The zeppelin antenna: ( or sometimes referred to as a zep )
A end fed antenna used on the big zeppelin airships (thus the name ZEPPELIN antenna) of the 1930's where the wire trailed behind the dirigible.
The wires 1 and 2 were on reels and could be played out for the band
wave length ( frequency ) desired and matching of the equipment for communications.
For a 1/2 wave length zeppelin antenna wire 1 is app. 3/4 wave
length and wire 2 is app. 1/4 wave length, each was adjusted for the best
loading of the transmitter. The first 1/4 wave length from the feed point
forms a parallel transmission line and does not radiate. The remaining
1/2 wave length of wire is the radiating part of the antenna.
Below is a 3.75 wave length (3.5 wave length antenna) example for six meters. If it looks like a "J" pole laying on its side there is good reason, the " J " pole antenna is just one of the variations of the zeppelin antenna around, not to mention a lot of dipole and other antennas that have been mis-named as zep antennas.
WIRE USED FOR MODEL IS #14 AWG COPPER
If you use any other size or type of wire the DIMENSIONS WILL CHANGE.
Note: The spacing between the wires #1 and #2 should not be
changed! If you do the match will not be 50 ohms at feed point.
The spacing is critical for transforming the high impedance (app.
4 to 5K ohms for a 1/2 wave end fed antenna) to the 50 ohm feed point.
How to tune the antenna:
(1) Put the antenna up in the clear about head high, adjust the long
wire length for the lowest vswr at the center frequency you designed it
for, you are looking for the lowest vswr you can get, not necessarily the
best.
(2) Adjust the short wire length for the lowest vswr, should be 1.5:1
or less.
(3) Hoist antenna to operating position and have fun.