Antenna Types.........

[RolandSWL]

Hi All,

 Can someone recommend a source of information (books, websites) for the various antennas used for amateur radio? Perhaps something with more practical information than heavy math. I took courses in R.F. theory in college, but dread dragging out those old textbooks, heavy with the calculus and stained with my tears.
 I'm mostly interested in relatively compact low band antennas as space is at a premium.

Thanks, Roland.............

[k4kyv]

A very good one is the Laporte Antenna Engineering book, printed in about 1951.  It covers just about everything on the subject of wire antennas, feed systems and ground systems, from VLF through HF, with loads of diagrams and pictures, and comprehensible English explanations that go easy on the mathematics.

You can probably find a used hard-cover copy on the web if you do a search (don't expect it to be cheap), plus last time I checked someone was publishing a paper-back reprint for about $15.

[K5UJ]

I think there is also good practical information in Bill Orr's Antenna Book.  Also ON4UN's Low Band DXing. 

A few simple principles I have learned that you don't often see written down anywhere:

Antenna height is important.  This may seem obvious but you'd be amazed at the number of otherwise competent hams who have tall trees but choose to put their 75 meter dipole up only 20 or 30 feet.  Small and high is better than big and low.  A 1/2 w. dipole high up is better than a 1 wave loop 40 feet lower to the ground.

Simple is better than complex.   Fan dipoles, capacitors, lots of traps, linear loading, stubs, baluns, bazookas, off center fed, G5RV, and on and on appeal mostly to hams who simply can't believe a simple wire center fed dipole way up high can be all that good.   Well it isn't; it's better.

There is no one antenna that covers 160 to 10 meters well, but there are plenty of hams in denial of this who have concocted all manner of self-deceptions to convince themselves that they have found the one really great antenna. 

Whatever you build, make it, the feedline and matching network (if you use one) able to handle a lot of power i.e. a few KW.  Even if you only plan to operate a Johnson Ranger it is a good idea.  Here's why:
  1.  AM, even  at low power levels, can do a number on wimpy components. 
  2.  You probably won't operate 50 watts forever.
  3.  In reality, the lower the power level you transmit with, the better and more efficient you need the antenna system to be.
  4.  Big and robust usually means higher reliability.

Obviously not everyone can have a wonderful antenna farm, but I encourage you to do the best you can with what you have.
I could ramble on but brevity is good.

Rob

[W8EJO]

Here are a few free resources:

Practical Antenna Handbook by Joseph Carr
625 pages
Download free here: http://www.eagle3.net/n4ywn/docs/PracticalAntennaHandbook-vol4.pdf

The late LB Cebik's website: http://www.cebik.com/
You'll need to create a login & password. lots of good info.

[Steve - K4HX]

The ARRL Antenna Handbook (especially more recent editions) is hard to beat.

http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-Antenna-Book-22nd-Softcover-Edition/


The ARRL also has two books specifically covering compact antennas.

http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-s-Small-Antennas-for-Small-Spaces/

http://www.arrl.org/shop/Backyard-Antennas/


And one for small 160 meter antennas.

http://www.arrl.org/shop/Short-Antennas-for-160-Meter-Radio/


The ON4UN books are excellent and extensively cover receive antennas too.

http://www.arrl.org/shop/ON4UN-s-Low-Band-DXing/


Finally, the ARRL has several volumes on wire antennas. These are taken from past QST articles and are very practicle and contain plenty of info on how to build the antennas.

http://www.arrl.org/shop/ARRL-s-Wire-Antenna-Classics/

http://www.arrl.org/shop/More-Wire-Antenna-Classics-Volume-2/

[WA1GFZ]

A Vee beam or center fed dipole will cover all bands if fed with open wire line and a good tuner. Make it a fan configuration and it is easier to tune. An end fed wire will also work if driven with an l network but being unbalanced there will be plenty of RF near the tuner. Also needs a good ground.  It will work best if a 1/2 wave long at lowest frequency but as KB3AHE has proven a shorter antenna will play well if driven correctly.

[KM1H]

I agree about ON4UN and the ARRL Antenna Book as well as Orr's handbooks.

Carr was a hack writer and Cebik is 90% plaigarizer and the rest is BS; I wouldnt waste a penny on that site.

For just receiving a T2FD is hard to beat if built and installed per the 11/51 and 2/53 issues of CQ. What passes for a T2FD on the market is mostly crap and its easy to build one for receive.

Carl

[W4NEQ]

The ARRL Antenna Handbook is the most accessible and comprehensive antenna book in existence for Ham & SWL antennas.

IMHO every amateur should own at least one ARRL Handbook and one ARRL Antenna Handbook.  95% of hams will never need anything else.

After you own both, then look elsewhere.  It amazes me that there are hams that don't have either one.  Then again, in recent years we've picked up our share of illiterate people.

Chris

[WB2CAU]

Carr was a hack writer and Cebik is 90% plaigarizer and the rest is BS; I wouldnt waste a penny on that site.

I always liked Carr's books because they were easy to read and understand.  Why would you call him a "hack writer"? 

[W8EJO]

Here are a few more free references:

Orr's 1959 handbook: http://www.tubebooks.org/Books/intro_orr_radio.pdf

ARRL's 1941 handbook: http://www.tubebooks.org/Books/arrl_1941.pdf

[RolandSWL]

Thank you all for this information. I need all the help I can get. Finally getting into amateur radio has been a dream deferred for the last 30+ years.
Roland.....

[Steve - K4HX]

Roland, if you get some of these books, read them and experiment, you'll end up knowing more about antennas than the vast majority of hams! Have fun.

[WA1GFZ]

Carl,
How about posting some information on the T2FD. I'm thinking of putting one up at the beach qth for BB rx.

[Steve - K4HX]

Designs all over the web, even friggin Wikipedia.

It's nothing special - nothing more than a resistively loaded folded dipole.

[WA1GFZ]

you  mean there is no magic dust

[KB2WIG]

you  mean there is no magic dust

ask Santa or his old lady


klc

[Steve - K4HX]

No, only magic pills and those are all over the Web too!   

you  mean there is no magic dust

[K6IC]

Agree with most of the above -- am unfamiliar with a number of those suggestions.

In addition,  Les Moxon, G6XN's book,  "HF Antennas for All Locations",  an RSGB pub,   was distributed by the ARRL but is currently out of stock per the ARRL Store.  Amazon lists this paperback book,  however.  Believe that the there is an updated version of this venerable book listed at the RSGB Bookstore.

In looking for a couple of paragraph overview of the book,  found what appears to be a downloadable version,  but did not try the link. (gutless).

This is a great book -- not too technical/theoretical.  Lotsa ideas,  and a good starting point for many different designs -- mostly wire antennas.

Have Fun,  Vic

[Steve - K4HX]

I have Moxon's book. It is chock full of ideas and quite a few things I've never seen in an USA based books. I did find it a little hard to follow since it was written very much in a narrative style

[KM1H]

you  mean there is no magic dust

Only if you follow the instructions.

I'll try and scan those issues tomorrow and post here. If you want to transmit you will need a high wattage non inductive R or model it to pick a length that is more efficient on 75.