Buddipole vs Wire Dipole on 20m
Field comparison of Buddipole versus wire dipole on 20 meters
Description
During a club's "Filetto Day" event, a comparative field test was conducted between a Buddipole antenna and a homemade 20/40-meter wire dipole. The author, IW5EDI, performed this personal evaluation from a mountain top at 1500 meters above sea level, utilizing a Yaesu FT-857D transceiver to switch between antennas.
The observations on the 20-meter band indicated that the wire dipole consistently delivered significantly stronger signals compared to the Buddipole. Additionally, the Buddipole exhibited higher levels of QRM during the listening tests. The commercial Buddipole, known for its multiband capability and compact size with a self-supporting tripod, was contrasted with the simpler, larger wire dipole, which required a fiberglass fish pole for support.
This direct comparison highlights practical differences in performance and deployment between a popular portable commercial antenna and a basic wire antenna in a real-world operating environment.