Antenna Question

[IgniFerroque]

I'm trying to make a better indoor antenna than the folded dipole I'm currently using, and I was looking at the one available here:

www.wryr.org/Antenna_instructions.pdf

I found the diagram a bit confusing though:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=105416&stc=1&d=1219608278

Do the wires connect at all in the middle?

Is this a "better" diagram? EDIT: The dimensions are incorrect. The antenna should be 30" along the sides.

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=105418&stc=1&d=1219608420

Thanks in advance.

[2chanman]

IgniFerroque:
I don't blame you for being confused. The written instructions and the diagram read like an April fools joke. The wires DEFINITELY should not touch in the middle and should be kept seperate. The question in my mind is whether the point of connection of the 300 ohm twinlead is correct as drawn. I would have expected it to connect where the 1/2 X arrow heads almost meet rather than at the bottom of the antenna.
I think your diagram is a bit clearer than the original in any case because you clearly seperate the wires where the original drawing shows them crossing. I am going to check my ARRL handbook to see if I can clarify where to connect the twinlead and will get back to you if I come up with an answer. I suggest building it the way you have drawn first. It will be easy to change the connections later if they are wrong.
Good Luck!
2chanman

[jdandy]

Take a look here. There's a ton of useful information that may help you.
http://www.kyes.com/antenna/antennadex.html

[nashvillebil]

This is called a square loop. The dimensions are not correct though!!! For FM, use a square 30 inches on each side. (The diagonal would measure approx 42 inches). Just make a square out of wire with two attachment points somewhere on the edge of the square.

See the thread I started on this forum, "Cheap homebrew antenna Works" There's even a couple of pics other people posted.

[IgniFerroque]

True, I copied the length of the diagonal instead of the sides.

[2chanman]

Igniferroque:
I checked ARRL handbook and apparently the diagram you are using is incorrect. The 300 ohm twinlead should be connected where the 1/2 " X" arrowheads nearly meet and directed AWAY from the antenna, not towards its center as shown. The square wire loop should be open ONLY where the twinlead is connected, NOT in 2 places (side and bottom) as shown in YOUR diagram.
When the antenna has the section with the twinlead attached oriented vertically, the antenna is vertically polarized. When that section is on the bottom(Horizontal), the antenna is oriented horizontally. Circular polarization would be in between those two positions determined by experimentation as required by the various station's ploarization. Also, the side dimension shoud be 30 ", not 42.4", as you already know.
Use whatever antenna position gives you the strongest signal and quietest background on any given station.
2chanman

[outlawmws]

The twin lead is being shown as if it is solid and covering the one leg. no need to go from the center like that, you can come in at a corner as well.

If you have a 75 ohm connection on your receiver you can also use 75 ohm coax (Cable TV cable) and terminate. There is a lot of arguing about the actual impedance of these antenna’s. I used coax with no problem.