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Thread: Advice on building a windom (materials)

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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Amarillo, Tx
    Posts
    8

    Default Advice on building a windom (materials)

    I just received my 4:1 current balun rated at 2kW and I would like to know your thoughts on using electric fence wire for the antenna. I have two spools of the stuff and have no use for an electric fence so it seems the logical (cheap!) wire to use. Thanks for any help, Matthew.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Location
    Christchurch, New Zealand
    Posts
    737

    Default

    Don't build a Windom. Since you've got a balun and (presumably) the coax to feed it, build an OCF (off-centre fed) dipole.

    Wire's wire. You've got lots of it, try it. If the wire is aluminium, it does want to corrode when in contact with stainless steel hardware, but there are greases available to minimise that.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    MELBOURNE VIC
    Posts
    173

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by zl3gsl View Post
    Don't build a Windom. Since you've got a balun and (presumably) the coax to feed it, build an OCF (off-centre fed) dipole.

    Wire's wire. You've got lots of it, try it. If the wire is aluminium, it does want to corrode when in contact with stainless steel hardware, but there are greases available to minimise that.
    As ZL3GSL Said Build a OCF dipole

    Check out http://www.dxzone.com there's heaps of tips there
    73's and Good DX VK3FTIM
    Victor - Kilo - THREE - Foxtrot - Tango - India - Mike
    Proud ICOM User (IC-718)
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  4. #4

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    I have a 66' OCF dipole fed 2/3 offset, works a champ. I still use my Z-100 to fine tune it, and I get really good reports with it. It even tunes 80m/CW, but Im about 2 S units down on TX with it. Its not designed or built for 80, but what the hay... it still works!

    The OCF is the best dipole Ive built yet. Im running a 5:1 "OCF BALUN" from Buxcomm, it made a HUGE difference in my TX sigs.

    http://www.buxcomm.com/catalog/index...oducts_id=1975

    I previously ran an inexpensive 4:1 Voltage BALUN, it did work... but with the MM51 the antenna REALLY came to life!!

    Andrew

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Holland JO23TA
    Posts
    609

    Default

    Running a 1:6.7 balun 2 kW with 1:1 current balun feeding my off centre fed dipole wich has a coil (190 micro Henry) and 30 feet of wire on the short end to make it resonant on 160.
    On 80 and up its the normal FD-4 antenna, at 45 feet above good ground straight between chimney's

    My homebrew OCF's ranging from 400 watt to 5 KWatt with homebrew baluns for holliday and made for other hams here, Jota/Joti etc wire was made of copper, copperclad steel, galvanised steel wire, stainless steel wire, whatever i had here, or the new owner wanted.
    Most were build for cost price, and tested with the MFJ 269 analyser.

    I tried 1:4, 1:5 and last the 1:6.7 like the balun Fritzel used for his OCF.
    I put in the 1:1 current balun in the same housing to keep R.F out of thee shack, and it works well.
    Living on the edge of our town i have no trouble running 1200 watts into it.

    For hollidays in France or other countries i made a 1:4 balun, mostly the OCF is rather low, under 33 feet high.
    Then the 1:4 balun works better, made both ends too long of the wire wich then are folded back, so i can prune the antennna at the spot for best swr.

    Just build one, test it and have fun experimenting

    73,
    Cor
    Last edited by PA5COR; 12-23-2008 at 12:39 AM. Reason: typo
    Licensed since 1977

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