Half wave dipole

Hi All,
     So this morning I decided to put up a horizontally polarized half wave wire dipole at around 15ft high for CB.
I've been suffering from a lot of man made interference (S6-S8) while using my Sirio Signal Keeper.
I remembered that while on 20m with a half wave wire dipole I didn't suffer any such interference so decided to give one a try on 11m.
The results are favourable; I now have S3 of noise. Now I don't know whether its because of the horizontal vs vertical polarization or because the dipole is a little further away from the house.
It could of course be a bit of both.
The dipole should be good for DX and the Signal Keeper maybe a little better for local stuff, only time will tell I guess.
I do love messing around with wire antennas because they work and generally cost next to nothing so if the weather causes a breakage its easy to cut another.

Anyone else using a wire dipole for CB?
How do you find it for local and DX?

Cheers

Lynton

Hello Lynton,

I'm not currently but have used wire dipoles for 11 meters in the past. 

A flat dipole will be good for DX albeit a bit directional. It won't be very good for local contacts because of cross polarisation.

You could try it in an inverted V configuration and see how that works for you.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

73's Gary.

Hi Gary,
      My dipole runs approximately East-West so will favour North-South but hopefully when the skip starts rolling I won't notice any issues. I hadn't thought of trying it in an Inverted-V config.
That certainly would at least partially get around the polarization issues for local contacts.
Its all good fun and I do have the signal keeper to fall back on if all else fails.
I notice you're located not too far from me so maybe will hear you on at some point.

100% will report how things work out when we have some skip. It seems very quiet today with only the odd flutter from the continent apparent.

Good DX

Lynton

Hi Lynton. Gary's already said in a nutshell what I would answer.

I use a wire dipole for 11 in an inverted V as part of a fan arrangement for other bands, plans are on my foundation QRZ page. It works great for sky wave but just adequate for local work, but local activity is sparse around me so not my top priority. I can get to stations in Swindon with it which are 10 to 15 miles away.

Hi SangueG,
     Well if I can get 10 or 15 miles local I'll be very happy. Sadly CB is basically dead around here given what I'm hearing thus far so I think I'm in the same position as you.
I'm really after the DX but will of course work any locals with pleasure should the opportunity arise.

Kind Regards

Lynton

Hi Lynton, 

Definitely try the inverted V configuration. You're only 44 miles from me as the crow flies so defiantly in with a chance of catching you on the bands!!

73's Gary.

Lynton wrote:

Hi All,
     So this morning I decided to put up a horizontally polarized half wave wire dipole at around 15ft high for CB.
I've been suffering from a lot of man made interference (S6-S8) while using my Sirio Signal Keeper.
I remembered that while on 20m with a half wave wire dipole I didn't suffer any such interference so decided to give one a try on 11m.
The results are favourable; I now have S3 of noise. Now I don't know whether its because of the horizontal vs vertical polarization or because the dipole is a little further away from the house.
It could of course be a bit of both.
The dipole should be good for DX and the Signal Keeper maybe a little better for local stuff, only time will tell I guess.
I do love messing around with wire antennas because they work and generally cost next to nothing so if the weather causes a breakage its easy to cut another.

Anyone else using a wire dipole for CB?
How do you find it for local and DX?

Cheers

Lynton

Hi Lynton, like you I'm completely cursed with local interference (s8) and now remember the main reason I gave up 11mtr about 10-15yrs ago.

Got foundation, and a new set up (but yet to delve into ham bands), For 11mtr tried horizontal dipole...sirio mounted sensibly high before going to the wasted effort of putting it on the apex of the house which will upset Mrs Dan no doubt...I hear some faint italian contacts but have yet to be heard by anyone at all.

I will persevere having spotted a few ideas here and thank everyone for that, also sangueG for this, although I haven't a loft (its converted) I'll be tinkering with this idea too.

thanks for all the interesting replies and posts chaps.

Dan

https://charlietangodxgroup.forumotion.com/t5510-brainstorming-stealth-vertical-ideas?utm_campaign=popular&utm_medium=topic&utm_source=newsletter

Dan, I wish you good dx with the dipole. Many years ago I used an extended double zepp with far better results than the dipole. See how it goes - but if you still seek better performance try this. i did post recently about this antenna - basically there are 2 arms like a dipole but 0.64 wavelength, some open wire feeder as a matching stub terminated in a 1:1 balun but there is an Italian version that doesnt use a balun with the feeder around 200mm or so at the top tapering down to the coax feed.

Well, after a very shaky start and zero contact for some weeks. I tried mobile, fantastic to actually hear DX'ing at last. Home is dreadful qrm probably not helped by my obsession with gadgets! However, through the QRM I ploughed today with some patience and DX albeit very briefly with France and Italy. 
So this is a ver short message to anyone else feeling the despair of not being heard or hearing anything....give it time.

Happy Dan

Nice one Dan, I can work the world on 20 & 40 meters but 11 always has a special place in my heart and there's always an extra buzz when the band opens up!!!

Best of luck 73's Gary.

C.T. Admin.

Cheers Gary, 

Should have said in my previous post that the contacts were made when I got back to base.

Because of the interference here at home, I'd not progressed with anything after passing my foundation, but this tiny contact yesterday has given me a nice little boost so feel its worth investing in some equipment for the other bands and develop that

richf wrote:

Dan, I wish you good dx with the dipole. Many years ago I used an extended double zepp with far better results than the dipole. See how it goes - but if you still seek better performance try this. i did post recently about this antenna - basically there are 2 arms like a dipole but 0.64 wavelength, some open wire feeder as a matching stub terminated in a 1:1 balun but there is an Italian version that doesnt use a balun with the feeder around 200mm or so at the top tapering down to the coax feed.

Thanks Rich, I'll be spending more time on this now. found your post