Broad Band Terminated Dipoles (BBTD), Tilted Terminated Fold Dipoles (T2FD) and Balanced Termination Folded Dipole BTFD) antennas can be designed to cover a large range of frequencies between 1.8 30 MHz. Longer length antennas generally provide better low frequency efficiency but take up a larger footprint of land. One BBTD that has worked well at the AK6R antenna farm is shown below. Many other designs are available and can be found at www.HFLINK.COM as well as other internet sites. Your mileage may vary using this antenna, but as a general coverage antenna for ham and shortwave broadcast, the simplicity can’t be beat even though an individual dipole on a specific band may out perform this broad band dipole. Palomar Engineers has all the parts you need to build this antenna, so why not give it a try?
Depending on the source of the antenna design, different value baluns are specified. Our Bullet(TM) baluns in ratios of 9:1, 12:1 and 16:1 are excellent for this type of antenna as they are broadband from 1.8-61 MHz and will take up to 500 watts PEP.
Dipole Antenna Wire Kit for dipoles from 160 meters to 6 meter. Includes 2 end insulators, #14 Insulated stranded copper wire and spade lugs and heat shrink for lugs for attachment to an optional balun (use 1:1 balun for most dipole arrangements).
The OCF Antenna Wire kits are for 80 meters (95 feet + 40 feet) that covers 80-40-20-17-15-12-10-6 meters or 40 meters (12 feet and 53 feet) that covers 40-20-17-15-12-10-6 meters or 160 Meters with additional tuning stub for 40/20. See OCF Manuals in Antenna downloads section for additional dimensions and setup.
Insulators are a very stealthy, strong, pair of 2 PVC, 2 1/4" long. 1" wide. 1 1/8" hole separation wire antenna insulators and may be black, gray or white depending upon inventory
Likewise Termination Resistor values vary from 500-1250 ohms and we have a good selection shown HERE: