Ham Radio Vertical Antenna Projects
Guides and projects for building vertical antennas, including designs for HF, multiband, and specific bands like 160m, 80m, and 40m.
Vertical antennas are a popular choice for many ham radio operators, especially those with limited space for large wire arrays. These antennas are known for their low angle of radiation, which can be very effective for working DX on HF bands. They come in various configurations, from simple ground-mounted designs to more complex multiband systems, and are often easier to install than horizontal antennas.
This category offers many antenna projects for hams looking to build their own vertical arrays. Operators can find detailed guides for constructing multiband HF verticals, including trapped designs and those using fishing poles or irrigation tubing. There are also resources for specialized projects like balloon-supported verticals for low bands, phased vertical antenna systems, and portable setups using magnetic mounts. Specific designs, such as the Hudson antenna for 80 and 40 meters or broadband verticals like the G8JNJ, provide practical examples for homebrewers.
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Multiband & Trapped Vertical Antennas (67)
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a simple, low-cost, trapless short vertical antenna which amazingly works on three HF bands (20, 15 and 10 meters) -
A PDF document detailing the construction of a vertical wideband antenna for 7-21 MHz (40-15 meters), including design principles and assembly. -
Home made vertical antenna for 80 40 15 10 meters ARRL PDF file taken from QST June 1978 -
An effective 10-20m DX antenna for deed restricted lots. The article by K7ZB introduces a simple 10-20m DX antenna suitable for deed-restricted lots. The antenna, a 15' vertical design, facilitated contacts with over 200 countries worldwide. Its design employs a telescopic aluminum tube and radial wires for multi-band operation, requiring an external antenna tuner for optimal performance. The mounting scheme and construction details ensure effectiveness and ease of use. -
GAP Titan DX Evaluation, antenna for 10m 15m 20m 40m 80m -
Simple vertical radiator with matching box. No traps, no tuner required for this multiband antenna -
The IK-STIC 2 is a vertical, all band, antenna that is over 25 feet tall yet weighs under 5 pounds. Based on a telescopic pipe or a fiberglass fishing pole, using a tuner it can easily cover the amateur radio HF bands from 40 - 10 Meters -
Here's an award-winning, easy-to-homebrew, multi-band portable vertical antenna designed by long-time antenna aficionado James Bennett, KA5DVS. He documented the design and construction plans for a portable antenna that can be built with relatively ordinary components -
Build the PAC-12 Antenna a multi-band portable vertical designed by KA5DVS, here's an award-winning, easy-to-homebrew, multi-band portable vertical antenna designed by long-time antenna aficionado James Bennett, KA5DVS. He's documented the design and construction plans for a portable antenna -
How repair the traps, and then homebrew the rest of the antenna, including the matching box -
A vertical antenna for stationary-mobile HF-VHF operation. It works on 2-6-10 and 12 meters band. -
Construct a stealth multiband vertical antenna for 80m, 60m, 40m, and 30m using a 12m Spiderbeam fiberglass pole and custom L-networks. -
The Petlowany Three-Band Burner is a simple, low-cost, trapless short vertical antenna which amazingly works on three HF bands (20, 15 and 10 meters). This web page contains pictures, performance data, and enough construction details so you can homebrew your own. -
This is a vertical multiband antenna made up of several aerial elements lambda/4 length, feeded with just a coaxial cable in French. -
The web page provides detailed information on a portable 10/20/40 meter vertical antenna designed for mobile operations, including modifications for 20 and 40 meters. It includes images and descriptions of the antenna setup in a car. The content is useful for amateur radio operators looking to enhance their mobile communication capabilities. -
There is considerable confusion as to what exactly a multiband vertical antenna is. The confusion concerns the method of feed, how much mismatch one can expect, how many radials are required, how the particular antenna is built for multiband use, plus some other points. -
An HF multiband trapped antenna in french -
A vertical antenna project than can present low swr from 40 to 10 meters by using a balun in french -
This vertical antenna consist of a 18 meters telescopic pole and allow operations from 160 to 30 meters band, project by Daniel Zimmerman N3OX -
A 20 and 40 meter vertical on Autopilot by K6MHE PDF File -
A simple and low cost multiband vertical hf antenna covering 5 bands (20m-10m) from an old CB antenna -
A project of a vertical and wires that generate a multiband antenna for 28 14 10 and 7 Mhz in french -
A telescopic pole that you adjust to suit the band you're working on , tested on 40 20 and 15 meters band by M0PZT -
21 28 and 50MHz three bands whip antenna by JA1HWO -
A vertical antenna that can cover HF bands using an UN UN and a fishing pole, usage of tuner is requested. -
Multiband no trap no gap antenna. This Antenna is a small wonder, easy to build and allow you to work all HF spectrum with your TRX and it's internal ATU. -
Don't buy or build a semi-vertical trap antenna until you read this article! If you can use a drill, saw and screwdriver this is a simple project. -
This article explores the performance of an unloaded vertical as a multi-band HF antenna. -
Choosing a vertical antenna. Buying guide to amateur radio HF vertical antennas by Bencher inc -
This article explores the performance of an unloaded elevated vertical, base matching and feed line as a multi-band HF antenna system. -
Performance of an unloaded ground mounted vertical as a multi-band HF antenna. -
A short multi-band vertical antenna -
The H-Pole is a vertical multiband wire antenna for 160-10 meters bands -
A multiband vertical dipole antenna by ON4BAI -
Fine tuning your Multiband Hustler Vertical -
A vertical portable antenna system by W0SJS that will work on 40, 30, 20, 17 and 15 meters -
A vertical antenna for 40 and 80 meters band with no need of antenna tuner, based on a telescopic fiberglass mast of 48 feet by N8NSN -
A multiband quarter wave vertical antenna that works on 5 bands. -
YF1AR multiband vertical antenna, based on orginal concept by VE7BS. Consist of 6 vertical elements and 6 base radials with a single 50 Ohm feed line. -
A 11 pages pdf file about monoband or multiband end fed half wave vertical antenna that is great for DX and very cheap to build by Steve G0KYA -
A project for a vertical antenna for 60 to 20 meters by KV5R -
Add bands to your Hustler xBTV Series Vertical -
An easy to make, cheap, no trap, multiband wire vertical antenna by PA1M -
A 40 ft vertical dipole antenna that can cover HF Bands from 80 to 10 meters winding a dipole in a 12m HD telescoping fiberglass pole -
An home made Butternut HF9V clone antenna by OH2GVB -
6BTV (or 5BTV or 4BTV) mod for 12 and 17 meter bands, how to make a 7BTV or 8BTV or 9BTV, easy and cheap -
This antenna project came out very nice. It's a rugged homebrew multi-band trap vertical antenna that works the 10, 15, and 20 meter amateur radio bands. The antenna can be mounted on the ground or on a mast. Mounted on the ground the antenna has a low take off angle for working DX. If mounted on a mast the antenna will acheive both a low angle as well as another radiation lobe that has a much higher take off angle. -
A homebrew fishing-rod vertical using a very nice design from EB5EKT. This antenna works 20, 30, and 40M bands by selecting the tap points using alligator clips -
5 Band 1/4 wave Telescopic Antenna. The 20m to 10m, antenna is simple and cheap to make, and has a performance that matches commercial antennas but at cost considerably lower. The design was purposely based on a telescoping fibre glass fishing rod as this allows it to be easily stowed away in the car. -
An homemade portable vertical antenna with a trap near the mid point of the main element. The trap is made with 42mm diameter PVC pipe with 9 turns of wire on it -
A project of a semi vertical trap antenna that can be tuned for 7 bands -
A 4-Band vertical antenna that needs NO tuner, NO traps. Implement an LC matched on 4 bands with relay switching. -
A multiband vertical antenna for HF bands with elevated ground radials slant down at 45 degrees and acting also as guy wires. -
A simple, cheap and easy to build 26 feet long vertical antenna that works DX on 20 - 10 meters including WARC Bands, it is designed for portability for field days, camping, or permanent installation, cost, and to achieve at least 1/2 wavelength on the WARC bands. -
An article about the Rybakov 806 Vertical antenna. The classic Rybakov configuration is a 7.6m or 8m ( aprox 25 or 26 feet) wire fed through a 4:1 UNUN -
This antenna is an omnidirectional and multiband and it is well suited for DX enthusiasts with limited space. Each of the parallel circuits (trap) behaves like an isolator on its resonant frequency. -
A dual band 40-80 vertical antenna on an 18m Spiderbeam Fiberglass Spiderpole, with monoband performance -
A dual band vertical antenna for 160 and 80 meters band, on a 18m spiderbeam fiberglass pole. This vertical is a good compromise when you want good performance on these two low ham bands and don't have the space to install two seperate antennas. -
The reason for making this antenna was the desire for a vertical (hence DX-ish) antenna that would cover at least 20m that would fit on my 5m fishing pole. This antenna can work on 20m 17m 15m bands and it is suitable for SOTA operations -
A vertical antenna project for POTA operations. This shortened antenna is aimed to work from 20 to 40 meter band implementing a loading coil, with an additional wire lenght, determined by on field testing and tuning. -
This article describes the construction of a three-band vertical antenna for the WARC bands (10, 18, and 24.9 MHz). Unlike a previous design using thin wire requiring a complex matching device, this version uses a telescopic set of pipes, reducing reactances and simplifying the matching device to two coils and two capacitors. The article provides details on the antenna model, the matching device circuit, and tuning methods, including the use of frameless coils and variable capacitors. With proper tuning, the antenna achieves a VSWR not exceeding 1.3 across all bands, demonstrating a practical and efficient design for amateur radio enthusiasts. -
Vertical antenna tests at the Sonten-Rancabali tea resort in Ciwidey, West Java. The assembly, led by Mr. Dian Kurniawan and the team, took just 20 minutes. Mrs. Mita performed the transmit check-in test, which was received across various regions in Indonesia, including Sulawesi, East Java, and Bangka Belitung. The team will release a video of the test soon and has thanked colleagues YB3HRY and YB0BAW for their reports. -
This article describes a simple yet effective multi-band vertical HF antenna design that performs exceptionally well across 80m to 10m bands. The antenna consists of a 13.4m wire mounted on a 12.4m Spiderpole, complemented by four 12m radials and a ground rod. Initially tuned with a manual LC circuit, it was later upgraded with a CG3000 remote auto ATU for convenient band switching. Despite antenna modeling software suggesting limited performance on higher frequencies, the system demonstrated excellent DX capabilities across all bands, outperforming more complex vertical antenna designs. -
This article documents the author's journey in building, modifying, and testing a DIY short vertical antenna for 40, 30, and 20 meters, with potential 80m capability. Initially inspired by Parks On The Air (POTA), the author explores pedestrian mobile operation and details various experiments to enhance antenna performance. The piece highlights challenges, SWR tuning, portability, and practical results, emphasizing a balance between efficiency and size. Ultimately, it showcases the adaptability of DIY antennas for portable ham radio applications. -
Learn how to build your own QRPGuys DS-1 40-10m short vertical antenna for ham radio operators. This page provides detailed instructions on constructing this antenna, which covers the 40 to 10-meter bands. Whether you're a beginner looking to get started with antenna building or an experienced ham radio operator looking for a new project, this resource is useful for anyone interested in DIY antennas for portable or QRP operations. -
A construction project for a compact, lightweight, and cost-effective 5-band HF vertical antenna, inspired by commercial designs like the DX COMMANDER. -
This PDF document provides detailed information on the design, construction, and tuning of trapped vertical antennas with radials for ham radio operators. It covers the theory behind trapped antennas, practical considerations for installation, and tips for optimizing performance. Whether you are a beginner looking to build your first HF antenna or an experienced operator seeking to improve your station setup, this guide offers valuable insights and instructions. By understanding the principles outlined in this document, hams can enhance their operating experience and make the most of their radio communication capabilities.
Portable & Mobile Vertical Antennas (19)
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Vertical transportable HF antenna by CT1BYR -
KQ6RH HF quick vertical antenna with plan for several bands from 10 to 75 meters -
G3JVL Six meters ground plane vertical is a compact antenna that is ideal for portable operations on 50 Mhz -
Instructions for building an HF mobile antenna from a CB whip base. Covers design, construction, mounting, grounding, and band switching for 7-28 MHz. -
Effective HF Mobile Antennas Keith WB2VUO, explains difficulties on gaining antennas efficiency on lower bands with mobile antennas. -
Homemade 40 through 6 meter HF portable multiband antenna, an aluminium antenna construction article, with plan, drawings and photos -
This antenna is based on a 10 Metre long fibreglass fishing pole -
A Versatile Innovative Portable Multi-band Tunable Antenna can work HF VHF and UHF ideal as portable or balcony antenna -
This page shows a homebrew vertical antenna based on the Pac-12 antenna design. -
W3FF article about the buddistick portable vertical antenna in a PDF file -
A quick vertical for 160 meters portable use -
A vertical monoband that's small, light and portable, needs no counterpoise and performs as well as a home antenna -
The Joystick antenna was used many years ago as an all band vertical HF antenna under restricted space situations that would cover from 80 meters thru 10 meters with a tuner and was a great commercial success Some hams even had success with it on 160 meters. -
This Field Day Vertical Antenna project is the result of many years of attending various field day sites and realizing that what was needed is a simple, easy to assemble vertical antenna. -
A vertical antenna for Six Meters band -
Theory and origins of W4RNL Asymmetrical Hatted Vertical Dipole AHVD for portable operations. -
Experimenting vertical wire antennas for 40 and 20 meters supported by balloons resulting in excellent gain in RX and good overall performance against horizontal dipole -
This Field Day Vertical Antenna project is the result of many years of attending various field day sites and realizing that what was needed is a simple, easy to assemble vertical antenna. The design of this Field Day Antenna is not very novel and leverages ideas from Butternut verticals and ARRL publications. The one essential requirement was that the antenna can be raised by just one person. The design of this Field Day Antenna is an above ground mounted ground plane vertical. -
This page offers a tool for hams to design vertical antennas for portable use on different HF/VHF/UHF bands. Vertical antennas provide omni-directional transmission and reception, making them ideal for DX contacts. By adjusting the antenna's dimensions and viewing radiation patterns and VSWR charts, hams can optimize performance in various terrains. The tool also accounts for the impact of sloping ground on elevation radiation patterns. Perfect for hams looking to enhance their portable radio setups and improve long-distance communication.
Ground Systems & Phased Arrays (19)
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Phased arrays of short vertical antennas. A technical notes from Butternut antennas on phased vertical arrays -
a guide to help install arrays -
Short guide to build your own groundplane antenna, includes radial measurements fro warc bands -
The secret with this antenna is to install as many radials as you can around the base of the antenna, they can be anything from 1/8 wave or longer. -
Radial systems for elevated and ground mounted vertical antennas by SteppIR -
This high antenna require a large ground composed by 40 radials. It's not very handy expecially in windy situations but is very powerfull in pile-ups. In italian -
The array consists of 7 vertical antennas arranged as 6 verticals in a hexagon shape plus 1 additional vertical in the center of the hexagon -
A 20 meter quarter wave vertical antenna by jerry sevick W2FMI QST Article -
Phased vertical antenna system in french -
One of the most useful antennas in the repertoire is the Marconi or quarter wave grounded vertical antenna. Its invention made it possible to halve the length of antennas, simplifying communications, especially at HF and below. -
How to build a ground plane antenna for the 40 meters band in french -
The basic antenna is a vertical monopole, using elevated radials to complete the ground plane by k5oe -
Experiments with phased wire vertical antennas on 40 meters at VA7ST -
This 80M antenna is a pair of raised 1/4-wave verticals -
Ground Plane antennas and common mode -
A detailed project on building and phasing two 40-meter vertical antennas, including construction photos, SWR measurements, and Christman phasing -
Pictures and description of a SteppIr vertical antenna setup in a small backyard using DX Engineering radial plates. -
Relevance of a proper ground systems on short HF vertical antennas, with an analysis on a vertical antenna for 160 meter band -
This article explains the trick of how to shorten and lengthen pairs of radials to make a 2-band ground plane antenna. Included is a "Table of Multi-Band Possibilities" covering the range of 6 to 40 meters.
Single Band HF Vertical Antennas (30)
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By Dave Gauding, NF0R -
Vertical antenna for 40 meters band -
90 foot tall top loaded vertical for 160 meters -
7 MHz Vertical antenna for ham radio band of 40 meter text in spanish and english -
Simple wire antenna cheap to make, using readily available materials, Low angle radiation, with rejection of high angle signals Wide bandwidth, with resonance at the 80M DX window (3.790-3.800 MHz); and Maximum height is 40 feet -
This antenna is intended as a simple, inexpensive solution for the newcomer to experiment across the 40m band (7.0-7.2MHz) when only restricted space is available -
The Cedevita-20 is a hybrid monoband antenna, the result of merging the radiator of a shortened vertical with one element of a dipole. It fits on most balconies and must be hung from the ceiling. By ik1zyw Paolo Cravero -
20m T-Monopole short vertical antenna for 20 meters by AA5TB -
A low cost, low profile DX antenna fro 17 Meters -
This page describes a homebrew 80/40 meter trap vertical antenna. Includes an interesting antenna raising system that allow easy setup and tuning. -
A 3.5 Mhz top loaded vertical antenna built using 2 elevated radials by DJ9RB -
Detailed construction guide for a 90-foot vertical antenna made from aluminum irrigation tubing, featuring a unique ginpole raising system. -
A loopy loop loaded vertical antenna operating range 7.0 to 7.3 MHz by S. C. Chuck Smith, WA7RAI -
Construction details for a shortened, self-supporting 30/40 meter vertical antenna by IK4DCS. Includes design choices, mechanical structure, and tuning. -
A simple drawing of a shortened antenna for 40 meters by using a PVC tube -
This article describes the design of an antenna for local contacts on 7MHz, including a simple and efficient matching system that presents a 50 ohm load to the transceiver. -
This 80/160 meter antenna is constructed from six 12 foot aluminum tubes to form a slip-up mast antenna some 60 feet high by K0RWU -
A self supporting vertical antenna for 80 meters by W9OY include pictures and construction details -
Homebrew a vertical antenna for 40 and 80 meters band based on popular HF2V model by DL7JV -
3 Band vertical Marconi-antenna for the bands 40, 80, 160 meters with a ground net of wires as radials. -
YF1AR 80 to 40 meter vertical antenna project -
The antenna is comprised of three lengths of 12 foot aluminum which telescope together. -
Design of a 40 meter Vertical antenna -
Homebrew a 1/4 wave 80 meter vertical using aluminium tubing -
A vertical antenna for 40 meters band by PA5MW -
A simple quarter-wave length vertical for 40m band using a 12 m spiderpole -
An HF vertical antenna by N3OX with a flexible capacitance hat -
Shortened vertical antenna for 40 meters band an homebrew project -
Homebrew a 5/8 wave ground plane antenna for 10 meter band. Interesting article with lots of pictures and homebrew details. -
Examines the internal construction of the _Antron 99_ vertical antenna, detailing its coaxial phasing sections and fiberglass radome design for 10-17 meter oper
VHF/UHF Vertical Antennas (12)
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This antenna is very useful for receiving or scanning purposes, but you can use it for transmitting, too. It is 2,94m long and has a pi-configuration (Collins-Filter) for the matching. -
Described here is a simple omni-directional, vertically-polarized dipole for two meters. Made from coaxial cable, it can be rolled up and stored in a small container -
The page describes the construction of a simple omnidirectional, vertically-polarised dipole antenna for two metres using coaxial cable. It can be used indoors or outdoors, with no extravagant gain claims. The project is low-cost and can be completed in about 20 minutes. -
1/2wave vertical antenna for the 6-meterband and a 5/8 ground plane antenna for 50 Mhz -
A schematic for a homebrew dual-band VHF/UHF vertical antenna, detailing construction for 2m and 70cm operation. Includes dimensions and components. -
A quarter wave antenna with dimensions for uhf and vhf bands -
By Guy, de ON6MU, At VHF, both the 1/4-wavelength monopole and the 5/8-wavelength monopole antennas are widely used. -
A full wave 2-meter VHF omnidirectional antenna by ON6MU -
5/8 vertical groundplane antenna for six meters band -
A vertical monoband antenna design that can work from 6 meters to 70 cm by F5ZV in French -
C-Poles for 20m and 6m, it is a folded half-wave dipole with an asymmetrical tapped 50-Ohm-point in the lower part of the antenna. Design hints by DK7ZB -
The advantage of 5/8 wave antenna is that it has the lowest angle of radiation and has about 1dB more gain when compared to 1/4 and 1/2 verticals. So the 5/8 should be the favourite choice for DX.
Low Bands Verticals (7)
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Construction details for a **90-foot tall, top-loaded vertical antenna** specifically designed for the 160-meter band, built using aluminum irrigation -
Detailed construction and modification guide for a dual-band 160m/80m elevated vertical antenna, converting from trap-based to relay-switched operation -
A homebrew project detailing the construction of a 10/14MHz (30m/20m) vertical antenna utilizing a coaxial cable trap for dual-band operation. -
This is a custom home made antenna, based on concept of commercial HF antennas, that may work on 160 meters too. -
Design for a quarter wave vertical antenna, for the top band in use at V31YN -
GW4ALG details his experiments with vertical antennas for 136 kHz, including a prototype, an experimental 12m vertical, and balloon-supported wire -
Construction details for the KE4UYP linear-loaded vertical antenna, optimized for 80 and 160 meters, featuring high efficiency and dual polarization.
Antenna Design & Theory (8)
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OE1MWW monopole antenna made with common RG 58 or RG 213 coaxial cable -
This basic calculator is designed to give the aproximate length (height) of a particular vertical antenna, for the frequency and wavelength chosen. -
Design your own 5/8 wave vertical antenna. A simple jscript calculator at Antenna Elmer. -
A study on 20m antennas by Kenny Silverman, K2KW -
Learnings from the 6Y4A CQ WW CW Contest By K2KW and N6BT -
Double T Bar Vertical antenna are vertical antenna with cross bars on the top and bottom. These crossbars provide capacitance loading thus reducing the size of the antenna -
Simulation of a top loaded vertical antenna for 1.2 MHz -
Experiments on vertical antennas for HF bands.
Other resources (6)
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The G3JVL 6 Meter ground plane vertical is a compact antenna that is ideal for portable operations. If needed, it can be disassembled into a very small bundle no longer than the longest element. -
This article describes how an effective ground system can be produced for a short vertical antenna. -
The St. Louis Vertical Revisited by Dave Gauding, NF0R here are a few ideas and observations on the St. Louis Vertical -
Development of the Slim Jim antenna for HF -
The Little Stick antenna is an aluminium version of the Vertical Bazooka design which was made from coax. -
A simple and awesome wire monoband antenna, very usefull for portable and dxpeditions usage, consist of two elements, a driver and the reflector. This endfed halfwave gives a very low take off angle and is very suited for chasing DX.