Linked Dipole vs 13m Doublet – HF Antenna Comparison
When selecting a versatile HF wire antenna for 40–10 m operation, two strong candidates emerge: the linked dipole and the 13-meter doublet. Both can be lightweight and efficient, but differ in feed methods, efficiency profiles, and operating style. This comparison assumes the doublet is fed with 10 m of 600 Ω ladder line and a high-quality tuner, with negligible feedline and tuner losses.
1. Basic Design
- Linked Dipole: Uses multiple wire segments joined with mechanical links or jumpers. Each segment length provides resonance on one band. Manual reconnecting selects the band.
- 13 m Doublet: A non-resonant 13 m (2 × 6.5 m) dipole fed with ladder line. Covers many bands when matched with a balanced tuner or 1:1 current balun + ATU.
2. Band Coverage
- Linked Dipole: Resonant on chosen bands (commonly 40/30/20/17/15/12/10 m). Delivers low SWR without a tuner.
- 13 m Doublet: Efficiently covers 40–10 m with a tuner. With good feedline, loss is minimal.
3. Band Efficiency (assuming negligible tuner/feedline losses)
- Linked Dipole: Excellent on every linked band (resonant).
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13 m Doublet:
- 40 m: Short, but tunable and effective.
- 30 m: Good match, solid efficiency.
- 20 m: Very good, near half-wave.
- 17 m: Good efficiency, near-resonant behavior.
- 15/12 m: Excellent, strong efficiency.
- 10 m: Very good with tuner alignment.
4. Deployment Practicality
- Linked Dipole: Requires manual link changes. Inconvenient when deployed high or in poor weather.
- 13 m Doublet: Band changes happen at the tuner, no climbing or manual intervention.
5. Portability
- Linked Dipole: Extremely light and compact. Favored for backpacking, SOTA, QRP.
- 13 m Doublet: Slightly heavier due to ladder line, but still portable with compact tuners.
6. Tuner Needs
- Linked Dipole: No tuner if each section is properly resonant.
- 13 m Doublet: Always requires a tuner. Best matched with a Z-Match or balanced ATU via a 1:1 current balun.
7. QRP Suitability
- Linked Dipole: Perfect for QRP — no tuner loss, pure resonance.
- 13 m Doublet: Excellent when paired with a high-quality tuner; ladder line ensures efficiency at low power.
Conclusion
The linked dipole is unbeatable for pure resonance and maximum efficiency if you don’t mind manual band switching. The 13 m doublet offers faster QSY, broader flexibility, and excellent efficiency with a quality tuner. Both serve portable and fixed stations well; the choice depends on whether you value manual simplicity or tuner-based versatility.
Mini-FAQ
- Can I use coax with a doublet? — Not recommended; coax loss rises sharply under mismatch. Use ladder line.
- Is a linked dipole more efficient? — On its linked bands, yes. But a doublet with ladder line and a good tuner comes very close.
- Best tuner for a 13 m doublet? — A Z-Match or balanced tuner, or an ATU with a 1:1 current balun on the output.
- Is a 13 m doublet good for QRP? — Yes, its efficiency remains high with short ladder line and a good tuner.
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