So ive been using a cheap vertical whip since I got my technician last year and honestly it works fine for local stuff but I want to try HF properly and everyone says build a dipole first. ok, fair enough. I picked up some 14 gauge stranded copper from the hardware store and I have a bunch of coax sitting around from a old TV installation.

My question is mostly about the feed point. I see people using baluns and I see people just connecting the coax center and shield directly to the two wire halves and calling it a day. Does it actually matter for a first build? Like will I blow something up or will it just work a little worse without one? I'm going for 40m so roughly 66 feet total, I know the formula.

Also the coax I have is RG-6 quad shield from the TV stuff. I know RG-8 or RG-58 is more common for RF but RG-6 is 75 ohm not 50. Is that going to be a serious problem or just a minor mismatch my tuner can handle. I have an LDG autotuner on the rig.

RG-6 will work fine honestly, especially for receiving and even transmitting at reasonable power levels. The 75 vs 50 ohm mismatch sounds scary but a dipole at resonance is closer to 70 ohms anyway depending on height so you might actually get a better match than with RG-58. Your tuner will sort out whatever's left. Only real downside is RG-6 connectors are a pain — you'll need an adapter to go from F connector to PL-259 unless you can find PL-259 crimps that fit, which are out there.

On the balun question — for a first build just skip it and see what happens. If you notice RF in the shack or your SWR changes when you touch the coax you'll know you need one. Lots of people run dipoles for years without baluns and they work. A choke balun made from winding the coax into a coil near the feedpoint costs nothing and helps but its not mandatory day one.

yeah the 14 gauge stranded is what I used for mine and its been up two winters now with no issues. just make sure your connections at the feedpoint are soldered not just twisted, I made that mistake the first time and the swr was all over the place when it rained. also if you're going for 40m start a little long and trim from both ends equally, way easier than trying to add wire back if you cut too short. I went like 2 feet long on each side and tuned it down over a couple sessions.