The OH8STN Edition OCF Dipole. Ultralight, Ultra-Portable Multi-Band Antenna – Designed with Input from Julian OH8STN - Perfect for QRP, POTA, SOTA, Stealth, Portable, and Base Station use. Simple. Reliable. High-Performance. Affordable, in 100 and 50 Watt options.
This is our top-selling off-center fed dipole (OCFD), specially configured in collaboration with and endorsed by Julian OH8STN -- a favorite among portable and off-grid operators. Julian has praised similar designs as his go-to man-portable antenna for real-world field use.
If you could only have one antenna for emergency, portable, or survival communications, many experienced hams (including OH8STN) would choose an optimized OCF dipole like this. It's the culmination of practical ham radio wisdom: when you can deploy a dipole, do it -- and make it multi-band for maximum versatility. You can research this antenna in Julian's upcoming book series as well as multiple videos on YouTube
You will receive:
One custom handcrafted, Off-Center Fed Dipole antenna with integrated balun/matching transformer (as shown in photos) with an excellent reputation for ruggedness, durability and performance.
BNC end protector cap
Convenient drawstring carry pouch (as pictured)
Free Shipping within the United States
30-Day Return Policy -- Return unused/undamaged for full refund (minus original shipping)
This 50W version (ideal for Low Power and QRP ops) delivers the legendary performance and portability of our classic dipoles, now in a true multi-band OCF design covering 80m through 6m. Requires an antenna tuner (many lightweight portable tuners work great, and most modern radios have built-in auto-tuners). With a good tuner (capable of handling up to ~8:1 SWR or better), expect effective operation on 80M, 40m, 30m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m, 10m, and 6m. Tested with a Yaesu FT-817ND + MFJ portable tuner, SWR typically falls between 1.1:1 and 1.5:1 across those bands (see band-by-band SWR photos without tuner for reference). Similar performance is gained in the 100 Watt Model.
Highlights:
Off-center feed (approx. 1/3 from one end) raises feedpoint impedance to ~200 ohms
Integrated 4:1 balun using two FT50-43 ferrite toroids or one FT140-43 for excellent current balance and matching
BNC female connector at feedpoint, connected to high-quality UL1007 wire (brown)
Soldered connections with silver-bearing rosin-core solder
Weatherproofed with marine-grade, adhesive-lined, double-wall polyolefin heat shrink
End insulators with ring eyelets for easy hanging
Total weight: See Data Sheet
Packed size: Fits in 5" x 3" x 1" (127 x 77 x 25 mm) -- slips into a pocket, glovebox, go-bag, or backpack
Deployed length: ~66 ft total (one leg ~22 ft, other ~44 ft) -- works in flat-top, inverted-V, sloper, vertical, or other configurations (note: radiation patterns vary by setup, unlike a classic center-fed dipole)
No gimmicks, no shortcuts -- just proven dipole performance from classic Antenna Handbook principles, optimized for lightweight QRP/portable/stealth use. It's rugged, built to last, and a fantastic value compared to overpriced alternatives. Check our seller feedback -- hundreds of satisfied hams trust Aetherwave/N9SAB antennas for real-world performance. Ideal as a primary portable antenna, emergency backup, small base station setup, or thoughtful gift for any ham radio operator. No assembly required -- ready to deploy straight out of the pouch.
