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Folded Dipole

Wire Antennas

A dipole made from a closed loop of two parallel conductors for higher impedance and bandwidth.

Band: HF to UHF
Gain: ~2.15 dBi
Polarization: Linear (element orientation)

Photos

Real-world photo of a Folded Dipole in use — Real-world example. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0; Secretlondon).

Radiation / wave patterns

Idealized radiation pattern of the Folded Dipole — Idealized azimuth radiation pattern (illustrative, generated). Radial scale in dB.

How & why it works

A folded dipole joins two closely spaced half-wave conductors at the ends to form a thin loop, fed at the middle of one side. The current splits between the two conductors, which raises the feedpoint impedance to about 300 ohms—a four-fold step-up over a plain dipole—making it a natural match for 300-ohm twin-lead and the driven element of many Yagis. The two-wire structure also widens the usable bandwidth and adds mechanical robustness.

Real-world uses

FM/TV receive antennas, Yagi driven elements, and 300-ohm twin-lead installations.