How to Build a Six Meter Ham Radio Dipole Antenna

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Published 2009-05-16

This video I show you how to build a 6 meter ham radio dipole antenna.

This is another video to help you get on six meter. In this video I explain the half wave dipole antenna and show as an example the dipole that I built.

A half wave dipole is one of the simplest antennas that you can build. The dipole is usually two pieces of wire, attached to a center insulator. The dipole is fed with coax, with the center conductor going to one wire and the shield going to the other wire. The formula to calculate the length of the antenna is Length in feet = 468/ Freq in MHz. So for six meter with 50.125 as the target frequency this works out to 9.34 feet or 4.67 for each of the two wires. Here is a link to a dipole calculator

www.kwarc.org/ant-calc.html

I build my dipole using ½ aluminum tubing attached to a center insulator that I build out of a piece of Plexiglas scrap that I picked up for free from a window glass store. I added various nuts, bolts, and u-bolts to make up the center insulator. You could also make the dipole by inserting some number 12 or 14 wire inside ½ inch pvc tubing. Or, hang the wire dipole from a tree.

When you build the dipole cut your tubing or wire long, then trim to length by using an SWR meter or antenna analyzer. I use my MFJ antenna analyzer to help me tune my dipole.

I also show my Elk Antennas dual band beam that mounts on the top of the mast. You can learn more about Elk at

www.elkantennas.com/

I hope this is enough information to help you put together a simple antenna to give six meters a try.

Randy

All Comments (21)

@RockFlyDiablo 8 years ago

Hello! KC9BGX here. I really appreciate your time in making these videos. I only recently renewed my interest in the hobby, and have been intrigued with 6-meter. I'll be constructing an antenna soon. I hope I'll be able to run into you on that band and gain some knowledge! Thanks!
@ProfessionalPepper 5 years ago

Thank you for explaining this slowly and thoroughly. Im just getting started so you were very helpful.
@wa4aos 14 years ago

Hi Randy, I have been licensed since I was 14, now 54 and have had loads of fun over th years. I really appreciate you doing these videos to help and encourage the new folks getting in the hobby. I hear so many Hams complain about NO CODE ops. Personally I love CW and as a result of the new licensing we are getting more good operators. In the last several years, I have operated many CW stations that got their start with a no code ticket. We need to encourage our new Ham ops !
@richsonner1930 4 months ago

Thank you for making a great video. I have had my licence less than a year. Have been taking full advantage of 10 meter, but wanting to learn and try out 6. Have to study so i can get my general and use hf bands.
@purplemutantas 11 years ago

Currently for 10 meters I have an aluminum dipole made from tubing sections for DX engineering. Each element collapses down to a little over 3 feet and can be shortened for working 6 meters. I get great SWR all over the 10 meter band. On field day I had it mounted on a mast on a speaker tripod like you have. I didn't think I needed guy wires. I was wrong! Thankfully no one was hurt and the antenna was fixable. Just a slightly bent element and a broken PVC fitting. All in all a great antenna
@W5HSJ 4 years ago

Randy, your tutorial videos are excellent! As another individual commented, they are easy to listen to, very simple to understand, and down to earth. Thank you so much for sharing the simple yet technical pieces of the hobby! 73’s. Mark W5HSJ
@jfrphoto01 2 years ago

I built a tapered element 6 meter dipole from aluminum tubing. Using tapered elements eliminates the need to trim the ends by cutting. You just loosen the hose clamp and slide the end of the element in or out to adjust the SWR (similar to tuning a base loaded mobile antenna). Be sure to adjust both ends equally! The elements are made from 3/4",5/8", 1/2" and 3/8" O.D. tubing purchased from DX Engineering as was the hose clamps, saddle clamps and the center insulator (antenna to mast (vertical) or antenna to stand-off (horizontal) plate. And don't forget to include a 1:1 common mode choke at the antenna feed point to help prevent any RFI/EMI problems before they happen. A 6" id coil of 6 to 8 turns of coax around a form will work well.
@davidenright-k3whd822 5 years ago

Thanks for the great video. My 6m dipole is up and working GREAT. 73's
@cjwalsh5 15 years ago

Randy, thanks again for another great tutorial. I never knew it was that simple.
@K7AGE 11 years ago

Antennas can be a lot of fun to experiment, play and learn. Have fun and enjoy. Please keep me posted on your work.
@BrianVA6BAX 10 months ago

Hi Randy, thanks for putting this together a few years ago. This was a great help for what ended up being a nearly free to make project for me. 73!
@JohnAlexanderBerry 4 years ago

Thanks Randy. Great video!
@ncphotos 10 years ago

Great video! I just made my first two contacts on 6 meters on 5/10/2014 from my mobile. My radio FT-450D, and my antenna is the Hustler vertical. One station was VP9GE in Bermuda and the other was WD4AB in FL. I hope to work you soon on 6 meters. Best 73 & Good DX!, Charles, KD4TVB, Marshall, NC.
@johnwheeler7927 2 years ago

Great Video!! I'm new to ham so I really appreciate folks like you who take the time to share and teach!!
@Mark2025 8 years ago

Thanks for tutorial. I found your channel yesterday while waiting around for 6m to get busy, actually made 12 contacts in the contest. Thanks again I think I'll order that elk antenna sometime soon.-73
@michaelfrank333 9 years ago

Finished building your 2 meter example.And it works great. This will be my next project. Thank You !!!!
@tonyridlen 11 years ago

Thanks Randy I still have my loop antenna for 2 and 6 Meters but I haven't made a 6 Meter contact yet but my SWR is still excellent on the antenna and one of my ham radio friends from here in Kokomo said that as long as your SWR was at 2:1 or under I was good to go I love your videos by the way keep producing them and I'll keep watching them.
@shaneweightman 6 years ago

Brilliant channel , you get to the point clearly and I understand your descriptions and don't feel stupid or intimidated as with other ham videos many thanks for your time and the effort you put into making the videos. Shane uk England
@carlmic7 11 years ago

Our friend Troy, the off grid camper, is curious about HAM radio, I will find him some info, and I know you have helped him as I have, so if you have any getting started info, I encourage you to send it to him. Your videos are great! Neil AC2O
@nickripley1604 6 years ago

Thank you for your knowledge I'm happy your sharing all of your skills for us young guy who don't know very much about this hobby