Build an EASY 10 Meter (28 MHz) Vertical Antenna for DX!

Wow, congratulations on your DX contact! I just thought I'd let you know, I think CT9/UR9IDX is actually a Ukrainian who is portable in Madeira Island right now, see his QRZ page :https://www.qrz.com/db/CT9/UR9IDX
But that's still amazing DX! Again, great job on your homebrew antenna and your awesome success with it!

 

I didn't expect to DX with a 40W trucker's 10/11 meter export, though I watched and read about all I could find before I bought the Anytone AT-5555 PLUS/N from Moonraker in UK . It's a sleeper. I'm very satisfied, more like, hurrah! Mind blowing what that 55' of coax brings in. Now I'll duplicate it for a go box with the RG58 A/U, because being stranded conductor it's flexibility is necessary. The one now will stay hung in the redwood. At this point it's perfect. I'm surprised I didn't need to spend another $100 to put me on the air.

 

Awesome Charlie, this is great to see! Have fun with the DX!

 

How did you develop these dimentions?

 

Does it matter when tuned my SWR is 1.0-1.3 on USB? 5/9 signal report from Ukraine at 8:45 AM PCT from grid CN70wl. Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach. You do know the formula, right? If not, then there are dipole calculators online. Simply Google search, dipole calculators. Voila!

 

https://www.qrz.com/db/CT9/UR9IDX

Madeira Island is not exactly Ukraine. I think it's technically part of the African continent. But that's still good DX!

 

Yes, it matters. If lengths and turns were determined by modeling, how close were the model results to the real-world results. And how many tials were done to correct the errors to get the final dimentions if "cut and try" was the approach.

It's all a part of deciding if it is worth it to try building one. Been there, done that only to be disappointed.

Additionally, I have cobbled up an adjustable vertical that is currently set at 34.25 feet with an "un-un" at the feed point that tunes nicely 1.6:1 80 to 10 meters (all bands inbetween) that has done nicely even all the way to the south pole. But I would be the last one to encourage anyone to duplicate it since I think it works more because of favorable conditions than design and execution.

 

Yep, I built mine for $9. Tuned it and I'm on the air. For a more details read my posts above. 73

Yeah, 10M propagation is improving. I used QRZ to look up my first DX contact, but you may very well know more than me about his location, in fact having just received my Technician ticket last October I'm learning every time I get on. I don't worry about what I don't know as long as I'm learning. Some hamsters are having fun and what with $9 and an hour invested, but I have to say I wonder if the ex-spurts are. 73

 

and the coaxial velocity factor ? 2450 mm Mmmm... less

 

He's using the OUTSIDE of the coax for the other half of the dipole, so the vf of the coax is irrelevant. Not my choice of design, but it is functional. I prefer a proper groundplane, either a 1/4 or 5/8ths. I'm running a 5/8ths on 10m which is working very well, even at only ~6 feet off the ground.

 

You also need to rethink your air-wound coax choke. Its peak impedance is much lower and is doing very little on 10m. You 'd be better off with ~4 turns instead:

 

Thanks Hayden for the well-done video. Now anyone can get on 10M.

Bob KK5R

 

Next dumb question of the day....
Is it possible to set up one of these T2LT antennas inside an apartment on the 8th floor with NO outside access? I DO have a window, but housing assoc. will not allow outside installation.

 

It does NOT matter.

People obsess over SWR but 1: 1.3 is fine.

Your DX QSO is proof !

 

Give it a try and let us know.

I will bet it works.

Just be careful about your RF exposure.