Calum! I know you said the maker of the antenna indicated that an inverted V would be ideal. How do you think it would perform as almost an inverted L? That thing is so long. I've got a place at the house where I could attach the short end to one tree and then have the long end hit another tree and go down to a fence on either an inverted V or inverted L angle. Probably would have the feed point vertical. Do have any idea on whether that would be feasible?
I’m sure it would. It only 50 bucks, give it a try!
My brother in-law took the idea from a j Pole made me a half wave diepole not sure how he did it it was not in the shape of a j not sure if he solder the wire to the shield then pull out the center thru the shield the attach it to the wire 10 inches I say it work great like it was a off center diepole
Hi, which antenna has the least noise in your experience?
Probably a horizontal flat top end fed half wave. Vertical antennas are noisy but with that noise comes better DX.
I've still not heard you on the band's while you are in Poland.
de M0GIA
It's been a challenge these pass couple weeks. Hope to catch you soon!