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Calculating the Length of a Half-Wavelength 6-Meter Dipole Antenna

What is the approximate length, in inches, of a half-wavelength 6 meter dipole antenna?

6

6 inches is not correct because it is far too short for a half-wavelength antenna in the 6-meter band.

50

50 inches is not correct because it is still shorter than the necessary length for a half-wavelength antenna in the 6-meter band.

112

112 inches is correct as it closely matches the calculated ideal length of a half-wavelength dipole for the 6-meter band.

236

236 inches is not correct as it is excessively longer than the necessary length for a half-wavelength antenna in the 6-meter band.

Explanation

This question asks about the approximate length of a half-wavelength dipole antenna specifically for the 6-meter band. To determine the length, we first need to understand the relationship between wavelength and frequency.

The formula to find the wavelength (\lambda ) is:

\lambda = \frac{300}{\text{frequency in MHz}}

For the 6-meter band, the frequency is approximately 50 MHz. Therefore,

\lambda = \frac{300}{50} = 6 , \text{meters}

A dipole antenna is typically a half-wavelength in total length, so we must divide this wavelength by 2:

6 , \text{meters} \times \frac{1}{2} = 3 , \text{meters}

Since 1 meter is approximately 39.37 inches,

3 , \text{meters} \times 39.37 , \text{inches/meter}

which approximately equals 118 inches. The closest answer to this is 112 inches, making option 2 the most accurate.

Understanding antenna length is critical in amateur radio as it affects the efficiency and effectiveness of transmissions. A correctly sized antenna ensures better signal strength and clarity.

T9A09 2022-2026

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