Dipole Antenna

[Saint]

I am thinking about buying this antenna does anyone own this antenna or no if it's worth buying it, I like to listen from 0.03 to 30.00 mhz.
thanks for any information you can give me.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/2205.html

 

[DaveH]

Way overpriced for what it is. Check out Maple Leaf Communications on this side of the border.

Dave

 

[n4voxgill]

I had the most luck with a G5RV and it runs about $50.00. It is 102 feet long and if you ever get your ham license is good for transmitting as well.

gill

 

[Saint]

re-antenna

Way overpriced for what it is. Check out Maple Leaf Communications on this side of the border.

Dave

Thanks Dave I just went to The Maple Leaf Communications site and sent them an e-mail, I would rather do business in Canada instead of going through changing my money over to US and dealing wil everything else you have to go through buying from a foreign country.
Steve

 

[FreqMgr]

I just read the description for this thing and absolutely cracked up because of all the flowerly words and mumbo-jumbo that says absolutely nothing. I'm willing to bet it's no better than a Rat Shack $10.99 shortwave receiving antenna ... in short, nothing better than a 75-foot piece of wire.

 

[LarrySC]

I built HF antennas for SWL for years. I quit when I built this one. Wire 66'. Cut @ 24' X 42' Insert a TV balun 4:1 300ohm to 75ohm. The balun must read a connection with ohm meter on all elements checking in any pattern. There are some on the market that are OPEN. Feed with RG-58 or 59. I swing mine between two mast. One 30' and one 20'. The end of the wire is connected thru an eyelet to a nylon cord. If I have a problem with antenna I just let the cord go up and the antenna comes down. Total cost antenna only, not mast. $20 I can hear a frog fart in Fargo on my FRG-8800 Yaesu

 

[Saint]

re-antenna's

Thanks for all the replies on the dipole antenna, I'm new to shortwave listening and know very little about what kind of shortwave antenna is the best, it's a little bit confusing when you see some of these people promising the world if you buy their antenna. I am reading as much as I can on antenna's but I'm still a novice when it come to these antenna's. I do have a 150' foot longwire antenna in my apartment and it runs into the back of my Icom IC-R75 receiver and does a good job but was wondering if these was something better out there as far as antenna's. Or if I should put in line some kind of antenna matcher and or amp to boost what the longwire is doing for me.
Steve

 

[brandon]

I've heard some good things about this antenna.

Here are a couple reviews on it:
http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/3707

 

[ka3jjz]

Indeed, many nice comments have been floating around this model (and it's associated ham-related models). Check the EHam link on the Antennas Wiki for more information.

Saint, these models are not dipoles. These are end-fed antennas that are terminated at the feed line point to cut the amount of noise. A dipole is a very different animal; check the Antennas Wiki for a good basic explanation.

73s Mike

 

[brandon]

Well I bit the bullet and purhased this antenna to go along with my old active antenna. Finally got the thing put up last night. I have the antenna mounted along our back fence which is on a slight hill (about 10 feet higher than the backyard with great views to the west and north towards SB Co Mtns). I have 150ft coax run and I'm not seeing any major loss even on 39 MHz CHP freqs. This seems to be far away enough that I have no interference from the PC, A/C unit, or my Internet routers..

I am simply amazed at how good this thing works. The noise level is extremely quiet and I am having great reception on all bands from 3-30 MHz. Last night I heard Sydney and Tokyo MWARA stations very good. Today I've listened to hams from Argentina and Bermuda on 10 meters (29.620 FM) - rptr unheard on my Nil-Jon. Also huge reception on the Pacific MWARA freqs.

The antenna is a little pricey but I've definitely gotten my moneys worth so far.

 

[w8mkh]

I have used a G5RV i got at Universal Radio with a basic Mfj tuner for years and it works
well .73 Good Dxing

 

[kb5udf]

Tuner

If you have only one 'broadbanded' antenna for your SWL'ing, I'd strongly reccomend the user of an antenna tuner. It can make several S-units worth of difference, potentially, and certainly does in my setup.
Long wires, should have a decent ground.

My in apt. compromise antenna is a cliff-dweller two dipole (basically two slinkys connected to a balun), with an AT-200 pro tuner (though you can get just as good reception with an inexpensive manual MFJ or other tuner.