Amateur Radio: Antenna Design

Here are some popular antenna designs courtesy of ARRL and others.

Your First Antenna (quoted from the article on ARRL)

I was first licensed in 1959 and quickly put up my first antenna. I didn't bother doing any research into the subject like looking at a book or magazine. After all, how hard could it be? I had passed my Novice test and I knew some formulas. I put up a 132 foot dipole for 80 meters at about 10 feet and fed it with what I had laying around, TV twin lead. The antenna didn't work. I wondered why.

We want you to avoid such an experience so we have put up this page. The articles here have been hand picked from the pages of QST with the beginner in mind. There is a little antenna theory, again with the beginner in mind, and some simple to construct antenna projects that work well.--Al Alvareztorres AA1DO (SK)

The links below are direct links to the ARRL and DX Zone's website and are quite informative. It's generally easier to find information on W9JCA.COM than on the those websites. These links take you directly to the page described.

Antenna Analysis and Designers on DX Zone
Here you'll find a plethora of assorted antenna calculators and and more. Please use this at your own risk, but along with ARRL info, I've included some of the links that I found useful from these websites on the list below.

HF Wire
Use the trees nearby to run a great dipole. Here are a few ideas.

HF Vertical
No trees nearby? Stick up a tall pole and some radials. Here are some ideas.

HF Beams
You'll find info here about different types of beam antennas and how to build one.

HF Loop Antennas
Live in an area when you can't put up a big antenna? Here are some options that won't make your apartment folks too upset.

HF Mobile
Yes, you can build your own mobile antenna. Here are 5 options that might help you out.

HF Trap Antennas
You can build your own multi-band antenna and save a bundle over commercially made models. And learn something on the way.

NEC2 Antenna Modeler and Optimizer
4nec2 is a completely free Nec2, Nec4 and Windows based tool for creating, viewing, optimizing and checking 2D and 3D style antenna geometry structures and generate, display and/or compare near/far-field radiation patterns for both the starting and experienced antenna modeler. 

EZNEC Antenna Modeling Software
Here's another modeling program designed for Windows. There are free versions and a Pro version.

N6ACH Quad Calculator
Instead of a traditional Yagi or dipole antenna, consider a quad antenna for your next project. This will help.

VHF Omni
From dual band J-Poles to home brewed multi band antennas. You might find one that will work for you.

VHF / UHF Yagi (beam)
K7MEM's quick calculator on designing Yagi Antennas. It's suggested that you read this page first.

VHF Beams
Here's another one on VHF beams that you can build out of supplies found at a hardware store.

UHF Beams
And still another. Easy projects to construct your own UHF beam.

J-Pole Antenna Calculator
Here you'll find a J-Pole calculator that will let you design this easy-to-build antenna for nearly any ham frequency.

VHF Mobile
Popular antennas that you can make yourself.

VHF--More Projects
A few ideas on different types of antennas.

MF/HF Receiving Wire Antennas
These articles cover beverage, EWE, K9AY Loop, and flagpole antennas. Interesting and informative.