Antenna Projects
Introduction
QST, through the years, has had more articles on antennas than any other subject. This is probably because your antenna, although it can be the least expensive, easiest to construct component of your station, can have the greatest effect on performance.
The main feature here is a menu of antenna pages divided into type and use. There are all kinds of antenna projects you can build for home, portable and mobile use, HF and VHF. Go to the Technical Information Antenna Projects Menu to find what you need. For the new-comer there is a special Beginners Section covering both HF and VHF antennas.
Additional resources
The ARRL has an extensive catalog of books and materials related to Amateur Radio.
Technical Information Antenna Projects Menu
Information for HF and VHF beginners
General Antenna Info Articles:
- A Q&D Multiband Antenna (122,091 bytes, PDF file)
QST June, 2004, p. 58
A brick, some PVC tubing and a few other commonhardware store items can be transformed into an effec-tive Quick & Dirty RF-launcher—for less than $25!
- HF Amplifiers versus Antennas--One Ham's Opinion (39,999 bytes, PDF file)
QST November 1998, pp. 54-56
The solution to "getting out better" is not necessarily "more power".
- Low Power, Crummy Antenna (293,108 bytes, PDF file)
QST December 1998, pp. 57-59
A major part of the fun of amateur radio is putting together a station that works from stuff you have just laying around. Antennas lend themselves to this practice nicely.
- Antenna and Tower Safety (15,694 bytes, PDF file)
QST June 2001, p. 91
- “What’s Up Top”
QST June 1960, pp. 38-40
Crud and rust can be a real detriment to the performance of your antenna. Here are some procedures to make it look (and work) like new again.
- Stacking Yagi Antennas
By what distance should stacked Yagi’s be separated?
- Beam Talk for the Layman (263,249 bytes, PDF file)
QST July 1958, pp.35-37
Step-by-step tuning of a gamma matched Yagi antenna and other thoughts on installation.
- Sound-Card Antenna Measurements and Other Useful Techniques (1,560,065 bytes, PDF file)
QEX Jan/Feb 2002, pp. 33-46
Measure antenna and receiver performance and record results, even when you are not present, using your computer’s sound card.
- Tower and Antenna Wind Loading as a Function of Height (192,267 bytes, PDF file)
QEX July/August 2001, pp. 23-33
- A Low-Loss VHF/UHF Bias Tee (279,405 bytes, PDF file)
QEX May/June 2002, pp. 52-54
A simple circuit that lets you superimpose DC control voltage onto the transmission line without altering the RF characteristics.
- Tower and Antenna Wind Loading as a Function of Height (192,267 bytes, PDF file)
QEX July/August 2001, pp. 23-33
- An Inexpensive External GPS Antenna (253,745 bytes, PDF file)
QST October 2002, pp. 36-39
An easy to build antenna for your GPS unit for better reception.
Web Links:
Antenna Software
- EZNEC Antenna Software by W7EL
EZNEC 3.0 and EZNEC pro 3.0 are full-featured 32-bit Windows applications
- G4FGQ's Software
New, original, high-quality, radio engineering/modeling programs. Not freeware -- just free gifts -- please help yourself -- no catch.
- NEC4WIN95VM v3
Antenna Simulation Software for Windows
- Polar Plot by Bob Freeth (G4HFQ)
A program that lets you see what the polar diagram of your relatable beam antenna actually looks like where it is operating.
- W5DXP's qsl.net Web Page on antennas.
- Stacking Yagi Antennas by Ian GM3SEK.
- Stacking, Phasing and Matching Yagis
This is a synopsis of a talk presented to the Sydney VHF DX Group on Tuesday March 16th 1999 by Gordon McDonald VK2ZAB
- How to Become An Antenna Guru
What Is An Antenna, Antenna Impedance, Transmission Lines, Radiation Pattern, Polarization, and more.
- The Antenna Elmer
Here you will find information about wire antennas as well as directional beams.
- KB0YKI's Radio Zone
On-line antenna designers, rooftop tower plans, gamma matches, and more
- AC6V's Homebrew Antenna Links
- Antennas, L. B. Cebik, W4RNL
Theory (light) and practical information on all kinds of antennas.
- Bill, NJ7P Coaxial Cable Searchable Database
- Lines of Magnetic Declination for North America 1990
Useful to find true north for aligning your antenna
- FM Broadcast Directional Antenna for 87-93MHz
Build this ideal antenna for receiving distant Public Broadcasting stations
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Article Reprints:
You can get a photocopy of any ARRL published article for $3 ($5 for nonmembers) for each article requested. Contact the ARRL Technical Department (reprints@arrl.org ), 1-860-594-0390) if you wish to get photocopies.
This information was prepared as a membership service by the American Radio Relay League, Inc., Technical Information Service, 225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111 (860) 594-0214. Email: tis@arrl.org (Internet). ARRL HQ is glad to provide this information on the Web free of charge as a service to League members and affiliated clubs.
If you have any questions concerning the reproduction or distribution of this material, please contact:
TIS Coordinator
American Radio Relay League
225 Main St., Newington, CT 06111
Tel: 860-594-0214 Fax: 860-594-0259
(email: tis@arrl.org)
Page last modified: 11:38 AM, 15 Aug 2007 ET
Page author: tis@arrl.org
Copyright © 2007, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
