10 m Dipole Antenna Length Calculator

This tool calculates the physical dimensions of a 10 meter dipole antenna.

At 10 meters, the dipole length (L) is 15.61 feet. The length of each element of the dipole (l) is half of that at 7.81 feet.

Formula

The total length (L) of the dipole antenna is calculated as:

L = 468 / f

where f is the frequency in MHz.

Frequency (f) is calculated from the wavelength. For 10 m the frequency is 29.98 MHz. This number (approximately 30 MHz) is where the HF band ends.

The length of each arm of the dipole

l = L/2

Background

The 10 meter band goes from 28.000 to 29.700 MHz. As it is at the highest end of the HF (High Frequency) spectrum an antenna for this band is smaller and easier to build than for any other HF ham radio bands.

What is a Dipole Antenna?

The dipole antenna consists of two conductive elements. Hence the name dipole. The two elements are parallel to each other and separated by a gap.

Current flows through both conductors and causes the antenna to radiate, creating an RF signal that is radiated outward. The radiation pattern is maximum in the direction perpendicular to the dipole.

Band Plan

A band plan refers to a set of frequency allocations within a certain range, measured in GHz, MHz, kHz, designated for specific modes of communication. For amateur radio applications, band plans are crucial for ensuring orderly and efficient use of frequencies.

Each amateur band has its own band plan to regulate the use of frequencies and avoid interference between users. The 10 meter band covers frequencies from 28 MHz to 29.7 MHz and is primarily used for long-distance communications aided by the ionosphere. This band allows for various modes of communication such as CW (continuous wave), AM and RTTY.

Ham radio enthusiasts must have their own station and a valid amateur radio license to access these bands. Understanding and adhering to the band plan is essential to making contacts with other hams and ensuring smooth propagation of signals. By following the guidelines outlined in the band plan, operators can maximize their radio frequency usage and make the most out of their amateur radio experience.

FrequencyApplication
28.000-28.070CW
28.070-28.150RTTY
28.150-28.190CW
28.200-28.300Beacons
28.300-29.300Phone
28.680SSTV
29.000-29.200AM
29.300-29.510Satellite Uplinks or Downlinks
29.520-29.590Repeater Inputs
29.600FM Simplex
29.610-29.700Repeater Outputs

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