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How to Build a Dipole 11 Meter Antenna

For the amateur radio hobbyist interested in talking to other radio operators or just listening to local conversation, a dipole 11-meter antenna will provide better reception for a Citizen's Band radio receiver than its built-in antenna. CB radio is popular with long-haul truck drivers and for other mobile communications. However, radio enthusiasts can also easily use the CB radio band at home. Build a dipole antenna to tune in to the CB world.

Things You'll Need

50 feet of 50-ohm coaxial cable
30 feet of 16-gauge speaker wire
Solderless 16-gauge ring terminal
Solderless coaxial antenna connector
Twine
Pliers
Wire-stripping tool
Utility knife
Soldering iron
Solder
Electrical tape
Coaxial cable crimping tool
Plastic coat hanger or hook

Instructions

- 1
  Strip 1/2 inch of the outer plastic sheath from one end of the coaxial cable. Pull the braided inner sheath back over the cable. Strip the inner plastic insulation, exposing 1/2 inch of copper wire.
- 2
  Pull apart the speaker wire to produce two 30-foot lengths of wire. Cut these two wires into five 105-inch lengths. Set the excess wire aside. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from one end of each of the five wires.
- 3
  Solder the exposed coaxial copper wire to the end of a 105-inch speaker wire, ensuring that the speaker wire does not touch the braided sheath of the cable. This wire will be the vertical section of the antenna.
- 4
  Solder the ends of the four remaining speaker wires to the braided sheath. Cover the point of contact between the cable and the speaker wires with electrical tape. Make sure the inner copper wire of the cable does not touch the braided sheath or the four radiating wires.
- 5
  Crimp the connector to the free end of the coaxial cable. Use an antenna connector corresponding to the external antenna jack on your CB radio.
- 6
  Crimp the ring terminal to the free end of the vertical wire using the pliers. Tie the ring terminal to the coat hanger or hook with a piece of twine. Hook the antenna to a tree branch or pole, allowing the four radiating wires to hang down.

Ham Radio