ANTENNA BASICS FOR BEGINNERS

INTRODUCTION VERTICALS MULTIBAND VERTICALS DIPOLES MULTIBAND DIPOLES RF CHOKES

1

HOW DO ANTENNAS WORK?

An Ant!nna Is A Basi" Trans%'"!r For transmittin , you generate an RF signal on a conductor.

(E&!"tri" !ields arise !rom a voltage rapidly changing (Ma n!ti" !ields arise !rom a current rapidly changing
)enerally people don't thin* o! radio(!re+uency radiation in terms o! discrete particles $oscillating electrons and photons' (they typically use the $a#! mo%!& instead, as it's much easier to use. #n e!!icient resonant antenna $1%& wavelength or longer' produces a large( amplitude E wave !or a given !eed power, and produces little heat. #n ine!!icient antenna produces a small(amplitude E wave !or the same !eed power, and converts most o! the power into heat. For r!"!i#in , the same resonance issues apply. It's just that when receiving, the currents induced on the antenna by the passing E !ield cause a terminal voltage at the !eedpoint o! the antenna, which generates a propagating signal down the coa" to the receiver's input ampli!ier circuit. 2

VERTICAL an% HORI(ONTAL POLARI(ATION

/he E&!"tri" )i!&% or E(plane determines the polari-ation or orientation o! the radio wave. For a vertically(polari-ed antenna, the E( plane usually coincides with the vertical% elevation plane. For a hori-ontally(polari-ed antenna, the E(plane usually coincides with the hori-ontal%a-imuth plane. /he Ma n!ti*in )i!&% or .(plane lies at a right angle to the E(plane. For a vertically polari-ed antenna, the .( plane usually coincides with the hori-ontal% a-imuth plane. For a hori-ontally(polari-ed antenna, the .(plane usually coincides with the vertical%elevation plane. ,

ANTENNA LENGTH
%2 $1029'

1 78 $meters' : ,22 : 8ambda () F .-

%& $529'

Ant!nna L!n t- is usually described as wavelength $78' in meters or degrees6

<2= 7>2=

TIME
012=

Fr!+'!n", Wa#!&!n t.MH*/ .M!t!rs/ .F!!t/ 1.0 112 312 ,.43 02%43 232 3.,1 12 143 4.13 &2 1,1 12.123 ,2 52.& 1&.143 22 11 10.1 14 31.2 21.223 13 && 2&.5 12 ,4.1 20.3 12 ,, 32 1 10

012 %! %!

Fr!+ L!n t- .)t/ )t

E4am5&!6 32 !t vertical used on 112 m 012 %! %! 3 672 )t 62 )t

012 8 62 9 672 3 0:;1 %! r!!s &

VERTICALS
Basi" V!rti"a& .Mono5o&!/ Ra%iation R!sistan"!
Ra%iation R!sistan"! $Rrad' is that portion o! the antenna input resistance that radiates power.

Ra%iation R!sistan"! : ;ower radiated % input current s+uared /he other portions are ground loss and antenna structure loss that dissipate power as heat.

F!!%5oint Ra%iation R!sistan"! #s D! r!!s .Do'?&! )or Di5o&!/

E"ample6 112 m 32 !t vertical : ,&.1 deg : 1 <hms 3

VERTICALS
Gro'n% Loss!s .R
n%/

an% C'rr!nt F&o$

/he !urther up the element the less current !lows $the voltage increases' /hus, !or less I@R ground losses $R n%', it=s Important have more return paths near the !eedpoint Feedpoint

/ransceiver

>orth /e"as soil conductivity is ,2 m?%m ;oor soil conductivity is 12 m? % meter ?ea water conductivity is 3222 m? % meter ? : ?iemens $ .<s outdated term'

?oil @ )round Rod ( Radials 1

VERTICALS
E))i"i!n", an% SWR
F!!%5oint R!sistan"! $Rin' : Rra% A R #ntenna E!!iciency : Rra% Rin
<R n% A $RL A Rs'

Rra% Rra% A R n% A $RL A Rs/

E4am5&!sB 32 !t 112 m vertical with &%0%11 radials E!! : 1 <hms 1 A 22 A & <hms 1 A 13 A & <hms 1 A 12 A & <hms Rin Boa" C or : 1 <hms ,2 <hms : 22D

Rin @ Feedpoint resistance at resonance $Fc : F8 or jF : 2' $measured with an FE' Rra% @ Radiation resistance R
n%

@ )round resistance

: 23 <hms : 2&D : 22 <hms : ,2D Boa" C Rin

RL @ 8oading resistance Rs @ ?tructural resistance

SWR : ?7R :

$use the larger number on top'

32(<hm Gummy 8oad : 161 32(<hm Boa" 32(<hm Boa" : 261 23 <hms Rin

?7R : 32(<hm Boa" : 1.1161 ,2 <hms Rin ?7R : 32(<hm Boa" : 2.361 22 <hms4 Rin

?7R :

VERTICALS
#ctual .y)ain 10./ Hertical Impedance Gata
MFC @1< ANALD(ER

I ;EG#>BE C
F!!%5oint ( 3 R A9EF8

Resistance R
0;>06 MH* 7;@@ Rs 3:7 8s 3; 6

62R 2R E62R 8"

8L

1.22

&1

Reactance jF

0;16 MH*

0;>2 MH*

0;<6 MH*

&1 $Rin' @ 20 $Rrad' : 1, $Rgnd A Rs'

20 $Rrad'% &1 $Rin' : 10D E!!iciency

VERTICALS
N!ar Fi!&% is the area where the ultimate pattern is not !ully !ormed, and E(. induction !ields have a noticeable e!!ect on !orces we measure.

Ra%iation Patt!rn

Ps!'%oEBr!$st!r An &! .PBA/B varies with the ground conductivity and dielectric constant. /he vertically(polari-ed re!lected wave $!rom a !lat earth or water sur!ace' is 52 degrees out o! phase and minimum amplitude with respect to the direct wave. #bove this angle, the re!lected signal is in(phase with the direct signal and augments it.

Fr!ns!& (on! is the area

where the pattern is still being !ormed. It may or may not include E(. induction !ield areas. ?imple verticals have the Frensel -one e"tending out a !ew wavelengths. ;hysically large arrays almost always have large a Frensel -one. Far Fi!&% is the area where any change in distance results in no noticeable change in pattern or impedance.
?ignal re!lection at an in(phase point $#ugmentation' ;seudo(Irewster #ngle is typically at the (& dI point !rom Jper!ectK ground

Ielow this angle, the re!lected wave is between 52 to 102 degrees out(o! (phase with the direct wave and reduces it. PBA is that angle at which the direct wave reduces it.

?ignal re!lection at an out(o!(phase point $Bancellation'

(Bourtesy o! /om

cGermott @>3E)

DECIBELS

/he %!"i?!& $%B' is a logarithmic unit that indicates the ratio o! a physical +uantity $usually power' relative to a speci!ied re!erence level /he %i))!r!n"! in %!"i?!&s between two power levels is de!ined to be 12 log $;2%;1' dI where the log is to base 12 E4am5&!B 122 7 transmitter driving a yagi antenna with 1 dI gain is e+ual to a dipole with &22 7 drive.

12

VERTICALS
Basi" V!rti"a& .Mono5o&!/ Ra%iation Patt!rn
/hey say that verticals radiate e+ually poor in all directions >ot so !ast.... aybe so on 22 through 12 meters Iut !or GFing, 112 through &2 meters a vertical can do a good job compared to a low dipole (since it=s more di!!icult to get a dipole up at a good height. 8et=s analy-e this

11

VERTICALS
712 m V!rti"a& $it- t$o <2 )t ra%ia&s
Com5arison ?!t$!!n 5oor ro'n% an% oo% ro'n%

,.4 dI $For living in /e"as'

/he unit o! antenna gain is %Bi. dIi means LIsotropicL, a per!ect ;<I>/ ?<MRBE, which radiates in a spherical manner. It is a relative measurement

12

VERTICALS
712 m V!rti"a& $it- )o'r <2 )t ra%ia&s
Com5arison ?!t$!!n 5oor ro'n% an% oo% ro'n%

(2.1 to (1.5 dIi $.2 dI' 1.1 to 1.0 dIi $.2 dI'

1,

VERTICALS
712 m V!rti"a& $it- t-irt,Et$o ra%ia&s
Com5arison ?!t$!!n 62 )t an% <2 )t ra%ia&s .Goo% Gro'n%/

(.2& dI $loss !or short Radials'

1&

VERTICALS
62 )t S-ort!n!% 712 m V!rti"a&s $it- 0@ Ra%ia&s
Com5arison ?!t$!!n In%'"ti#!&, ."oi&/ ?as!&oa%!% an% "!nt!r&oa%!%

A2.1 dI

Boil electrically lengthens antenna $loads'

13

VERTICALS
62 )t S-ort!n!% 712 m V!rti"a&s $it- 0@ Ra%ia&s
Ca5a"iti#! .To5 Hat/ Loa%!%
Bapacitive loading Electrically lengthens antenna

11

VERTICALS
S'mmar, B!t$!!n 62 )t S-ort!n!% 712 m V!rti"a&s an% F'&&ESi*! V!rti"a& $it- 0@ ra%ia&s
Ra% E))
Bas! Loa%!% C!nt!r Loa%!% To5 Loa%!% F'&& Si*! FS S!a Wat!r

Gain (1.3 dIi

Loa%in &2.4 7 2& 7 ((( ((( (((

2,.,D ,4.,D &1.0D &3.1D 53.1D

2.30 dIi 1.21 dIi 1.14 dIi &.52 dIi

14

Com5arison ?!t$!!n :0 )t an% 62 )t mat"-!% ?as!E &oa%!% #!rti"a&s at 0;> MH*

&, !t (coil loss 1.2 7 and 0 radials is 22.5D e!!iciency 32 !t (,.4 7 and 11 radials is ,,.5D e!!iciency
A2 dI

VERTICALS
:0 )t V!rti"a&
?hown with base loading coil !or 112 m and RF cho*e

10

VERTICALS
Com5arison B!t$!!n T-r!! 72 m V!rti"a&s .Minin!" Gro'n%/
1%& 7ave Hertical O 7ave )roundplane 0 !t #bove )round N 7ave Hertical

(1.1 dIi $., dI' (1.& dIi

&.02 dIi $1.2 dI'

15

VERTICALS
&2 m O 7

LEC Tra55!% M'&ti?an%

Bapacity 8oading $top hat' (Electrically lengthens element

22 m /rap 22 m O 7 Electrically ?imilar

#dd(on trap *its Fi"ed coil with sliding rod

;atent >o. & &51 53, $Iutternut'

13 m /rap

14 m /rap 13 m O 7 13 m /rap

12 m O 7

12 m /rap (#n 8(B resonant circuit that acts as a .i(C point to 12 m #dds inductive loading to the ne"t bands
12 m /rap

12 m /rap

22

VERTICALS
M, :29@2976972 m :EBan% @< )t Hom!?r!$ V!rti"a& Para&&!& E&!m!nts
&2 m Element

22 m /rap 13 m Element

12 m Element

12 Radials

?eparated !or minimum coupling and interaction

21

VERTICALS
B #

G W D!"o'5&in St'? M'&ti?an%

;atent >o. 2 3,3 250 @7 E 8attin $1532'

Bapacity 8oading $top hat' &2 m 8oading coil 22 m O 7 with top hat

# H.F%M.F Bollinear $E(;ole atch'

# O wavelength trans( mission line F velocity !actor is a resonant circuit which creates a phase shi!t at which the open end decouples that !re+uency !rom the main element 12 m
Gecoupling ?tub

13 m Gecoupling ?tub C

P7 # I P7

# di!!erent connection is possible (that is # to B. /his results in an insulator action or decoupling

B 13 m O 7

12 m O 7

22

VERTICALS
Electrical E+uivalent

Gro'n% In%!5!n%!nt M'&ti?an% Ant!nnas

V!rti"a&&, Po&ari*!% Loa%!% Di5o&!
1m &2 m 22 m 13 m Bapacity .ats 12 m 2m

R!m!m?!r H'st&!r HF Mo?i&! ant!nnas?

/his is basically what this design is (only mechanically mounted on a mast Eust put to two o! them bac*(to(bac* and use three resonators and there you have it (>arrow bandwidth and low e!!iciency on 22 and &2 meters

Benter Fed Insulated tubing

Ialun% Bho*e Boa" ast

&2 m 8oading Boil

2,

VERTICALS
To5 F!% Ant!nnas ENo Ra%ia&s
>2 m mo%!& o) to5 )!% #!rti"a& 76 )t to ?as! Co'nt!r5ois!

&, !t Hertical Hs /op Fed SURPRISEJ

Coa4

Mat"-in N!t$orH

72 m 7@ m

76m

7I m Coa4 $ra55!% aro'n% @2 m !&!m!nt to ?as! @2 )t

@2 m :2 m 02 m C-oH! >2 m Distan"! A?o#! Gro'n%

2&

INVERTEDELs an% LONG WIRES

Simi&ar to a V!rti"a& KHa#! oo% !))i"i!n", %'! to &on &!n tER!+'ir! simi&ar mat"-in Ka r!mot! t'n!r "an ?! 's!%
,4 !t high F 52 !t long
&2 m ;attern

Full(si-e vertical Hs Inv(8 comparison

12 m ;attern

23

DIPOLES
02 m Inv(Hee #pe" at 12 !t
1.23 dIi

1.53 dIi

Free ?pace

21

DIPOLES
>2 m In# EV!! H!i -t Com5ar!% to F'&&ESi*!% V!rti"a&
Gipole .eight

IN PH OUTEOFEPH

IN PH

OUT

IN PH

OUTEOFEPH

FRE>?E8 C<>E
Not!B For i&&'stration 5'r5os!s on&,

1 78 .igh $2&2 !t #pe"'

1%& 78 .igh $12 !t #pe"'

1%2 78 .igh $122 !t #pe"'

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DIPOLES
LEWa#!&!n t- Di5o&! Vs In#EV!!
02 m Gipole
C : 41 (j2.3 E!! : 0&.4D Fr : ,.0 .-

I7 ,.42 to ,.04&

.-

I7 ,.10 to ,.03 02 m Inv(H

C : 1& Aj2.3 E!! : 41D Fr : ,.44 .-

.-

20

LOOPS
11 )t 8 11 )t 8 @6 )t Hi - >2 m Hori*onta& Loo5 Ant!nna

C : 41 Aj& E!! : 3&.5D Fr!s : ,.0 .-

>ear Hertical Incidence ?*ywave $>HI?'

25

LOOPS
Roo) To5 72 m Hori*onta& Loo5 Ant!nna

II;6 in; &!n t- o) I6EO-m "oa4 to 62EO-m Trans)ormation

C : 41 (j2.3 E!! : 0&.4D Fr : 20.3 .-

Dir!"t )!!% I6EO-m "oa4 SWR "'r#!

,2

MULTIBAND
Com5arison B!t$!!n L WL Tra55!% an% O5!nEWir! C!nt!r )!% Ant!nnas
P 7#HE GI;<8E 1,2 !t $4 78' GI;<8E

Ea"- 72 m ant!nna at 06 )t

/rapped

Benter Fed

Boa" !eedline $>arrower I7 and !ewer bands'

<pen !eedline and /uner ,1

MULTIBAND
Para&&!& .Fan/ M'&ti?an% Ant!nna

odeling shows e"treme di!!iculty tuning @especially on 13 m (I=ve had good luc* with two bands $02 and &2 m'

7ith more spacing, modeling shows easier tuning and better ?7R when more bands are added I thin* this is a
$. Q organ 15&2 (BR

organ /rap
ag Feb 1544'

A&5-aED!&ta Fan9Tra55!% Di5o&!

(Re+uires calculations to determine the value o! coil FL

F7 $22 m' A FL A 7ire : F@ $&2 m'

,2

MULTIBAND
>2 K 72 m W>N8 6EBan% Di5o&! Ant!nna KM, C-oi"!

(Boa" !ed @ ?7R below ,61 on all bands (>o e"ternal tuner re+uired (&2 m trap and 22%13%12 m stubs (Full(si-ed per!ormance 02%&2 m (22, 13, and 12 m have multiple lobes

,,

MULTIBAND
O))EC!nt!rEF!!% an% Win%om Ant!nnas
(Re+uires a /uner (.igh bands have multiple lobes

:6M :N

<2M >N

TUNER

:B7 ?a&'n ?!&o$ 62 )t 1B7 ?a&'n a?o#! 62 )t

,&

MULTIBAND
G6RV Ant!nna
>2 70EI Gesign :2 @2 02 76 7@ 72

SWR 2.41 &.1 1.5 .i 3.3 2.1 .i

/uner

,3

MULTIBAND
D!"o'5&in St'? M'&ti?an% Di5o&!
8attin Gipole (7&ER7 12%22%&2 eter ?hort Gipole Msing ,22(<hm /winlead

&2 m

22 m

12 m

0 !t

1 !t 11 in

1, !t 12 in

Boa" Feedline #cts as linear loading on &2 m or a O 7 stub !or 22 m 02 m addition 24 !t 3 in $i! desired'

# Future #ntenna ;roject

,1

RF CHOKES
DIFFERENTIAL MODE CURRENT

W-, Us! a C-oH!?

COMMON MODE CURRENT

(Isolate antenna !rom !eed line (Reduce noise (Qeep RF out o! the shac*

FBHR

;ower $and !ield' is con!ined inside the coa" Bommon ode power $and !ield' is outside coa"

CHOKE #cts li*e an egg insulator CHOKE

@2 to 72 m Da i C-oH!
I<< Coa4

FBHR

?i" turns on &K ;HB sewer pipe attached away !rom the boom to prevent coupling via the boom $12 turns !or &2 to ,2 m'

,4

RF CHOKES

Gata !rom Q5SB=s webpage6 http6%%audiosystemsgroup.com% >BGF#Boa"Bho*es;;/.pd! ,0

La%%!r Lin!

RF CHOKES
Wa&&

/hus, ma*ing sure that there are no common mode currents present is the *ey objective, both to minimi-e noise pic*up and to ma*e sure that there are no currents that could couple into the house wall. /he !eed line cho*e does that very well.

E&!"tri"a& Bo4

#ntenna /uner

RGE@70 Coa4 Dir!"t Conn!"tion

F!rrit! C-oH!

PVC

# resonant antenna will never have a !eed impedance o! &22Aj2. It will be a low impedance near it's resonant, ,rd harmonic, etc. <n the even harmonics, it will have a high impedance. /hus, the &22(<hm ladder line never shows an impedance anywhere close to &22 <hms at the transmitter. /hus, a speci!ic impedance matching ratio is never correct. /hat's why there's an antenna tuner inside the shac* ( to match whatever impedance is seen to the 32 <hms that the transmitter wants.
(Bourtesy o! /om

cGermott @>3E)

,5

/.E E>G
K6OD

&2