Balun Designs, both 1:1 and 4:1 for use with tuners. I have both because I also have a folded dipole that I feed direct.
I suggest you give the folks at Balun Designs a call and discuss your exact needs. Take their advice.
Also see the DJ0IP site for details on baluns. Just Google DJ0IP.
And I use the 8232 common mode choke from The Wireman.
> On Dec 8, 2018, at 9:35 PM, Don Wilhelm <
[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Robert,
>
> That depends on what you want to achieve. If it is more gain broadside (perpendicular to the antenna) then the answer is yes. On 80 meters the 160 meter elements alone will be Two Halfwaves in Phase and will have 2 to 3 dB of gain broadside to the antenna.
>
> Of course, that gain comes at a cost of radiation in other directions. L.B. Cebik (SK) explained it best - if you visualize the radiation from an isotropic antenna as a balloon, then squeeze that balloon so the largest projection is in the direction(s) of the gain, you will see the reduction of gain in other directions. In other words, there is no free lunch. For the dipole, squeeze the balloon in the middle a bit, and for 2 half-waves in phase, squeeze it a bit harder.
> If you want to achieve the maximum squeeze, change the length of each half of the radiator to 5/8 wavelengths and you will have the greatest broadside gain before the radiation pattern breaks into multiple lobes.
>
> You can find that basic information in most any good antenna handbook. It is the basis for all wire gain antennas.
>
> For rotatable arrays or other directional switchable arrays, that balloon effect is exactly what is desired, but for a fixed wire antenna, that balloon effect may not be desirable if you want to work stations that are off the ends of the antenna.
>
> So the answer is -- it all depends. Do you want to orient your antenna to favor certain locations, or do you want something more or less omnidirectional. An Inverted Vee will be slightly more omnidirectional than a horizontal dipole. A vertical is an omnidirectional antenna with a circular pattern, but normally with a lower take-off angle than a dipole at a modest height.
>
> If you want to work nearby stations as well as those further away, use a dipole - if you want to work DX (which usually comes in at low elevation angles, use a vertical.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> On 12/8/2018 10:03 PM, Robert G Strickland wrote:
>> Ron...
>> Would such an antenna cut for 80m, fed with ladder-line, and used on 40m, be a better performer on either band than an 80-40m fan dipole fed with 72ohm coax? Leaving all other extraneous but influencing parameters aside. I have the second antenna; the weight of all that wire and the coax with a ferrite balun results in a significant sag. I'm wondering if the first antenna, lighter and higher in the air, would perform better? Thanks.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home:
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft> Help:
http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm> Post: mailto:
[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by:
http://www.qsl.net> Please help support this email list:
http://www.qsl.net/donate.html> Message delivered to
[hidden email]
>