The Ham radio is a retro yet the great invention of modern science. Amateur radio, which is also known as ham radio, is a non-commercial technique of communication with people. And to operate this radio, the antenna is the most important component. Are you interested in ham radio and want to know about Types of Ham Radio Antennas?
Don’t worry, to feed your curious mind, we are here to discuss different types of ham radio antennas available in the market.
So, let’s get started!
Every Thing You Should Know about HAM Radio Antenna
Ham radio is the easiest method of exploring the radio frequency spectrum. However, to be able to explore the spectrum, you will need a good antenna.
There are different options available in the market, but each one has different attributes to meet your different needs.
Let’s learn more from this article.
Different Types of Ham Radio Antennas
1. Log Periodic Antenna
This is one of the most popular and powerful antennas. This antenna can cover a wide range of frequencies.
They have a number of half-wave dipole parts spaced at constant intervals. These dipoles are active and have an “alternating polarity”. They operate using a “logarithmic function”.
Because of their structure, these antennas are sometimes also known as a log-periodic array or log-periodic aerial.
2. Ground plane antenna
This is one type of ham radio base station antenna which is effective and popular as well.
This antenna usually consists of a 19.25 inches vertical radiator, a SO- 239 connector, and a 420.25 inches element to construct the ground plane.
3. Yagi HAM antenna
This is another type of ham radio base station antenna. Yagi antenna is basically a directional antenna, which means they focus the output power, particularly in one direction.
However, you’ll need to be able to change the direction of the antenna if you want to connect with other hams which are in different directions.
4. Traveling Wave Ham Radio Antenna
These antennas support only one way of communication. They are also cheap as well as easy to construct.
These types of antennas can also be classified into two different groups based on the frequencies that they can support. Depending on your ham radio needs, you can pick between fast-wave and slow-wave antennas.
5. Dual Band VHF/UHF Antenna
This vertically polarized antenna is suitable for simplex and repeater operation on 2-meters and 70-centimeters. It is also beneficial on HF and VHF/UHF.
These antennas are probably the best choice for mobile communications and MF broadcasting. It does, however, require a good ground plane to perform efficiently.
6. Rubber Duck Antennas
This is probably the most used antenna by radio users. This is a small-sized vertical antenna that includes a helical radiating element and a rubber jacket outpart of it.
However, it is not a standard type of antenna as it can’t transmit and receive data efficiently and effectively.
7. Ham stick Antenna
It’s a copper-wrapped fiberglass tube that’s several feet long. On the end, there is a whip which is made of steel/There is also a screw to modify the length and as well as to reduce the SWR to your required frequency.
They become less efficient if they go beyond their normal size. In addition, the operational frequency range is somewhat limited, around 5 or 10 kHz.
Verdict
Hopefully, you have got basic knowledge of ham radio antenna from this article on ‘ham radio antenna types’.
However, make sure to read the details provided by the manufacturer to compare with your needs. And to get the most out of your antenna, make sure they’re at a good height and away from any kind of obstacles.
Resources:
https://www.reddit.com/r/amateurradio/comments/8o3j0y/what_is_a_hamstick_antenna/
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