Dipole question - Page 1

Posted: 7/16/2018 2:26:43 PM EDT

I want to make a 80 meter dipole and hang it up between some trees. Problem is that I don’t have a clear shot of 140 feet between trees, I’ve got other trees in the way. I could still get it hanging up but I’ll have bare wire touching other limbs. Will this cause problems?

Posted: 7/16/2018 2:35:30 PM EDT

[#1]

Good Day,
Probably not at HF frequencies. You might be more worried about action in the intervening tree limbs taking down the dipole; though, If it's minor to begin with, I'd get the tree in question trimmed back. HTH
73,
Rob

Posted: 7/16/2018 3:37:47 PM EDT

[#2]

FWIW, voltage on a dipole is going to be highest at the ends...

As long as the contact is from small branches/twigs you could probably think of it as being "self-trimming" like an electric fence

Posted: 7/16/2018 4:05:51 PM EDT

[#3]

Bare wire? Then yes, you will have problems, especially when it rains.

Use insulated wire. Almost everyone builds using THHN style wire or equivalent.

Posted: 7/16/2018 10:59:55 PM EDT

[#4]

Use MTW... "Machine Tool Wire".

A few limbs won't hurt.

Posted: 7/17/2018 9:37:59 AM EDT

[#5]

I used insuated wire running through Magnolia and Pine trees for years with absolutely no problems. I did note some minor changes in loading during snow and/or heavy rains, but it didn't seem to affect performance.

Posted: 7/17/2018 4:56:21 PM EDT

[#6]

I had that issue in an earlier location...
I used screw in ceramic insulators to keep the wire off the tree.
I was using 12.5 gauge galvanized electric fence wire for the elements.
Worked fine for the 5 years I was there and I'm still using the same wire in a different location.
Good Luck & Remember... Trees sway with the wind.. make allowances for this.

Posted: 7/19/2018 12:17:34 AM EDT

[#7]

An 80 m dipole will work... uh... just 80 meters.

But if you have room for an 80 m dipole, you have room for an 80 m OCFD... which will also work 40 m,
20 m, 17 m, 10 m. And depending on the split, possibly 15 m.

But even if you only work 80-40-20-17, you are much, much better off than working only 80 m.

https://www.ar15.com/forums/outdoors/Let-s-Make-an-OCFD/22-690848/

Posted: 7/19/2018 1:22:48 AM EDT

[#8]

The Wireman has some wire made just for this kind of application... stranded copper clad steel with polyethylene insulation (#531 & 532).

Posted: 7/19/2018 6:16:20 PM EDT

[#9]

Another vote for wireman. Use insulated wire.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Dipole question

Outdoors » Ham Radios

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