This presentation is about Amateur Radio Vertical antennas and was used with my talk to a local radio club in Napier New Zealand in 2014

1. Vertical AntennasVertical Antennas
Do they radiate equally poorly in all directionsDo they radiate equally poorly in all directions
or are they simply getting bad press?or are they simply getting bad press?
And why vertical antennas?And why vertical antennas?

2. You Need to Know about Angle of RadiationYou Need to Know about Angle of Radiation
Angle of radiation is not just a theory…Angle of radiation is not just a theory…
It’s real – if you want to work DXIt’s real – if you want to work DX
High angle of radiation – Little or no reflection and no DXHigh angle of radiation – Little or no reflection and no DX
Low angle of radiation – good reflection and you work the DX!Low angle of radiation – good reflection and you work the DX!

3. Propagation gets messy – Why?Propagation gets messy – Why?
 Because propagation varies – Hour by hour…. DayBecause propagation varies – Hour by hour…. Day
by day…. Month by month and Year by Yearby day…. Month by month and Year by Year
 Amateurs ride and live for the solar cycleAmateurs ride and live for the solar cycle
 Have a look at what happens to our bands everyHave a look at what happens to our bands every
day……..day……..
 And then let’s get back to “Why Verticals?”And then let’s get back to “Why Verticals?”

5. Why Verticals?Why Verticals?
 Vertical antennas give low angles of radiationVertical antennas give low angles of radiation
 Vertical antennas are easy to constructVertical antennas are easy to construct
 Vertical antennas have small “footprints”Vertical antennas have small “footprints”
 Vertical antennas are vertically polarizedVertical antennas are vertically polarized
 And so is atmospheric and man madeAnd so is atmospheric and man made
noise!noise!
Let’s look at what makes a vertical antenna work!Let’s look at what makes a vertical antenna work!

6. Let Us Digress & Talk About Free Space Dipole Radiation Patterns

7.  Where is current maximum in a half wave antenna?Where is current maximum in a half wave antenna?
 Where is current maximum in a quarter wavelength vertical antenna?Where is current maximum in a quarter wavelength vertical antenna?
 Why is the current important at the feedpoint?Why is the current important at the feedpoint?
Current & Voltage distribution in AntennaCurrent & Voltage distribution in Antenna
ElementsElements

8. Height Above Ground Matters!!!
Your 3.6 Mhz dipole is 10
metres above ground and you
are feeding it with 72 ohm
RG59. It’s perfectly matched –
Right?
Wrong! – 10m (33’) is actually
0.13 wavelengths above
ground.
The impedance at the
feedpoint is
______ ohms and
the mismatch is _________

9. Practical vertical antennasPractical vertical antennas

10. The Ground Plane Antenna
Power is applied to the base of the
vertical radiator and the centre of the
four ground plane wires
The Marconi Antenna
Power is applied to the base of the
vertical radiator and the centre of the
four ground plane wires

11. Good Ground – Bad GroundGood Ground – Bad Ground
The choice is working your next door neighbour or great DXThe choice is working your next door neighbour or great DX

12. Radials & Grounds - There isRadials & Grounds - There is No FreeNo Free
Lunch!Lunch!
So what are we seeing here?So what are we seeing here?
Look at the angle of radiation!Look at the angle of radiation!

13. The more radials you have,
the less distance between
radials and therefore less loss
through the earth. This type of
loss is called “ground loss”
4 radials is barely OK. 16
radials is acceptable and 64
radials is heroic and the
vertical will sing!
Who said “Radials”?Who said “Radials”?

14. G3AMN 4 Square Grounding SystemG3AMN 4 Square Grounding System

15. The more Radials – The BetterThe more Radials – The Better

16. • At least 16 radials should be used if at all possible. 16 radials decreases the
loss resistance and increases the antenna efficiency by 30% to 50% for a
1/4 λ vertical, depending on soil characteristics.
• Large number of radials (even though some or all of them must be short) is
preferable to a few long radials for a vertical antenna mounted on the ground.
• The conductor size is relatively unimportant. #12 to #22 copper wire is
suitable.
• Seawater is great for verticals!
• An all metal ground plane such as a large tin roof or a chicken wire matt is
excellent as a ground plane base
• Anything is better than a 3 foot ground rod !!!!!!!!
Practical Suggestions for Vertical Grounds SystemsPractical Suggestions for Vertical Grounds Systems

17. GAPs, Comets, Cushcrafts &GAPs, Comets, Cushcrafts &
JoysticksJoysticks
SPECIFICATIONS
o Bands
+ 80m 40m 20m 15m 12m 10m 6m 2m
o Bandwidth -- Under 2:1
+ Entire band on 40m 20m 15m 12m 10m 6m 2m
+ 80m over 130 KHz; 10m over 1MHz
o Height -- 31.5 ft.
o Weight -- 18 lbs.
o Radiation Efficiency : Exceed conventional verticals by up to 600%
o Mount : Ground or elevated. A ground mount is supplied.
o Counterpoise : 3 at 25 ft.
o Ground Area Required : Fits in 10 ft. by 12 ft. area.
CQ tested the Challenger and established that on 2m, for example, its gain was approximately
6 to 8dB. On 40m compared to a mono band vertical, they found Challenger an S unit stronger.
This is typical of the many reports received from amateurs around the world. Challenger is
designed to be mounted directly in the ground or elevated. A ground mount is provided with
each antenna. With the ground mount in place, the Challenger simply drops in. If necessary,
because of space limitations, but not to improve performance,
Challenger may be roof mounted since it does not require earth loss to obtain a 50 ohm match.
Challenger requires a counter poise of three 25ft. insulated wires. They may be buried or just
scattered on the ground. Symmetrical deployment is not critical. Adding additional wire will not
significantly improve performance.
What are these guys on ?????????
GAP VerticalGAP Vertical

18. What a dream antenna!!!
All bands, No radials, No antenna tuner
No traps, No coils and 23 feet long
Read the fine print – that is what it is
designed for – to satisfy the thousands of
frustrated apartment dwellers around the
world and make money for Comet.
Does the antenna work? Yes… but!
The efficiency is such that your 100W will
magically turn into about 10 watts!
The Comet Antenna

19. CUSHCRAFT R5 (10/12/15/17/20m)
Cushcraft have made many vertical antennas; R4, R5, R6, R6000, R7, R7000,
R8 etc. All are ½ wave radiators with 4 or shorter base-load rods. Those
"radials" are in fact a top hat capacitance.
“The 17ft half wave vertical is covering the 10, 12, 15, 17, and 20m amateur
bands. The antenna does not require traditional ground radials, so no need for
unsightly radials and is so light a normal scaffold pole would be ideal to mount
the antenna.” (Sounds good!!!)

20. DX Engineering’s 55’
80m/75m/40m dual band
vertical. This is a no
nonsense antenna and is
designed for 16 plus
radials. Note the small 40m
trap at the 33’ level. With a
good radial system
installed this antenna
would have an efficiency of
80% or more
DX Engineering’s 43’ all
band vertical. This is a
compromise antenna
designed for 16 plus radials
for 80m – 10m . Note the
small automatic tuner below
which switches in a tuning
network for each of the 8
bands so that the end of the
coaxial cable sees a close
1:1 match and 50 ohms so
little or no cable loss results.

21. The All Band, All Singing,The All Band, All Singing,
All Dancing Trap VerticalAll Dancing Trap Vertical
• Each Trap acts like and “Open Circuit” switch
• The 10 Metre radiating part of the antenna is from the
top of the mounting pole to the bottom of the 10M trap
• The 15 Metre radiating part of the antenna is from the
top of the mounting pole to the bottom of the 15M trap
• The 20 Metre radiating part of the antenna is from the
top of the mounting pole to the bottom of the 20M trap
• The 40 Metre radiating part of the antenna is the whole
structure from the top of the mounting pole to the
bottom of the 40M added section on top of the 20M trap
• Note the “Top Hat” on top of the 20M trap. It simply
adds inductance so that the whole antenna resonates
on 40M

22. The Biggest “Con” of them all – The “Joystick”The Biggest “Con” of them all – The “Joystick”
D r a w in g o f J o y S t ic k s h o w in g
le n g t h s , c o il a n d w o o d e n d o w e l.
C o il is c o n n e c t e d o n e a c h e n d t o
a lu m in u m t u b in g .
Amongst the many claims for the Joystick was that it would work
indoors propped up in the corner of the room, didn’t require any radials
and the advertisements showed glowing testimonials from satisfied
DXers that had worked the world with 5 Watts. Partridge Electronics in
England sold thousands of them before word got around and the
product no longer sold.
How gullible are we hams when we look at antennas advertisements???

23. The VE3EJ 80M 4 Square AntennaThe VE3EJ 80M 4 Square Antenna
Just outside Toronto, OntarioJust outside Toronto, Ontario

24. Vertical Antenna Q & AVertical Antenna Q & A
 Do Vertical Antennas Work?Do Vertical Antennas Work?
 Answer –Answer –
 Can you get away without a good ground system?Can you get away without a good ground system?
 Answer –Answer –
 Are commercial vertical antennas worth the money?Are commercial vertical antennas worth the money?
 Answer –Answer –
 What should vertical antennas be used for?What should vertical antennas be used for?
 Answer –Answer –
 Is it time for me to Finish?Is it time for me to Finish?
 Answer – YES!!!!!!!!Answer – YES!!!!!!!!

25. Beware!Beware!
Low flying aircraft!Low flying aircraft!
ZM2M - 2009ZM2M - 2009