Don and Matt both got at least one question on the Technician Class Amateur Radio License test wrong *grin*.

The correct formula for a half-wave dipole is 468/frequency in MHz. The answer derived from this would be in feet.

Ex:

Let's say that the frequency of interest is 10MHz (which would be WWV time standard's freq. in USA)

468/10 = 46.8 feet

So if one constructed a dipole antenna that was 23.4 feet on each side, the antenna would be close to resonance at 10MHz.

However, for receiving only, or Short Wave Listening (SWL) purposes, there really is no need for a resonant antenna and such is not critical. Rule of thumb is longer is better, higher above ground is better. But one can do a LOT of shortwave listening using the telescoping rod antenna that is typical in the modern solid state shortwave listening receivers.


--Mac

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