Uploaded November 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
NOTICE: In July 2021 the channel name changed from HamCuredSmoke
To Ham Radio A2Z. All of the earlier videos (like this one) are still available.
This video wasn't planned in advance. One end of my OCF dipole came down in heavy winds last week. I needed to get it repaired. So I thought I'd share part of the activity with you.
A couple of things that didn't get mentioned in the video: You may notice in the pictures that the dipole isn't very straight. The layout is more like a sideways V. That's what I have because of where my trees are located. Also not mentioned in the video is the fact that I have already put a steel cable in the tree holding the center of the antenna up. The other end of the antenna is still held up with a polypropylene rope, but I have the upper 10-15 feet of the rope in the tree protected inside polyethylene tubing. We'll see if it all survives the winter.
Links discussed in the video:
Ham Cured Smoke companion website: https://a-2-z.tech/
Palomar-Engineers OCF dipole Notes web page:
palomar-engineers.com/tech-support/tech-topics/antenna-notes/off-center-fed-dipole-notes
Mine is the 80-10 meter layout (130 feet)
Palomar-Engineers OCF antennas page. They have baluns and complete antenna kits available here:
palomar-engineers.com/tech-support/tech-topics/off-center-fed-ocf-antennas/Off-Center-Fed-Antennas-c25706169
Here are some other sources for 4:1 baluns if you want to homebrew an antenna.
Full Disclosure- These are affiliate links. So I will get a small commission if you buy from them. Using these links won't change your price for the item:
MFJ-913 300W 4:1 Current Balun: amzn.to/3nnLQIe
Radiowavz 1500W PEP B14CA 4:1 Current Balun: amzn.to/3kvCdW7
W2AU 4:1 Balun: amzn.to/2IqlczF
NOTICE: In July 2021 the channel name changed from HamCuredSmoke
To Ham Radio A2Z. All of the earlier videos (like this one) are still available.
This video wasn't planned in advance. One end of my OCF dipole came down in heavy winds last week. I needed to get it repaired. So I thought I'd share part of the activity with you.
A couple of things that didn't get mentioned in the video: You may notice in the pictures that the dipole isn't very straight. The layout is more like a sideways V. That's what I have because of where my trees are located. Also not mentioned in the video is the fact that I have already put a steel cable in the tree holding the center of the antenna up. The other end of the antenna is still held up with a polypropylene rope, but I have the upper 10-15 feet of the rope in the tree protected inside polyethylene tubing. We'll see if it all survives the winter.
Links discussed in the video:
Ham Cured Smoke companion website: https://a-2-z.tech/
Palomar-Engineers OCF dipole Notes web page:
palomar-engineers.com/tech-support/tech-topics/antenna-notes/off-center-fed-dipole-notes
Mine is the 80-10 meter layout (130 feet)
Palomar-Engineers OCF antennas page. They have baluns and complete antenna kits available here:
palomar-engineers.com/tech-support/tech-topics/off-center-fed-ocf-antennas/Off-Center-Fed-Antennas-c25706169
Here are some other sources for 4:1 baluns if you want to homebrew an antenna.
Full Disclosure- These are affiliate links. So I will get a small commission if you buy from them. Using these links won't change your price for the item:
MFJ-913 300W 4:1 Current Balun: amzn.to/3nnLQIe
Radiowavz 1500W PEP B14CA 4:1 Current Balun: amzn.to/3kvCdW7
W2AU 4:1 Balun: amzn.to/2IqlczF
