By: KA5WNX
The Inverted V Dipole Antenna
A Favorite of Ham Radio and Short Wave Listeners
The Inverted dipole antenna is a all time favorite of Ham operators for years. The main reason is the ease of installations, durability, very low cost to build, and gets really good results.
The Inverted Dipole is nothing more than a dipole with it's legs pointed toward the ground. Each leg is calculated at 234/frequency in MHz.
I find that as the apex angle and each leg's nearness to the ground, it becomes necessary to shorten the leg length just a bit.
The overall performance of the Inverted dipole in general, more uniform than a straight dipole. The horizontal pattern, however, is less directive. the gain is similar to that of a standard dipole. The midpoint height becomes the height of the inverted dipole as its legs ends near the ground level.
I find that as the apex angle and each leg's nearness to the ground, it becomes necessary to shorten the leg length just a bit.
The overall performance of the Inverted dipole in general, more uniform than a straight dipole. The horizontal pattern, however, is less directive. the gain is similar to that of a standard dipole. The midpoint height becomes the height of the inverted dipole as its legs ends near the ground level.
A lot of my friends, when operating on 40 and 80 meters, quite often use eggshell insulators to break up the 40 and 80 meter length and then just merely use a jumper to make their 40 meter dipole an 80 meter dipole. This makes for easy transfer from one low band to another.
A lot of ham operators, myself included, often us an antenna leg with a 3/4 wavelength. long wire. This allow directional RF to a degree by tilting the legs forward slightly.
When this is done with the antenna, it usually refers to as a Vee Beam, though it's not really a beam. In either case, a horizontal three quarter wavelength antenna characteristic provides a six low pattern.
This change over is more unit directional pattern 1/4 wavelength leg, providing just two forward lobes. Typically the angle falls somewhere between 90 and 120 degrees. This technique can be used for a three quarter wave inverted Vee antenna, complete with jumpers using eggshell insulators to swap bands.
A lot of ham operators, myself included, often us an antenna leg with a 3/4 wavelength. long wire. This allow directional RF to a degree by tilting the legs forward slightly.
When this is done with the antenna, it usually refers to as a Vee Beam, though it's not really a beam. In either case, a horizontal three quarter wavelength antenna characteristic provides a six low pattern.
This change over is more unit directional pattern 1/4 wavelength leg, providing just two forward lobes. Typically the angle falls somewhere between 90 and 120 degrees. This technique can be used for a three quarter wave inverted Vee antenna, complete with jumpers using eggshell insulators to swap bands.
Formula: 234/Frequency in MHz. for Quarter Wave Inverted Dipole.
234/Frequency in MHz for each leg. To get the inches instead of a decimal point, just subtract the feet, and multiply 12 times to get the decimal point left over.
Formula: 702/Frequency in MHz. for 3/4 Quarter Wave Inverted Dipole.
234/Frequency in MHz for each leg. To get the inches instead of a decimal point, just subtract the feet, and multiply 12 times to get the decimal point left over.
Formula: 702/Frequency in MHz. for 3/4 Quarter Wave Inverted Dipole.
