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.
1″/25.4mm max Cable Size Chokes
Model BA-200. For use with RG-218 and similar size cables up to 1" OD without connectors installed. Works on all impedance cables, 1.8-300 MHz. Choke outside diameter is 2 inches Requires 9-1/2 inches of cable for 5 bead version, 17" of cable for 10 bead version, and 25" of cable for 15 bead version. Use BA-200-10 or BA-200S-15 for higher choking below 21 MHz. For 10-12 meter frequency use 5 beads up to 15 KW PEP, 10 beads for up to 30 KW PEP and 15 beads for up to 45 KW PEP. We use mix 31 for all chokes. Heat shrink weather proofing kit included. Picture shows 10 bead version.
Rule of thumb suggests you need minimum 5x-10x the coax line impedance for effective choking and the more the better as it will reduce common mode current with higher choking impedance. Select chokes with minimum of 500 ohms at your frequency of interest for best results or upgrade to our CUBE(TM), TUBE(TM), Super Choker(TM) chokes up to 15,000 ohms choking.
Select 10 bead version for 160 meter use, 15 bead version for even higher choking power on lower frequencies. Power rating is same as coax cable used power rating.
Typical choking impedances (BA-58, BA-8, BA-200):
Likewise Termination Resistor values vary from 500-1250 ohms and we have a good selection shown HERE: