WD8DSB Terminated Bowtie Receive Antenna

This antenna was designed for use on 160 meters, but it can also be used on 80 and 40 meters depending on what size you build.

A .pdf document can be downloaded at the bottom of this page that contains full details on the Terminated Bowtie Receive Antenna Design by WD8DSB (click on the downward pointing arrow in the bottom right of this page to download the .pdf document).

Note 1: this design looks very good on paper (modeling) for an antenna with RDF of approximately 9.5 and very good front to back ratio performance as well as ground independence, but it needs to be duplicated in the field in order to confirm its performance and ease of build, etc.

Note 2: After I published the attached document showing my Terminated Bowtie receive antenna design, I became aware of the fact that AM broadcast SWL enthusiasts have been using a bowtie antenna design that uses resistor termination prior to the time when I came up with my design. Therefore I'm not the first to come upon this design concept, but rather (it appears) to be the first to apply it to the ham bands as well as the first to evaluate it using the RDF parameter and first to plot front to back ratio versus elevation angle. It looks like credit for early development of the bowtie receive antenna with termination resistor for use by AM broadcast SWL enthusiasts should be given to Mark Connelly (WA1ION).

(website created and maintained by Don Kirk (wd8dsb), December 11, 2016)