Product Details

936 pages

Publisher: The American Radio Relay League, Inc.; Twenty-Second Edition/First Printing (October 2011)
Language: English
Softcover Edition: ISBN: 978-0-87259-694-8

Shipping Weight: 4.0 pounds
Product Dimensions: 8 3/16 x 10 7/8 inches

Basic Antenna Topics

Antenna Fundamentals

Dipoles and Ground-Planes

Effects of Ground

Radio Wave Propagation

Loop Antennas

Multielement Arrays

Log Periodic Dipole Arrays

Antenna Modeling

MF and HF Antennas

Single-Band MF and HF Antennas

Multiband HF Antennas

HF Yagi and Quad Antennas

Broadside and End-Fire Arrays

Long-Wire and Traveling-Wave Antennas

HF Antenna System Design

VHF, UHF, and Microwave Antennas

VHF and UHF Antenna Systems

Mobile VHF and UHF Antennas

Space Communications Antenna Systems

Repeater Antenna Systems

Special Applications

Portable Antennas

Stealth and Limited Space Antennas

Mobile and Maritime HF Antennas

Receiving and Direction-Finding Antennas

Transmission Lines

Transmission Lines

Transmission Line Coupling and Impedance Matching

Building and Maintaining Antenna Systems

Antenna Materials and Construction

Putting Up Towers and Antennas

Antenna and Transmission Line Measurements

Antenna System Troubleshooting

NEW! Author and Project Indexes

As the Amateur Service grew during the pre-World War II era, technology began to outgrow the all-encompassing technical reference of the times, The ARRL Handbook.  It is a telling observation that the first additional reference text was devoted to antennas and transmission lines and radio wave propagation.  That first edition of The ARRL Antenna Book, published in 1939, addressed what today’s amateurs know well—that antennas and their associated technical concepts and systems are key to success in Amateur Radio.  That focus continues in this latest 22^nd edition of the book.

 

Not only are antennas fundamental to Amateur Radio but amateurs are encouraged, even expected, to experiment with the development and construction of an ever-improving array of designs and configurations.  Even in a time of electronic miniaturization and sophisticated software, the antenna system remains an element of the service accessible to every amateur. FCC Part 97.1, the Basis and Purpose for the Amateur Service, is clear when it refers to the “Continuation and extension of the amateur's proven ability to contribute to the advancement of the radio art.”  Antennas are at the forefront of fulfilling that purpose.

 

This edition continues the tradition established more than 70 years ago as it summarizes a broad swath of antenna technology of interest to the amateur community.  The book is intended to serve as both a means of education and as a source of design instruction and information.  In these pages you will find theoretical material and practical, hands-on advice from knowledgeable and experienced amateurs.  We have taken the contributions in previous editions and rearranged them to provide a more effective learning experience that couples directly to practical designs.

 

In particular, we are fortunate to include with the book EZNEC ARRL 5.0 antenna modeling software, contributed by Roy Lewellan, W7EL, recipient of the 2011 Technical Excellence Award from the Dayton Hamvention.  Antenna modeling has fundamentally changed antenna design and development and EZNEC software sets the amateur standard.  An entire chapter is devoted to antenna modeling and an extensive EZNEC tutorial by Greg Ordy, W8WWV, is also included on the book’s CD-ROM.  Popular software written by this book’s previous editor, Dean Straw, N6BV, is again included in this edition: HFTA (HF Terrain Analysis), TLW (Transmission Lines for Windows), and YW (Yagis for Windows). 

 

You’ll also notice that we have made more use of material from our sibling organization, the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB).  RSGB publications are renowned for their quality and provide alternative perspectives and treatment of antenna topics.  Articles from the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) and New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) also make appearances.  We are grateful for their support in this new edition.

 

Antenna system design takes a new emphasis in this edition. Material previously distributed throughout the book has been collected into a single chapter, “HF Antenna Systems Design” dealing with the effects of local terrain, antenna height, ground conductivity, desired coverage “footprint” and other similar topics. The goal is to help the amateur make better choices to achieve the desired communications objectives by considering “the big picture” as the antenna system components are selected. New and completely rewritten material includes:

 

- “Building Antennas and Towers” by Steve Morris, K7LXC

- “Effects of Ground” by Rudy Severns N6LF, including a major update on radial systems and elevated radials

- “Mobile VHF and UHF Antennas” by Alan Applegate KØBG

- The chapter “Mobile and Maritime HF Antennas” has been rewritten by Alan Applegate K0BG and Rudy Severns N6LF, as well.

- The tables listing vendors of Antenna System Materials and Services have been updated and will be maintained as a downloadable spreadsheet on the book’s new website, www.arrl.org/antenna-book.

 

Recognizing the new ways in which antennas are being used and installed, there are new chapters on “Portable Antennas” and “Stealth and Limited-Space Antennas”.  These will surely expand in future editions.  An area long unaddressed but of value to all amateurs now has its own chapter, “Antenna System Troubleshooting”.

 

Every edition of the Antenna Book features some exciting new antenna projects.  This edition includes the C-pole ground-independent HF antenna by Brian Cake, KF2YN; Patch and Vivaldi Antennas for microwave applications; Kent Brittain, WA5VJB’s famous “Cheap Yagis” for VHF and UHF use; a 40 Meter Moxon beam by Dave Leeson W6NL; a TV-to-ham Log-Periodic Conversion by John Stanley K4ERO; a detailed treatment of his receiving loop antenna design by Gary Breed, K9AY; and a new set of Half-Element Designs for Yagis by Stan Stockton, K5GO.

 

There are literally dozens of new supporting PDF files on the CD-ROM.  Every project includes the complete construction details.  Numerous QST articles supplementing or supporting the book’s contents are included.  You’ll find some familiar antenna projects from previous editions included, too. New CD-ROM-only material includes:

 

- Antenna tuner comparisons and analysis by Bob Neese, KØKR

- Spreadsheets for calculating ground effects by Rudy Severns, N6LF

- “HF Propagation and Sporadic E in WRTC 2010” by Dean Straw, N6BV

- “Active Antennas” by Ulrich Rohde, N1UL

 

 The indexes have all been redone with more attention paid to how the book is actually used.  Separate Author and Project Indexes are now included.  The structure of the book follows the improved layout of the 2011 ARRL Handbook - there is a more detailed Master Table of Contents and one at the beginning of each chapter, numbered to three levels, making the book far easier to navigate.

 

We hope you’ll agree that this new edition of The ARRL Antenna Book does more than just keep pace with antennas in Amateur Radio.  The new material and software, reorganization for better learning and application, expanded use of the CD-ROM and the ARRL website, all make for a more useful reference and learning tool.  Wherever there is Amateur Radio, there will surely be an antenna and just as surely, The ARRL Antenna Book will be there, too.

 

David Sumner, K1ZZ

Chief Executive Officer

Newington, Connecticut

September 2011

The ARRL Antenna Book for Radio Communications is available from ARRL and publication dealers near you.

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