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MDARC
  • Home
  • Membership
  • Meetings
    • General Meetings
    • Speakers
      • Speakers 2023
      • Speakers 2021-2022
      • Speakers 2019-2020
      • Speakers 2017-2018
      • Speakers 2015-2016
    • Board Meetings
    • Technical Meetings
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    • Digital Media Meetings
  • Education and Testing
    • Class Details
    • License Testing
    • Auxiliary Classes
    • On-Line Resources
    • Exam.Tools
  • Public Service
  • Repeater Systems
    • ATV
    • Digital Voice
      • Comparison of DV Modes
      • D-Star
        • D-Star Linking
        • D-Star Registration
      • DMR
      • C4FM (Fusion)
      • M17
    • EchoLink & IRLP
    • Repeater Rules
    • Repeater Weather
    • Meshtastic
  • About Us
    • COVID Statement
    • Club Announcements
    • Committees
    • Communicating with You
    • Contact Us
    • History of the Club
      • Award Recipients
      • Charter Members
      • History Summary
      • Photos, Videos
      • Members-Special
      • News of the Club
      • Past Officers
      • QSL Cards
      • Rocky Ridge Group
      • Silent Keys
      • W6CX
      • W6LGW
    • Join/Renew/Update
    • Officers & Chairs
    • Official Documents
      • Articles of Incorporation
      • Bylaws
      • Equipment Selling
      • Groups.io Guidelines
      • Policies
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      • Record Retention Policy
      • Terms of Use
      • Zoom Guidelines
    • Store
    • Managing Gmail
    • Managing Groups.io
  • Carrier Newsletter
  • Activities
    • Auction
    • Campout Party
    • Digital Systems
      • DMR
      • NBEMS
      • Winlink
    • DX & Contests
    • Emergency Communications
      • Wilderness Protocol
    • Field Day
    • Holiday Banquet
    • Leap Day Net
    • Nets on MDARC Systems
    • Nets on Other Systems
    • Pacificon Table
    • Vehicles
      • Trailer
      • Van
  • Operating Aids
    • Azimuthal Map
    • Calling Frequencies
    • CTCSS (PL)
    • Greek Alphabet
    • Latitude, Longitude, UTM
    • LSB or USB?
    • Metric System
      • Metric Units
      • Metric Prefixes
      • Metric Conversions
    • Morse Code
    • Operating Procedures
    • Phonetic Alphabet
    • Q-Signals & Prosigns
    • Roman Numerals
    • RST System
    • UTC Time
    • Weather Channels
  • Resources
    • Basics
    • Clubs in NorCal, NV
    • Donate to MDARC
    • Equipment
      • Dipole Length Calcs
      • Dipole Tuning
      • HF Equipment
      • IP Codes
    • Getting Started in Ham Radio
      • 1. License Class Description
      • 2. Getting Your First License
      • 3. Upgrading Your License
      • 4A. Getting On the Air
      • 4B. Getting On the Air-HF
      • 5. Choosing Your First Radio
      • 6. What Do Hams Do
      • 7. Where did “Ham” Come From?
    • Glossary
    • Links of Interest
    • Other Ham Groups
  • Regulations
    • Amateur Radio Bands
    • Amateur Radio Regulations
    • Emission Designators
    • FCC Monitoring Stations
    • License Copy Acquisition
    • Line A, Line C
    • Obtain an FRN
    • Secondary Status
    • Spectrum
  • Safety
    • Electric Current in the Human Body
  • Technical
    • Coax & Ladder
    • Conductor Properties
    • Constants and Formulas
    • Decibels
    • Peak Envelope Power
    • Periodic Table
    • Schematic Symbols
    • Skin-Effect
  • More
    • Home
    • Membership
    • Meetings
      • General Meetings
      • Speakers
        • Speakers 2023
        • Speakers 2021-2022
        • Speakers 2019-2020
        • Speakers 2017-2018
        • Speakers 2015-2016
      • Board Meetings
      • Technical Meetings
      • Pacificon Meetings
      • Digital Media Meetings
    • Education and Testing
      • Class Details
      • License Testing
      • Auxiliary Classes
      • On-Line Resources
      • Exam.Tools
    • Public Service
    • Repeater Systems
      • ATV
      • Digital Voice
        • Comparison of DV Modes
        • D-Star
          • D-Star Linking
          • D-Star Registration
        • DMR
        • C4FM (Fusion)
        • M17
      • EchoLink & IRLP
      • Repeater Rules
      • Repeater Weather
      • Meshtastic
    • About Us
      • COVID Statement
      • Club Announcements
      • Committees
      • Communicating with You
      • Contact Us
      • History of the Club
        • Award Recipients
        • Charter Members
        • History Summary
        • Photos, Videos
        • Members-Special
        • News of the Club
        • Past Officers
        • QSL Cards
        • Rocky Ridge Group
        • Silent Keys
        • W6CX
        • W6LGW
      • Join/Renew/Update
      • Officers & Chairs
      • Official Documents
        • Articles of Incorporation
        • Bylaws
        • Equipment Selling
        • Groups.io Guidelines
        • Policies
        • Privacy Policy
        • Record Retention Policy
        • Terms of Use
        • Zoom Guidelines
      • Store
      • Managing Gmail
      • Managing Groups.io
    • Carrier Newsletter
    • Activities
      • Auction
      • Campout Party
      • Digital Systems
        • DMR
        • NBEMS
        • Winlink
      • DX & Contests
      • Emergency Communications
        • Wilderness Protocol
      • Field Day
      • Holiday Banquet
      • Leap Day Net
      • Nets on MDARC Systems
      • Nets on Other Systems
      • Pacificon Table
      • Vehicles
        • Trailer
        • Van
    • Operating Aids
      • Azimuthal Map
      • Calling Frequencies
      • CTCSS (PL)
      • Greek Alphabet
      • Latitude, Longitude, UTM
      • LSB or USB?
      • Metric System
        • Metric Units
        • Metric Prefixes
        • Metric Conversions
      • Morse Code
      • Operating Procedures
      • Phonetic Alphabet
      • Q-Signals & Prosigns
      • Roman Numerals
      • RST System
      • UTC Time
      • Weather Channels
    • Resources
      • Basics
      • Clubs in NorCal, NV
      • Donate to MDARC
      • Equipment
        • Dipole Length Calcs
        • Dipole Tuning
        • HF Equipment
        • IP Codes
      • Getting Started in Ham Radio
        • 1. License Class Description
        • 2. Getting Your First License
        • 3. Upgrading Your License
        • 4A. Getting On the Air
        • 4B. Getting On the Air-HF
        • 5. Choosing Your First Radio
        • 6. What Do Hams Do
        • 7. Where did “Ham” Come From?
      • Glossary
      • Links of Interest
      • Other Ham Groups
    • Regulations
      • Amateur Radio Bands
      • Amateur Radio Regulations
      • Emission Designators
      • FCC Monitoring Stations
      • License Copy Acquisition
      • Line A, Line C
      • Obtain an FRN
      • Secondary Status
      • Spectrum
    • Safety
      • Electric Current in the Human Body
    • Technical
      • Coax & Ladder
      • Conductor Properties
      • Constants and Formulas
      • Decibels
      • Peak Envelope Power
      • Periodic Table
      • Schematic Symbols
      • Skin-Effect

Resources: Basics | Clubs in NorCal, NV | Donate to MDARC | Equipment | Getting Started in Ham Radio | Glossary | Links of Interest | Other Ham Groups

Equipment: Dipole Length Calcs | Dipole Tuning | HF Equipment | IP Codes





Dipole Resonance Tuning Steps

Finding the Point of Minimum SWR 

1.  Determine your target frequency for resonance tuning

  (the frequency that is roughly in the middle of the desired band segment you wish to use)


2.  Use appropriate mathematical formula for determining an estimate of the length in feet for each half of the dipole


  - 246 / target freq  (MHz)

       (if is impractical to add length to antenna elements during tuning)


  - 234 / target freq  (MHz)

       (if you can add or subtract length during tuning)


3.  Raise the dipole to the height it will be used for

  (when SWR is checked while antenna is closer to ground the resonant frequency will appear to be lower).


4.  Connect an SWR meter to the radio end of the feed line.

  Find the frequency at which the SWR is the lowest (closest to 1:1).

  Note the impedance also.


5.  If the frequency in the previous step needs to be raised to reach the target frequency, shorten each half of the dipole by equal amounts. If the frequency in the previous step needs to be lowered to reach the target frequency, lengthen each half of the dipole by equal amounts. Make adjustments a few inches at a time. Repeat adjustments and measuring until SWR at target frequency is minimal.

(ideal SWR= 1:1, anything under 2:1 is adequate, could damage radio if over 3:1)


================

Note #1: If lengthening is needed and it is not possible to physically lengthen the halves of the antenna, electrical length can be added with a coil, adjusted for the necessary number of turns. This is called “loading”. The less loading the more efficient the antenna.


Note #2: Impedance of antenna should be around 50 ohms. Some increases can be achieved by slightly off-center feeding of the two dipole halves (different lengths). Some reduction can be achieved by reducing height of antenna off ground. Major adjustments require an impedance matching device. 

The information on this page is provided

courtesy of Pete Harris, KE6ZIW.


Images on this page are courtesy of Wikimedia.

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