- Accepts Etsy gift cards
$99.95
An Extremely Portable, Ultralight, Complete 80M Multi-band OCF Dipole for QRP, Portable, Stealth, POTA, SOTA and Base Operations.
Simple, Elegant, High Quality For Less. Made by hams for hams in the USA.
The unparalleled performance of a Off-Center Fed Dipole fits literally in the palm of your hand, this is the 80 Meter version of tour best-selling 40-6 OCF Dipole. Experienced operators know that if you can put up a dipole, you should, and our ruggedized antennas are designed to take a beating. Check out our antennas operating in the field and view some excellent ham radio content on YouTube by such providers as Ham Radio Concepts and Outdoors on the Air. For those occasions, we now offer an 80 Meter multi-band dipole in a featherweight, ultra-compact form with exceptional performance at a reasonable price.
For $99.95 you will receive:
*One original, newly fabricated, 80M off-center fed dipole with integrated 4:1 matching transformer as depicted in the photos, tested and described below. Made in America from materials sourced from U.S. sellers.
*A BNC end protector cap.
*A drawstring carry pouch as pictured.
*Your antenna will be tested on the air before shipping. If available, QSO details will be enclosed.
*Free Shipping within the United States.
*30 Day FREE Returns.
We also Have a 100 Watt version available in the store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HamRadioAntennas?ref=seller-platform-mcnav
People familiar with our antennas already know that compact, light, effective performance, to us, means a dipole. The difference here is that we now offer all the highly portable characteristics of our regular antennas in a multi-band off-center fed dipole for 80 through 6 meters for use up to 50 Watts.
This antenna requires a tuner.
Fortunately, there are many lightweight, portable tuners available and many newer radios include an auto-tuner. If you are equipped this way, then our 80M OCF Dipole is for you. Our antennas are solidly built, rugged and designed to be a high-performance value alternative to much more expensive equipment. Don't take our word for it, please check our feedback as a seller. The antenna is an 80 Meter half-wave dipole fed 1/3 of distance from the end. This raises the feed-point impedance to approximately 200 ohms. To compensate, the antenna is equipped with a 4:1 Guanella -style current balun (impedance matching transformer) embedded between the BNC female connector and the 22 AWG UL1007 elements (See schematic with photos). The transformer uses two (2) FT50-43 ferrite toroids (one for each element). The result is a highly functional OCF dipole for use on 80 through 6 meters. Using a Yaesu FT-817ND as a transmitter and a MFJ portable tuner, our OCFD tunes between 1.1 to 1.5 SWR on all bands 3.5.000 to 54.000 MHz. There is a band-by-band SWR readout in the photo section showing values without a tuner. If your tuner can compensate less than 8:1 SWR (most do better) then you will be able to effectively transmit on 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12, 10 and 6 meters. Perfect for a small base station antenna. It's also a great, inexpensive gift to give to those involved with amateur radio that requires no additional finishing.
It fits easily into a pocket, glove box, bag or carrying case.
Many experienced hams would agree that it is very easy to erect an antenna system inferior to a dipole, and very difficult to out-perform one. There are no short-cuts or electronic tricks involved here. The balun design and schematics are straight out of the Antenna Handbook. The OCFD is a dipole antenna optimized for QRP / QRP Portable and Stealth operation. It takes almost no space and weighs almost nothing. It consists of a BNC Female connector, 22 AWG stranded, UL1007 copper antenna wire and two (2) ring connector eyelets at each end (wire may be blue or black). All electrical connections are soldered using silver bearing rosin-core solder. Parts and connections have been weather proofed using marine-grade, adhesive-lined double walled polyolefin shrink tubing. The OCFD weighs under 10oz. (280 grams) and fits into a space 6" x 4" x 1" (154 x 101 x 25mm). Extended, the dipole is cut for the 80-meter band with one element approximately 47 feet in length, the other approximately 83 feet. It can be used in any of the standard dipole configurations, flat-top, inverted V, sloper, vertical dipole, wire vertical w/counterpoise, etc. but the patterns achieved through different configurations are not the same as with a classic half-wave dipole in a standard configuration.
Feb 8, 2024
Not had a chance to use it yet. Trying to get back on the air after a long hiatus. However, the quality is outstanding!!!
Rocky
Jan 27, 2024
Nice long and black. Perfect fit. Awkward having the long wires trailing behind me. Good signal.
Mic
Jan 15, 2024
Quality build. Easy to deploy. Tim is responsive and helpful. Would recommend this product.
Kenneth Blanton
Jan 14, 2024
Awesome and worked like a charm!
Ted Jagen
Nov 13, 2023
Antenna is great! Haven't had a chance to really use a lot yet.
Aaron Lee