OK, let's make a simple dipole. If you only have one dipole, I suggest you make it for the 40 meter band. This band works
most of the day, sometimes all day, and well into the evening. 40 meters is a good regional band, reaching several states
away, and there are many active nets there, too. (
EDIT, I have talked to Ireland and Scotland on 40 meters at 01:00
local time, which was 06:00 their time. Gray line?) The 66' overall length can easily fit in many back yards, and with a little
help from a tuner, can also work 15 meters for some good DX.
I'm going to show a few photos of how to assemble a good, rugged dipole that will work as well as any commercially made
one, and is probably better constructed than most.
Here's where we start, with the Jetstream JTCE1 center insulator. This one happens to be green, but they come also in black,
gray, and white. Black disappears against foliage well, so if you have a nosy HOA, but have trees behind you, black works well.
I won't go into step by step, except to describe the components. The clamps are small stainless cable clamps from True Value.
Some are not stainless. I found these in the marine section. Try marine dealers for these in stainless. While there, pick up a
good marine grade pulley, rather than a cheap one that will corrode and freeze up.
In this case, the wire pigtails from cable clamps to the ring terminals are about 5" long. I both crimped and soldered the
terminals, which come with the Jetstream insulator. The JTCE1 has beveled holes that won't cut through the wire or rope
used to hang the insulator. Good thinking on Jetstream's part. The same center insulator can also be used to make a fan
dipole, and more bands can be added later.
Another thing I like about this center insulator is that it is easy to wrap the SO-239 / PL-259 with coax seal, silicone tape, or
other sealant method.
I put a drop of blue (removable) Locktite on each of the nuts on the cable clamps, and also the nuts on the terminals. There is
some silicone dielectric grease smeared on the ring terminal before assembly.