Questions tagged [antenna-theory]

Designing antennas, selecting antennas for specific applications, properties of a given antenna design.

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On a horizontally setup 20m delta loop I am looking to determine the calculations for the proper length of a feed wire

Base of loop will be about 6 feet above ground. RG-8 or 213 will be used for the feed wire. Ugly balun as well.
Artemus's user avatar
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2 answers
3k views

Antenna Basics - Open/Short Circuit & Half-Duplex/Full-Duplex

I am beginner in the Antenna theory and I have a few basic questions. Please help me to clarify my understandings related to the basics which I have read. And this question has 3 basic questions. ...
Newbie's user avatar
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Need antenna for mobile mag-mount LPFM broadcast 88.3 MHz

I am doing some temporary FM broadcasting for car events such as COVID-safe car parades and drive-in movies. The terrain is horrible, urban areas with lots of buildings. The cars snake around a city, ...
John Tibie's user avatar
5 votes
2 answers
490 views

Can half of a directional antenna (Yagi-Uda, HB9CV) be replaced by a ground plane?

Consider a center-fed dipole antenna. It‘s well understood how the bottom element can be replaced by a ground plane (in practice, generally a few rods but in principle a conducting plate would work as ...
jstarek's user avatar
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How do I tune my EFHW 40-10 to have the lowest SWR in the 40, 20 and 15 meter bands?

This is a reading from my RigExpert AA-35 ZOOM of my EFHW 40-10 inverted L with radials, and feedpoint 2 feet above the ground. Any thoughts as to how I can tune or move this antenna to get the ...
K8KV's user avatar
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2 answers
849 views

Designing a helical antenna for a dish

I'm interested in a dish antenna with an axial mode helical feed for receiving video. My target frequency is about 1280 MHz or the 1.2/1.3GHz range. I've been able to figure out helical basics, like ...
Gabe's user avatar
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4 answers
701 views

Relation between antenna physical size and gain

I would like to know whether increasing the size of the antenna help increase its gain. Does this hold only for certain kinds of antennas like parabolic or horn antennas? And if it is true, can you ...
ResearcherW's user avatar
3 votes
5 answers
406 views

Can I use a 1/4 wave decoupling stub to enable mounting of a vertical yagi on a metal pole?

My understanding is that the ground plane radials used on, for example, a free standing 5/8 wave 10 m vertical antenna mounted on a metal pole, are actually 1/4 wave length decoupling stubs, the ...
Andrew's user avatar
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950 views

Why do some 1/2 wave collinear designs have a 1/4 wave element?

I think I understand the basic principles of a collinear antenna. How the Coaxial Collinear Antenna Works? seems to describe it well. However, I've just repaired a 1090MHz (ADS-B receive only) ...
Mat's user avatar
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Would a phase compensated sinusoidally spaced folded dipole present less noise to a receiver?

I am attempting to design an antenna similar to a TTFD, double zepp or array of end fed wires, with a sinusoidal, with the period of the wavelength, spacing that causes additive waves on the target ...
KX4UQ's user avatar
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Connecting Directional Antenna To Two Antenna Ports on NIC

I want my n/ac Wi-Fi card to operate in a spatially directional manner. To achieve that I want to use a directional antenna(s). There is a slight complication though, because my Alfa AWUS036ACH ...
Trismegistos's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
586 views

Magnetic loop antenna : loops vs selectivity

I've built 2-turn magnetic loop RX antenna using 5 meters of 6.5mm copper tube. I was able to tune it with a variable air-spaced capacitor in the range of 1.8-10Mhz, but I noticed that as tuning ...
BarsMonster - R2AYN's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

Loop on ground for transmit?

If a large horizontal loop antenna, insulated but laying at ground level, works as an MF and low HF receive antenna, why (even though it has very high ground losses) can't it be used for transmit (to ...
hotpaw2's user avatar
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How do I use a signal generator + oscilloscope to measure feeder length?

I could relatively easily take the feeder down and use a tape measure but it’s more of a challenge to learn how to measure the length using my oscilloscope -Red Pitaya - but I have to admit I have no ...
forestDM's user avatar
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1 answer
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Why does damping between two antennas increase with frequency?

While studying for a HAM license exam I ran into a question that I am having trouble with answering. There are two aspects that I cannot explain, given my current admittedly little understanding of ...
Frank Geerlings's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
680 views

144/430 MHz antenna on 155 MHz?

We have a local radio shop that started selling us Relm P150s with a high gain 9 inch antenna, and those are ok. He also has thrown in longer 15 to 14 inch dual band antennas saying use those in ...
Dean M.'s user avatar
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Circular polarized antenna feed changes as I rotate it?

I had a 100cm prime focus dish laying around and I thought of making a circularly polarized feed for it, since it seemed pretty straightforward from what I've been reading. Helical feeds are supposed ...
hjf's user avatar
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Indoor HF/VHF/UHF antenna, have someone an Idea?

My wife doesn't think that having tall antennas is acceptable. Does anyone have a solution for this? Our house is 16 meter long and 10 meter wide. I have an antenna tuner (if it can help).
OZ5JKM's user avatar
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2 answers
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Estimating near-field electric field strength at LF (137 kHz)

I'm experimenting with low frequencies, but due to the inherent nature of LF, I strive for more transmit power and bigger antennas. Now of course I want to comply with regulations, which allow (in my ...
kernash's user avatar
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1 answer
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Is a ground plane antenna a poor choice to use in a forest?

Some time ago, when I just started with amateur radio, a few more experienced hams told me that an inverted-V works better in the forest than a ground plane, and that it has something to do with the ...
Aleksander Alekseev - R2AUK's user avatar
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Solid angle for different E/H plane beamwidths

The solid angle formula calculates the surface area on a unit sphere, from projecting a rectangular patch onto the surface of a sphere. Image source This is calculated using the azimuth angle $\phi$ ...
pymekrolimus's user avatar
6 votes
2 answers
276 views

For a resonant 1/2 wave dipole, does the reflections being in phase with the applied signal cause the zero reactance seen in the feedpoint impedance?

For a resonant 1/2 wave dipole when used for transmitting, does the fact that the reflected waves on the antenna are in phase with the applied signal result in zero reactance at the feed point, or ...
Andrew's user avatar
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Is shortening a half wave dipole to make it resonant by removing the inductive reactance a good idea?

A dipole which is exactly one half wave length allows reflections within the antenna to be in phase with the applied signal. To me it seems that this situation gives an antenna which will produce the ...
Andrew's user avatar
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204 views

For an antenna when used for transmittiing, what is the optimum radiation resistance?

For a 100 % efficient antenna, the real part of the impedance is equal to the radiation resistance. If the antenna were a dead short with zero impedance then the radiation resistance would be zero. ...
Andrew's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
1k views

Modelling a folded dipole

I am looking at using NEC to model a $0.5\lambda$ rectangular folded dipole, for closely spaced larger sides (choosing a separation of $0.01\lambda$). In Antenna Theory, Analysis and Design by ...
pymekrolimus's user avatar
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620 views

What exactly makes an antenna resonant?

When an antenna is resonant, the impedance seen at the feed point is purely resistive and has no reactance. What are the physical properties of an antenna that actually make it resonant and how do ...
Andrew's user avatar
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-2 votes
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615 views

How can a half wave dipole which has an impedance of 73 + j43 ohms ever be resonant?

Is it true that for a half wave dipole, cancelling out reactance using for example a gamma match does not make the antenna resonant at all, but rather just cancels out the reactance of what is ...
Andrew's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
97 views

Can I use a directional coupler to block reflected AC current from a mismatched antenna?

Is there any kind of directional coupler device such as you find in a SWR meter that only allows traveling AC waves of one direction to pass which i could use to block the reflected wave from my badly ...
Andrew's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Can received and transmitted signals on the same antenna combine to produce standing waves?

Standing waves are seen on a transmission line when for example there is a change in impedance and a transmitted wave is reflected back from one end and then the incident wave and reflected wave ...
Andrew's user avatar
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If i transmit on the same frequency using two separate transmitters joined together will they both add up in a reciever to produce a stronger signal? [duplicate]

If i were to use a passive transmit coupler to connect two transmitters of equal power output to the same antenna, and connect one microphone to both transmitters, and then transmit on both at the ...
Andrew's user avatar
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19 votes
3 answers
3k views

Why do amateur radio operators call an RF choke a balun?

When using a balanced antenna such as a half wave dipole, with an unbalanced feed line such as coax, an RF choke can be used to block RF current emitted by the transmitter from splitting up at the ...
Andrew's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
180 views

Does an antenna work the same for pure sine waves as compared to other waveforms?

Antenna theory it seems is always described assuming that the transmitted or received signal being talked about is a pure sine wave usually at the resonant frequency. Standing waves for example are ...
Andrew's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
198 views

Can any one explain E,H plane definitions?

I read in some text books that E-plane is formed by taking constant azimuth angle and scanning elevation angle from -90:90. H-plane is formed by taking a plane perpendicular to E-plane. What is ...
kartheek's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
134 views

Is the voltage at the centre of a dipole zero only at it's resonant frequency?

For transmit, the voltage at the center of a dipole not cut in the center and fed with coax and a gamma match is zero in the center at the resonant frequency. This is why apparently a 'plumbers ...
Andrew's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
136 views

What is the effect of coil Q on a shortened dipole?

I made a small yagi, with the driven element being a coil loaded dipole. What is the effect of coil Q in this situation? The coils I built are 18 turns of 1.2mm enameled wire wound tightly with a ...
hjf's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
910 views

Is an antenna resonant at the frequency of lowest impedance?

I understand that an antenna is resonant at the frequency where the capacitive and inductive reactance cancel out to 0. Only the resistive impedance remains at resonance. Does this mean that the ...
marcin42's user avatar
4 votes
1 answer
595 views

Ferrite Rod Antenna Array?

The ferrite rod is a reasonably effective receiving antenna for LW, MW, and lower HF spectrum. It is well known that a ferrite rod is much more effective than an air cored coil of the same dimensions. ...
Autistic's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
192 views

What kind of loop antenna is this, and what is the relationship between its diameter and wavelength?

At the bottom of webpages in the advertisement swamps I keep seeing this image of an antenna, accompanied by an offer that I won't be clicking on. But the antenna itself looks quite intriguing. It's ...
uhoh's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
571 views

Actual Impedance of a folded dipole at resonance

I am using a Folded Dipole which I bought when I first got my General License. It was advertised as an all band antenna. My results with it were less than the claims made by the makers to say the ...
Tom Horne W3TDH's user avatar
5 votes
1 answer
647 views

How does a Viper Antenna work?

Are any of you guys familiar with a "Viper" antenna? It came up in a recent discussion with club members for higher frequency bands (6m, 4m, 2m). I hadn't heard of it before and internet searches ...
Buck8pe's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
2k views

High Altitude Balloon Antenna Design

I'm designing a weather balloon with a club at college. We want to build the antenna from scratch to learn more about antennas but are at a loss as to which antenna design would actually work for high ...
elbecker's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
225 views

Gain of Yagi turnstile?

I am currently working on a system to communicate with amateur CubeSats. I have decided to use the turnstile crossed-dipole style yagi because it is relatively easy to construct and uses circular ...
Caphlp22's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
68 views

Can you measure how much radials you are lacking for HF vertical?

I have tried mount ham sticks on SUV and a convertible use trunk lid mount, especially on 40m on the convertible I notice the SWR changes from opening the door and close the door. Now I am quite ...
Matthew Wang's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
378 views

Inverted L Feedpoint Height

I have this antenna EFHW 40-10 from Maple Leaf Studios. My current configuration: Inverted L with feed point 3m above ground, with "L" at 9m. I have 45 20-foot in-ground radials just below the feed ...
K8KV's user avatar
  • 377
2 votes
2 answers
174 views

Using two VHF antennas vs one because of a large obstruction

We have a VHF Omni directional antenna, 2.5 W and 119 MHZ (approximate) mounted on top of a commercial hanger. Access to the antenna is out of the question because of the lack of fall protection. ...
Cof Fee's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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Can i use an anaolgue IC switch to change a 10 m yagi's directivity by somehow combining received signals with different variable phase?

Can i use an analogue IC switch being triggered at the same frequency I am receiving on to change a 10 m yagi's directivity by somehow combining received signals with different variable phase either ...
Andrew's user avatar
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1 vote
4 answers
161 views

Which 10 m antenna will give the most rejection in one direction for received signals which are vertically polarized?

I want to null out a particular direction so that i can't receive some vertically polarized interference on 10 m coming from that direction. Which 10 m antenna will give the most rejection in one ...
Andrew's user avatar
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-1 votes
1 answer
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How would I calculate aperture efficiency for an antenna?

How to calculate aperture efficiency for an antenna with the following parameters: Big reflector diameter= 24 mm Gain= 9.265 dbi Frequency= 11.60 GHz
Kawa Abdoula's user avatar
4 votes
3 answers
2k views

Vertical Yagi spun at 1000 RPM: gain properties?

If I were to mount my 10 m vertical Yagi on a pole with a motor attached at the bottom with the appropriate fastening and coax mounted via electrical brushes, if the Yagi is spun at say 1000 RPM would ...
Andrew's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
931 views

Why is self-resonance important in a loop antenna?

I visited a "small loop antenna" calculator web site today and fed in my horizontal loop gepmetry, curious to see what it would say. 2" dia wire, 72' circumference, 3.935MHz. Interesting results, ...
Chris K8NVH's user avatar
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