Dipole ladder line

[KE5SHV]

Is better to use 300ohm or 450 ohm ladder line for the construction a homebrew G5RV multi band 80-10 meter dipole. I intend on putting it up about 40ft using a 102 ft of #12 copper wire and a 1:1 current balun going to 100' RG213 coax.

Randy KE5SHV

[ai3v]

Won't matter.

But You are missing the Point of the g5rv. That antenna used specific radiator and feedline lengths to effect a match to the tube-type rigs of the era. Whenever you randomly change the feedline length, you are randomly changing the "Matching Stub".

A better approach would be to install as much wire as possible in the dipole section- at LEAST 1/2 wavelength at the lowest frequency you are interested in, then run ENOUGH ladder line to reach from your BALANCED tuner, to the radiating element.

Rege

[w3jn]

^^ Indeed. Get an old Johnson Matchbox, and one of the W7FG dipoles that comes with outstanding ladder line, and you'll have any G5RV beat by a mile.

[ac4r]

^^ Indeed. Get an old Johnson Matchbox, and one of the W7FG dipoles that comes with outstanding ladder line, and you'll have any G5RV beat by a mile.


You can also buy the W7FG open line alone. It is 600 ohm true open line, much stronger and better than 300 or 450 ohm line. No change due to weather like some have on 300 ohm line. Open line beats coax all day long IMHO