[WVDXA] 6-Meters on a Wire Antenna

[Clark L. Stewart]

Papa November,

      I did not write the dimensions down when I built the antenna so my 
delay in replying to your email was because I had to re-create the 
dimensions from the ARRL Handbook.

      It seems that above 30 MHz. the dimensions of an antenna are affected 
more by the diameter of the conductor used for the antenna than they are 
below 30 MHz.  So you need to take that into account.  I used No. 14 wire 
and according to the ARRL Handbook, my antenna should have been a total 
length of 9 feet, 5 and 23/32 inches or 113.72 inches.  Divide that in half 
for each side of the dipole (about 56 and 28/32 inches on each 
side.)  Using the traditional dipole formula of 468 divided by the 
frequency in MHz. would give you 112.096 inches or about 1.6 inches shorter.

      Of course, you can vary the angle of the antenna and change the SWR a 
bit so pruning may not be needed.  As it turned out, with the angle that 
just "happened" to occur by the supports I used to mount the antenna, my 
SWR (at the design frequency of 50.1 MHz) was 1.97:1 or about 2:1.  Not all 
that great but it seemed to work out well for me in the contest.  Also, the 
SWR may have been influenced by the proximity to my roof or other obstacles 
in the near-field of the antenna.

      I hope that information is helpful to you.  Get that antenna built 
and get on the band.  You don't need as much room for a 6-M antenna as you 
do for 160-M - ;>)


Clark, W8TN

At 10:17 AM 6/17/2008 -0400, you wrote:
>How about some dimensions. I will save me from the trial and error.
>
>WA8VPN
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Clark L. Stewart" <w8tn at ntelos.net>
>To: <WVDXA at wvdxa.org>
>Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2008 21:46
>Subject: [WVDXA] 6-Meters on a Wire Antenna
>
>
> > Read about my efforts in the June VHF Contest using only a Wire Antenna
> > for
> > 6-M by checking out my Blog:
> >
> > <http://w8tn.blogspot.com/>
> >
> > Conditions were quite good I thought.  I'm glad to see so much activity on
> > 6-M.
> >
> > Now that I have a 6-M antenna at the new QTH, maybe I can catch up with
> > Greg, Phil, Pete, Dave and all those others who have worked FJ.
> >
> >
> > Clark, W8TN