2 Meter Dipole Design & Construction

The basic formula for overall length is 468 divided by

frequency in megahertz. 468 / Freq in MHz

Total Antenna Length

Frequen 468 / Freq 485 / Freq 490 / Freq
cy Length in Length in Length in
In (MHz) feet feet feet
144.00 3.25 3.37 3.40
145.00 3.23 3.34 3.38
146.00 3.20 3.32 2.36
147.00 3.18 3.30 3.33
148.00 3.16 3.27 3.31

For the antenna to be useable for the entire band

from 144 – 148 MHz and be efficient it needs to be
adjustable to any
of the above lengths. Adjustable from 3.16 feet to
3.40 feet.
3.40 – 3.16 = 0.24 Feet or 2.88 Inches of adjustment.

The length of each of the two legs is equal to half of

the
total length of the antenna. Leg length = 3.16 / 2 =
1.58 to 1.70 feet.

Time to measure in Inches. 1.58 * 12 = 18.96 Inches –

1.70 * 12 = 20.4 Inches. Each leg should be adjustable
from to 18 15/16 Inches to 20 7/16 Inches. This will
allow the antenna to be adjustable or tuned to be
efficient
on any frequency in the amateur 2 meter band the
end
user decides to use.

Each leg of the antenna will be separated by 0.75

inches.
We divide this by 2 and get 0.375 or 3/8 inches. This
amount must be deducted from the overall length of
each
leg. Each leg must be adjustable from 18 15/16 – 3/8 =
18 9/16 Inches to 20 7/16 – 3/8 = 20 1/16 Inches.

Each of the two legs of the antenna will consist of two

aluminum tubes. One tube larger in diameter and
longer
than the second. The second tube should be able to
slide
tightly into the first larger diameter tube and be solid
so the
outer tube may clamp to it. When the leg is
assembled and
extended to its longest length the end of the solid
tube
should be at least 1 inch inside of the larger outer
tube.

If we make the smaller solid tube 4 Inches long and 1

inch
must always stay in the large tube we have 3 inches
of
adjustment. When the leg is at its shortest length the
smaller solid tube should extend 1 inch out side of the
outer
tube so it can be grabbed to adjust it.

If we make the large tube 17 inches with the 1 inch

which
must always protrude from the large tube the leg may
safely
collapse to 18 inches and be able to extend to 21
inches.
This will allow the leg to collapse 9/16 inch smaller
than the anticipated minimum length and extend 9/16
inch longer
than the anticipated maximum length of the leg. This
should
insure that the antenna can be tuned to resonate on
any frequency in the amateur 2 meter band 144.000
MHz – 148.000 MHz.
 4 ¾ inch slits
evenly spaced
around the tube
4 Inches

17 inches

3/8 solid aluminum rod

1/2 inch O.D. aluminum Tubing

17 inches long wall thickness
1/16 inches 7/16 I.D.
SWR Chart (The outside diameter of ¾ inch Schedule 40 PVC is 1.125 inches)
Frequen SWR Antenn Power Overall Each
cy a (Watts Antenn Leg
Height ) a Lengt
(ft) Length h
(inch) (inch)
Amateur 2 Meter
144.000 <1.1 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
144.500 <1.1 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
145.000 <1.1 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
145.500 <1.1 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
146.000 Resonant 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
146.500 Resonant 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
147.000 <1.1 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
147.500 <1.1 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
148.000 <1.2 12 50 38.875 18.87
5
Amateur 70
Centimet
er
440.000 1.3 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
441.000 1.3 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
442.000 1.3 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
443.000 <1.3 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
444.000 1.2 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
445.000 <1.2 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
446.000 <1.2 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
447.000 1.1 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
448.000 1.1 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
449.000 1.1 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
450.000 1.1 12 30 38.875 18.87
5
GMRS 70
Centimet
er
462.550 1.4 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
462.575 1.4 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
462.600 1.4 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
462.625 1.4 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
462.650 1.4 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
462.675 1.4 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
Frequen SWR Antenn Power Overall Each
cy a (Watts Antenn Leg
Height ) a Lengt
(ft) Length h
(inch) (inch)
462.700 <1.5 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
462.725 <1.5 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
467.550 <1.4 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
467.575 1.3 12 20 38.875 18.87
 5
467.600 1.3 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
467.625 1.3 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
467.650 1.3 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
467.675 1.3 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
467.700 1.3 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
467.725 1.3 12 20 38.875 18.87
5
MURS 2 Meter
151.820 <1.2 12 5 38.875 18.87
5
151.880 <1.2 12 5 38.875 18.87
5
151.940 <1.2 12 5 38.875 18.87
5
154.570 1.3 12 5 38.875 18.87
5
154.600 1.3 12 5 38.875 18.87
5