6M folded dipole, mixed polarization?

[admin]

I wanted a single antenna to cover most if not all of 6m, and all modes.
so this means a 50 - 54MHz antenna of mixed polarization.
One solution would be to choose a folded dipole -famous for being broad-band- and then "bend' its arms so as to give some useful V and well as H polarization.

Construction is from 12G multistrand copper, vinyl covered. Length 1 wavelength, less 5% for the velocity factor change with vinyl. The loop is supported on nylon 2" pulleys to keep a constant spearation in the arms. A VHF 4:1 balun is at the center. It seems to perform much better if a common-mode choke of half a dozen or so ferrite cores are applied to the feeder as close as possible to the balun.

The whole antenna was supported from the crowns of two tall pine trees, with Dacron rope, aiming for about a 120 degree angle on the elements.

Well, did it work? Yes, rather as expected: acceptable performance at very modest price, across the band on both Sideband and FM nets. Gain? It's just a simple dipole.

The picture is worth a thousand words.

6m_folded_dipole_sm.png