Regardless of the quality of the ham radio you own, without an antenna or with the wrong one, communication would hit the rock. That is why an antenna is as essential as the ham radio. However, with so many types of ham radio antennas – which types will be best for you?
First, Ham radio antenna types can be narrowed down into directional, semi-directional, and omnidirectional. They can also be classified based on what type of radio they are used for; for example, mobile antennas, base station antennas, and handheld radio antennas. Still, they can be classified into single-band, dipole, dual-band, and folding antennas.
This article will focus on the types of antennas and which one would be best for you to extend the ham radio range.
Types of Ham Radio Antennas
There is a wide variety of ham radio antennas available, each with its own characteristics and benefits. In this article, we will explore some of the most common types of ham radio antennas and their features.
1. Dipole Antenna:
The dipole antenna is one of the simplest and most popular types of antennas among amateur radio operators. It consists of a wire or metal rod that is divided into two equal halves and connected to the radio’s transmitter and receiver. The center of the antenna is where the signal is fed, and the two halves extend outward in opposite directions. Dipole antennas are known for their relatively simple construction and balanced radiation pattern.
2. Vertical Antenna:
Vertical antennas are commonly used in ham radio setups, particularly for transmitting in the HF (High Frequency) bands. These antennas are typically designed to be vertically oriented and are often installed on a ground plane. They are efficient for local and regional communications, offering low take-off angles that are beneficial for skywave propagation, allowing signals to bounce off the ionosphere for longer distances.
3. Yagi-Uda Antenna:
Also known simply as a Yagi antenna, the Yagi-Uda antenna is a directional antenna that offers high gain and directivity. It consists of multiple elements, including a driven element, reflector, and one or more directors. Yagi antennas are widely used for point-to-point communications and are often employed in amateur radio contests and DXing (long-distance communication) due to their ability to focus signals in a specific direction.
4. Loop Antenna:
Loop antennas come in various configurations, such as full-wave loops, delta loops, and magnetic loops. They are known for their compact size and versatility. Loop antennas can be horizontally or vertically oriented and are often used for portable ham operations, restricted spaces, or in situations where conventional antennas are not feasible. Magnetic loop antennas, in particular, are efficient in reducing local noise and interference.
5. Wire Antenna:
Wire antennas encompass a wide range of designs, including long wires, end-fed wires, and random wires. These antennas are cost-effective and can be erected in various configurations, making them suitable for various ham radio setups. While they may not offer the highest gain or directivity, they are simple to install and can provide satisfactory performance, especially for low-power operations.
6. Beam Antenna:
Beam antennas, often referred to as directional antennas, are designed to focus their energy in a specific direction. They are particularly effective for long-distance communications and can provide substantial gain compared to omnidirectional antennas. Beam antennas can be large and complex, requiring precise assembly and orientation. However, their performance rewards the effort with enhanced signal strength and improved signal-to-noise ratios.
7. Inverted-V Antenna:
The inverted-V antenna is a variation of the dipole antenna, where the center of the antenna is elevated while the ends slope down. This configuration helps in achieving a lower take-off angle for signals, which can be advantageous for medium to long-distance communication. Inverted-V antennas are relatively easy to install and can be strung between two supporting points.
8. Quad Antenna:
Quad antennas, also known as cubical quad antennas, are another type of directional antenna. They consist of a square or rectangular loop of wire supported by a framework. Quad antennas offer good gain and directivity and can be constructed for various frequency bands. While they may be more complex to build than some other antennas, their performance makes them a popular choice among experienced amateur radio operators.
Antennas Based on Ham Radio Types
With all the available Ham Communication Radio device, here are some other classification of ham radio antennas:
1. Mobile Antennas
Most amateurs use the mobile ham radio antenna. Besides, both the mobile antenna and beginner ham radio setup are easy. Mobile antennas, however, may come in various designs, and your selection should be based on the area you will be operating the radio from.
Mobile antennas can be classified into three:
- ⅝-wave vertical
- ½-wave vertical
- ¼-wave vertical
The ⅝ offers better gain than the ½ wave vertical. However, the ½ wave vertical antenna is better than the ¼ wave vertical antenna. If you often drive in zones with a bad ground plane, consider getting the ½ wave vertical antenna, as it offers greater gain than the others.
Therefore, it is ideal always to consider the material of your car when looking for the best mobile ham radio antenna. For owners whose cars feature a composite or fiberglass material, get the ½ wave vertical antenna.
On the other hand, a ¼ wave vertical antenna is ideal for mobile radios majorly used in towns where there are many repeaters. The signals will be highly stable, thereby making communication better.
On the contrary, if you primarily use the radio in the outskirts, consider the ⅝ wave vertical antenna as it is the best. Nevertheless, consider using a tall antenna for better stability and communication – the taller it is, the better the gain.
Vertical antennas are omnidirectional. Hence ideal for great communication.
2. Base Station Antennas
A base station antenna provides multiple frequencies. Sometimes, single band frequency. The base station antenna provides great communication as it is mounted on towers.
Base stations can use these antennas: Sector, stadium, small cell, tri-sector, multi-beam, beamforming, and omnidirectional. These types of antennas are common in rural areas such as cities.
In most cases, they use collinear antennas with several dipoles vertically mounted above one another. All dipoles are always driven in phase to direct transmission power in the necessary direction. Consequently, there is minimal power in the unwanted direction.
The wavefronts received from independent dipoles strengthen one another to the dipole axis at 90 degrees.
Base Station antennas, mostly fabricated on circuit boards, use vertically looped or stacked dipole elements to act as a great radiating source.
3. Handheld Radios Antennas
Handheld Ham radio antennas generally take the look of the soldiers’ radios. They are common in the UHF, S, VHF, and L bands. They run at a frequency of 30 MHz to 3 GHz.
The whip is the most common type of antenna used in the handheld radio. It is rod-like with telescoping segments and is ideal for VHF and UHF bands. However, most handheld radio users say a stubby antenna is the best over the whip because of its length.
Consequently, this antenna does not keep pocking you while in the pocket. The stubby antenna is ideal for 700/800 MHz and UHF. Also, this is the best antenna for two-way radios.
The other classification of types of ham radio antennas is single-band, dipole, dual-band, and folding types of antennas. Let me discuss them fast.
Parting Shot
There are many types of ham radio antennas, and they can be categorized based on their design, among other factors.
Sadly, if you use the wrong antenna, you will have great trouble sending and receiving radio signals. It is ideal, therefore, to know your ham’s purpose and the manufacturer’s recommended antenna.
Another primary thing to know when deciding the best antenna is the range. Will you be using the radio for short-range or long-range communication? Long-range communication requires a stronger antenna. You can mount it to make it taller, thereby improving the strength of signals, while a short range would do fine with a short antenna.
Where you need to mount the antenna, ensure you do it correctly for blissful communication.
Hello, This is Andy, the founder of “AmateurRadioGuide” and an author to help others regarding Ham radio issues. I have very much experience on handheld, mobile, ham radio base stations, satellite and others two-way radio communication system.
Now I am helping others to fix different Ham radio related problems and giving advice to choose the perfect radio and accessories according their needs based on my skills. I am writing specially for beginners. Don’t hesitate to reach me through our our contact page.