Index

Please note that index links point to page beginnings from the print edition. Locations are approximate in e-readers, and you may need to page down one or more times after clicking or tapping a link to get to the indexed material.

Note: Boldface numbers denote definitions and/or primary coverage of a topic.

1.8 MHz (160-meter) antennas, 401–423

3-dB bandwidth, 711

3-dB beamwidth, 711

3-dB points, 711

4-square array, 273–274

4nec2, 546

-wavelength ground-plane vertical, 157, 429–430

λ/2 half-delta sloper (HDS), 214–215

λ/2 loop, 207–209

1λ loops, 209–216

2λ (bisquare) loop, 215–216

11-year cycle, ionospheric propagation, 56

22-year cycle, ionospheric propagation, 56

27-day cycle, ionospheric propagation, 56

360-degree directional array, 272–273

A

absorbed power (P_ABS), 578

absorption by atmosphere, 44, 64, 73

accelerated charge, 13, 87, 92–93, 717

acceleration, 716

Adcock, Frank, Lt., 520

Adcock antenna, 520–523

adjacent-channel interference, 156, 360

adjustable plunger termination, 463, 466

admittance (Y), 142, 564, 575, 579

æther (also ether), 13, 90–91

air-articulated line, 112–113

airborne radio, 40

airport proximity to tower, 700

Alexanderson alternators, 4

aluminum oxide suspension, 290

aluminum tubing, 293

aluminum vs. copper radiators, 193–194, 299, 317

amateur radio operators, 4–6

AM band portable radio, 515

AM broadcast band, 45, 52, 58, 334, 339, 342, 358, 360, 401, 511, 515, 516, 520, 654

AM/FM broadcast station antenna(s), 5, 266, 401, 421, 654, 694

radial fields, 240–241, 401, 403, 694

American Radio Relay League (ARRL), 45, 58, 66, 77, 226, 275, 314, 332–333, 396, 704

ammeter (thermocouple RF), 603

amplifier, 355, 356, 587

amplitude modulation (AM), 4

analyzer, 186, 187

(See also SWR analyzer; vector network analyzer)

angle of incidence, 22–23, 47, 59–63

angle of reflection, 22–23

angular frequency (ω), 115

angular velocity, 716

antenna, 14, 81

antenna modeling software (See modeling software)

antenna noise temperature, 491–495

antenna tuning unit (ATU), 221–222, 533–544

for 1.8 MHz, 403–404, 413–414, 421

balun, 540–544

benefits, 533–534

circuit configurations, 534–540

for high-frequency dipoles, 177, 187, 416

lumped-component, 535–540

reactance cancellation, 534–535

remotely tuned, 534

shielding, 539–540

split-capacitor network, 538–539

(See also tuning)

antipode, 65

aperture, 17, 471, 478

(See also effective aperture)

apex angle (longwire), 261–262

arcing, 315, 365

Armstrong oscillator circuit, 354–355

array factor, 153–159

arrays, 149–171

all-driven, 149–161

broadside array, 151–152

broadside gain, 156–157

cardioid, 157–158

collinear, 156, 376, 430, 432

end-fire array, 152–153, 154–155, 215

fundamentals, 149–159

ground effects, 163–171

parasitic, 161–162, 277–314, 419, 434–436

phase shift, 485–487

quadrature phasing, 158–159

receiving, 161

side lobes, 156

Watson-Watt Adcock array, 522–523

astronomy (See radio astronomy antennas)

atmospheric layers and radio propagation, 20–22, 38–44

atmospheric noise (QRN), 331, 389

atmospheric pressure, 9, 34

attenuation constant (α), 120

attenuation of radio waves, 15–17, 28, 36, 42–44, 61

attenuation in transmission lines, 119–121, 135–138, 447–449, 582–583, 585

attic-installed antennas, 364–366

auroral propagation, 75–76

azimuthal equidistant projection (See great circle paths)

B

back lobes, 477

backscatter, 71

balanced transmission line, 110–111, 114

balun, 139–140, 196, 215, 302, 441–442, 445, 540–544, 629, 631–633, 636

current transformer wattmeter, 608–613

ferrite core, 540–544

multifilar windings, 540–541

multi-impedance (tapped), 540–541

strain relief, 543

trifilar windings, 540

turns, 543–544

windings, 540–544

winding techniques, 542–544

bandwidth, 177–178, 200, 292, 316–319, 381–382, 711

beam antennas (rotatable):

cubical quad, 315–324

Moxon, 306–308

W8JK, 277

Yagi, 277–314

ZL-special, 264

beam vs. beamwidth, 278

beamwidth, 279, 476–477

bent dipole, 157, 200, 202, 306–308, 316, 416, 549–554

(See also dipole)

Beverage, H. H., 333

Beverage or “wave” antenna, 67, 182, 332–341

bidirectional, 339–340

cone of silence, 334

efficiency, 182, 332–333

feedpoint impedance and matching, 334, 338

grounding, 333–338

installation of, 333–338

insulators, 337

maximum effective length (MEL), 334–335

on the ground (BOG), 341

phased, 340

termination resistors, 336–337

testing, 338–339

bidirectional RDF patterns, 512–514

Binns, Jack, first maritime radio distress call, 3–4

binomial array, 156

BIP (beams in phase), 309–312

Bird Thruline wattmeter, 608–612

bisquare (2λ) loop, 215–216

bobtail curtain, 262–263

Boltzmann’s constant (k), 491

BOP (beams out of phase), 309–312

boundary conditions:

antenna modeling, 545

ends of radiating elements, 321

microwave waveguides and antennas, 452–453

perfectly conducting surfaces, 164, 334

bowtie dipole, 196–197

“box” loops, 345–348

branch feed (microwave arrays), 485–486

bridges:

impedance bridge, 590–592

RF noise bridge, 592–598

VSWR bridge, 605–606

Wheatstone bridge, 590–592

broadbanded dipoles, 193–197

broadside array, 151–152

Brooke, E. F., 226

Byrne, John, 226

C

c (speed of light), 12, 13, 93

cage dipole, 197

capacitance, 83

capacitive reactance (X_C), 83, 564, 566

capacitance tuned loop, 346–351

capacitors, 83

charging current and voltage, 88, 91–92, 722–723

geometries, 83, 92

cardioid array, 158–159

cardioid pattern, 158–159, 513–514

Cartesian coordinates, 453–454, 546–548

Cassegrain feed, 483–484

cavity antenna, 480

CC&Rs (See restrictive covenants)

cell phones, 6

Celsius (temperature), 491–492

center insulator, 629–634

characteristic (of a logarithm), 708, 709

characteristic (surge) impedance (Z₀):

transmission line, 110, 112–113, 114–118

waveguide, 461–463

charge, 82

accelerated, 13, 87, 92–93, 717

Chen, Kok, W7AY, 310, 557

choke joints, 466–467

citizens’ band (CB) radio, 62, 231, 277, 368, 375

conversion of CB antennas to 10 m, 231

“cliff-dweller” antenna, 369, 371

cloud burner, 165, 215

coaxial cable, 112–113

baluns, 139–140

checking, 615–617

RG-series, 112, 143, 268

rotator loop, 677–678

(See also transmission lines)

coaxial vertical, 427–429

co-channel interference, 156

cocoaNEC, 310, 546, 557

coil-loaded antennas, 198–201, 207–209, 373, 379–382, 391–392, 404–406

collinear dipole, 430, 432

common-mode choke, 231

compass bearing, 67

complex admittance, 142, 564, 575, 725

complex conjugate, 142, 725–726

impedance matching, 142

complex impedance, 84–85

complex plane, 724–726

CONELRAD station frequencies, 511

conductance (G), 142

of transmission lines, 114

conduction current, 90

conductivity (See soil characteristics)

cone of silence (Beverage antenna), 334

cone of silence (diffracted waves), 23

construction techniques (See supports; towers)

continuous wave (CW), 71

continuous wave train, 11

control points (See ionospheric propagation)

copper-clad steel wire, 630

core material (See balun)

corner reflector antenna, 481

corona effects, 315, 328

corporate feed (microwave arrays), 485–486

cosine function, 714, 718–719

cosine waves (See sine waves)

cosmic radiation, 48

counterpoise ground, 370, 372, 422

covenants, restrictive (CC&Rs), 363

critical angle (α_r), 47

critical frequency (f_C), 47, 70

cubical quad beam antennas, 315–324

Cunningham, Earl (deceased), ex-K6SE, 360

current (I), 82

current gain, 711

direction, 82

current source, 86

current standing wave ratio (ISWR), 133–134

current transformer RF wattmeters, 608–613

cutoff frequency (f_C in waveguide), 451, 458–461

cutoff frequency (f_cutoff in dish), 482

cycles per second, 11, 715

D

D layer of ionosphere, 52

absorption, 64, 73

dB (See decibels)

dBd (decibels relative to a half-wave dipole), 712

dBi (decibels relative to isotropic), 712

dBm (decibels relative to 1 milliwatt), 712

dB/μv/m (decibels relative to 1 microvolt per meter), 712

dead zone, 32

decibels, 710–712

DeForest, Lee, 3

Dellinger fade, 57–58

delta loop, 325–327

delta match (See shunt feed)

delta-match feed systems, 244–245

depth wound loops, 345–346

destructive interference, 28, 32

Devoldere, John, ON4UN, 275, 314, 415

diamond loop, 327

dielectric constant (See permittivity)

dielectric loss, 448

dielectrics, 112–113

diffraction, 22–26

dip meter (or dip oscillator), 598–600

dipole, 92–108, 175–181

80-meter, used on 160, 421–423

160-meter, 415–416

balun feed, 196, 629–633, 636

bandwidth, 177–178, 292

bent dipole, 200, 202, 306–308, 316, 416, 549–554

“bowtie” dipole, 196–197

broadbanded, 193–197

cage dipole, 197

center-fed, 175–181

construction (see wire antenna construction)

current distribution, 96–97, 178–180

current reversal every

half-wavelength, 104, 156, 194, 209

directivity, 97

doughnut (far-field) pattern, 97–98, 182–183

feedpoint impedance and matching, 107–108, 178–181, 289, 421–423

folded dipole, 194–196

feedpoint impedance step-up ratio, 195

gain over isotropic, 95–96, 97

half-sloper, 368–369, 371

half-wave, 175–205

length, 176–177

height vs. feedpoint impedance, 178–180, 182–183

height vs. radiation pattern, 164–171, 183

hertzian, 92–96

hidden and limited-space antennas, 363–365, 368–373

horizontal, 61, 176

impedance, 96, 106

length, 287–289

length-to-diameter ratio, 193–194

limited-space designs, 368–373

loading coils, 198–201, 289–291

losses, 107, 178, 291

off-center-fed, 225–226

ohmic (I²R) loss, 107

polarization, 176

radiation angle, 61

radiation pattern, 182–183

three-dimensional, 97–98, 182–183

radiation resistance, 96, 107

vs. height, 178–181

resistance, 107

resonance, 106, 177, 184–187

rotatable, 287–291

shortened coil-loaded dipoles, 198–201, 416

bandwidth, 200

efficiency, 198

sloping (or “sloper”; see sloping dipole)

spreaders, 197

stub tuning, 181

third harmonic, using on, 204

three-dimensional (ideal) radiation pattern of, 182–183

three-wire dipole, 196

traveling waves, 96–97, 98–102

directional (beam) antennas, 67

directional discontinuity ring radiator (DDRR) antenna, 503–505

directivity, 97, 182, 474–478

vs. gain, 182

directivity gain (G_d), 477–478

director (parasitic element), 162, 280

directrix (of parabola), 481–482

dish antennas (See parabolic “dish” antennas)

dispersion, 23–24, 115

displacement current, 90–91, 242

distance to radio horizon, 34–36

diurnal variations in ionosphere, 52–53, 56

diversity propagation/reception, 67–68, 331–332

DK7ZB, 309

Doppler antenna, 524–525

double ducky direction finder (DDDF), 528–529

double extended Zepp (See extended double Zepp)

double-shielded coaxial cable, 113

doublet, 175–176

double vee beam longwire antennas, 260–262

(See also longwire)

driven element, 162, 280

drooping radials (See ground-plane antennas)

ducting, 39–40, 42

dummy load, 619–621

E

EA3VY, 360

effective aperture (A_e), 17, 471

effective Earth’s radius factor (K factor), 23–27

effective height of loop antenna, 348

effective radiated power (ERP), 55, 278, 477

efficiency, 182, 198, 217, 248, 332–333, 376–379, 390–393, 406, 473, 477, 683, 692–698

E–field units, 16

E layer of ionosphere, 45, 52–53

sporadic E (E_S) skip, 57

electrical vs. physical length, 139, 143, 146–147

electric charge (See charge)

electric field(s), 14, 16, 87–88, 229

far-field equation, 94

graphical representation, 88–89

power density, 16–17

in waveguides, 451–453

electromagnetic fields, 87–92

electromagnetic interference (EMI), 337, 361, 366

electromagnetic radiation, 717

electromagnetic waves, 9, 13–17

energy carried by, 93

prediction by Maxwell, 9, 93

electrostatic charge buildup in longwires, 256

eleven-year cycle, ionospheric propagation, 56

emergency antennas, 389–398

bow and arrow, 396

grounding and ground systems, 391–393

polarization, 394–395, 398

preparation, 389–390, 398

temporary supports, 391, 394–398

vertical monopoles, 390–394, 398

wire antennas, 394–395, 398

end effect, 105–106

end-fed longwire (See longwire)

end-fed Zepp antenna, 222–224

end-fire array, 152–153, 154–155, 215

equinoxes, 72

erecting antennas safely, 625–628

ether (See æther)

Everett, W. L., 226

EWE antenna, 358–359

exponentials, 722–723

extended double Zepp (EDZ), 157, 203

EZNEC, 546, 549–554, 556, 557

F

fading, 57–59, 67–68

diversity reception, 67–68, 331–332

ionospheric, 67–68

selective fading, 67

Fahrenheit (temperature) 492

fall-arrest harness, 675

fan dipole, 197

multiband, 204

farad (F; unit of capacitance), 83

Faraday shield, 357–358

far-field expressions, 94

Federal Aviation Agency (FAA), 700

Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 4, 511, 700

feed geometries (“dish”), 483–485

feed illumination (“dish”), 482

feedpoint, 92, 107

ATU at, 533–534

fence post support, 647, 649–650

ferrite core inductors, 90

phasing transformer, 269–271

ferrite rods, 511, 515

ferromagnetic materials, 90

Fessenden, Reginald, 3

fiber optics, 448

fields, 14, 87–93, 280–281

graphical representation, 88

induced, 280–281

linked electric and magnetic, 14, 88, 92–93

quasi-static, 14

reradiated, 280–281

static, 14

field strength, 16

field strength meters, 380, 383, 600–602

first derivative, 716

-wavelength ground-plane vertical, 157, 429–430

flag antenna, 359–360

flagpole antenna, 366–368

flatplate array, 488–489

flattop antenna, 419–423

(See also T-antenna)

F layer(s) of ionosphere, 52, 53

flux, magnetic density (B), 90

FM broadcast band, 654

FM marine radio antennas, 383

folded dipole, 111, 194–196, 636–638

fold-or tilt-over, 655, 664–665

advantages vs. disadvantages, 665

guying, 665

forward current (See incident current)

forward power (P_FWD), 134

forward scatter, 75

forward voltage (See incident voltage)

Fourier analysis, 121

“fox hunting,” 518, 529

Franklin, Benjamin, 82

free space, 12, 14, 27, 30, 104–105, 118

impedance, 95

frequency, 11, 712, 714, 715

cycles per second (cps), 11, 715

hertz (Hz), 11, 715

units, 11–12

frequency dispersion (See dispersion)

frequency diversity, 42

frequency modulation (See FM broadcast band; FM marine radio antennas)

frequency of optimum traffic (FOT), 55

Fresnel zones, 24–26

G

G2BI, 226

G5RV multiband dipole antenna, 224

gain, 710–711

directivity gain (G_d), 477–478

galactic noise, 49

galvanic action, 244

gamma-match feed system, 244–246, 504

gamma rod, 245

for shunt-fed towers, 408–412

for Yagi antennas, 285, 296, 302–304

gamma rays, 48

gas-filled line, 112–113

Geiser, David T., W5IXM, 528

gigahertz (GHz), 11–12

gin pole, 675–676

Global Positioning System (GPS), 511, 515

GM1IAA, 226

Godley, Paul (deceased), ex-1ZE, 333

graphite-sand dummy load, 463–464

gray line propagation, 72–73

great circle paths, 64–67

Green Heron (rotator controller), 308

grid dip meter (or oscillator; see dip meter)

ground(s):

array effect, 163–171

“average” ground, 167

effective depth, 167

effect of slope, 167

ideal, 163

losses, 163, 167

perfectly conducting, 163–164

grounded vertical antennas (See vertically polarized antennas)

grounding and ground systems, 683–698

antenna efficiency, 683, 692–698

elevated grounds, 696–698

radials, 694–698

salting the soil, 693

saltwater, 693

soil conductivity, 692–694

flattop (T-antenna), 420, 422

ground losses, 692

soil characteristics, 692–694

lightning protection, 243, 415, 683–689

energy dissipation, 684–686

energy spectrum, 686

gas discharge tubes, 688

ground rods, 685–686

metal-oxide varistors (MOVs), 688

open-wire (OWL) transmission lines, 687, 689

peak currents and voltages, 684

radials, 685–686

series-vs. shunt-protection devices, 688

single-point ground (SPG), 686–689

tower, 688

utilities, 686

power distribution, 683, 689–690

three-wire system, 689–690

station equipment, 683, 690–691

ground buss, 690–691

tuned ground wire, 255, 691

ground-mounted vertical antennas (See vertically polarized antennas)

ground-plane antennas, 157, 233–237, 248, 415, 426–427, 433–434

-wavelength, 157, 236–237, 246–247, 429–430

ground-plane vertical antennas (See vertically polarized antennas)

ground reflection (and losses), 60–61, 328

ground reflection factors, charts of, 167, 169–171

ground rods, 685–686

ground wave, 27–38

ground-wave zone, 59

reflection coefficient (γ), 31

group velocity (V_g), 455–458

Grover’s equation, 345

guy anchors, 661–662, 671–673

guy wires, 660–663, 673–674, 676

H

“hairpin” match, 285

half-delta sloper (HDS), 214–215

half-power (3 dB) points, 711

half-sloper antenna, 368–369, 371

half-square, 263–264

feedpoint impedance and matching, 261–262

half-wave antennas, 96–98

current distribution, 96–97, 106

electric vs. physical length of antenna, 104–106

impedance, 106–108

standing waves, 98–104

voltage distribution, 106

(See also dipole)

half-wavelength line, 143

halo VHF/UHF antenna, 436

hardline, 112

harmonic, operation on, 204, 219, 418–419

harmonics, 218, 533, 540

HCJB radio station, 315, 328

Heaviside, Oliver, 45

height (antenna):

vs. distance to horizon, 28–29, 31, 34–36

vs. ground reflection factor, 164–165, 167, 169–171

vs. radiation resistance, 178–181

helical antennas and arrays, 505–507

helical mobile whip, 380–381

helically wound antennas, 373

helical transmission line, 112

henry (H; unit of inductance), 83–84

hertz (Hz; unit of frequency), 715

Hertz, Heinrich, 3, 9, 11, 45, 91, 175

hertzian dipole, 92–96, 175

HFTA software, 78–79

hidden and limited-space antennas, 363–373, 703

antenna tuning unit (ATU), 366–367

dipole, 363–365, 370, 372–373

ground system, 368, 369

half-sloper, 368–369, 371

helically wound, 373

insulators and standoffs, 365

L-section couplers, 366

longwire, 363

mobile whip (windowsill-mounted), 369–370, 372

mobile whip short dipole, 370, 372–373

noise-canceling accessory, 366

nonresonant loop, 365–366

hinged baseplate tower, 675

historic and overlay districts, 701

history of radio communications, 3–6

homeowners’ association, 703

Hopengarten, Fred, K1VR, 702, 704

horizon, distance to, 34–36

horizontal dipole (See dipole)

horizontal polarization, 18–19, 248–249, 473

horn antenna radiators, 479

hula hoop antenna (See directional discontinuity ring radiator)

Huygens-Fresnel wave theory, 24

I

image antenna, 164–165, 311, 320

imaginary numbers, 724–726

imaginary operator (i; see j)

impedance, 84, 140–141, 473

free-space, 95

impedance bridges, 590–596

impedance matching, 138–147, 533–544

antenna tuners, 533–544

baluns, 139–140, 215

benefits, 533–534

complex conjugate, 142, 725–726

electrical vs. physical length, 139, 143, 146–147

L-section network, 366, 535–537

pi network, 537–538

quarter-wave (“Q”) section, 143–145, 213

reactance cancellation, 534–535

reverse L-network, 536–537, 539

series section for, 145–147

split-capacitor network, 538–539

stubs, 140–142, 579–582

T-network, 539

toroidal transformers, 540–544

transmatch, 538–539

(See also specific antenna types)

incident angle, 22–23, 47, 59–63

incident (or forward) current, 99

incident (or forward) power (P_FWD), 134

incident (or forward) voltage, 99

incident wave, 22–23, 93–96

inductance, 83–84

Grover’s equation, 345

induction field, 9, 14, 87–90

inductively loaded antennas (See coil-loaded antennas)

inductive reactance (X_L), 83–84

inductor, 83–84

installation and construction techniques (See supports; towers)

insulators, 197, 220, 296, 337, 365, 406–408, 629–638, 642, 674

(See also spreaders)

intensity of radio waves, 15–17

interference:

adjacent-channel, 156, 360

atmospheric (QRN), 331, 389

co-channel, 156

destructive, 28, 32

electromagnetic (EMI), 337, 361, 366

intersystem, 477

man-made (QRM), 266

interferometer antennas, 508–509

International Telecommunications Union (ITU), 4

Internet resources, 743–744

inverse square law (1/d²), 14, 17, 471–472

inverted-L antenna, 394–395, 415

1.8 MHz, 416–419

on its second harmonic, 418–419

inverted-vee dipole, 187–191, 394, 416

dimensions, 188–189

polarization, 189–191

radiation pattern, 189–191

ionization, 9, 22, 26, 45, 48, 52–53, 57, 75, 76

ionogram, 53

ionosonde, 54

ionosphere, 20–22

11-and 22-year cycles, 57

27-day cycle, 56

angle of incidence, 47, 59–63

critical angle (α_r), 47

critical frequency (f_C), 47, 70

dispersion, 67

diurnal variations, 56

frequency of optimum traffic (FOT), 55

layers, 21

lowest useable frequency (LUF), 55–56

seasonal variation, 56

take-off angle (angle of incidence), 47, 59–63

virtual height, 47, 54

ionospheric disturbances, 57–58

ionospheric fading, 57–58, 67–68

(See also fading)

ionospheric propagation, 45–79

fading, 59

gray line, 72–73

HF overview, 69–71

hops, 60–64

multihop, 60–64

reflection, 45

refraction, 47

scatter, 71, 75

skew paths, 71–72

skip distance, 48, 59

skip zone, 48, 59

sky wave, 59–79

ionospheric storms, 58

isophase plane, 24

isopotential line, 346

isotropic sources, 17–20, 95, 153, 182, 471–472, 545

power density, 471–472

ISWR (See current standing wave ratio)

J

j (complex plane operator), 84–85, 115, 724–725

(see also imaginary numbers)

Jansky, Carl, 497

JFET amplifier, 355–356

Johnson noise, 491–492

joints and bends in microwave waveguides, 466–469

J-pole antennas, 430

Jupiter reception, 498–499

K

k (Boltzmann’s constant), 491

K factor (effective earth radius), 32–34

K9AY antenna, 359–360

Kaufmann, J. J., W1FV, 275

Kelvin (temperature), 491–492

Kennelly, Arthur, 45

Kennelly-Heaviside layer, 45

kilohertz (kHz), 11–12

Koonce, Floyd, WA2WVL, 358

L

land mobile service, 375, 389

Law of Reciprocity (See reciprocity)

Lawson, James L. (deceased), ex-W2PV, 314

leakage resistance (at wire ends), 107

Leeson, David B., W6NL, 293, 294, 314, 554

Lewallen, Roy, W7EL, 329, 331, 334

light, speed of (c), 12, 13, 93

lightning (See grounding and ground systems)

limited-space antennas, 363–373

linear loading, 301–302, 405–406

line attenuation constant (α), 120

“line flattener” (ATU), 388

line-of-sight transmission, 28, 41

lines of force, 14

linked electric and magnetic fields, 14, 88, 92–93

loaded tower designs, 406–412

loading coils, 198–201, 289–291

logarithmic response, 710

logarithms, 707–710, 726

table of, 726

log-periodic, 220–221

long baseline arrays, 497, 508

long path, 73–75

longwire(s), 225, 253–262, 360–361, 363–364

feedpoint impedance matching, 253

gain, 253, 256–257

grounding system, 253–255

artificial ground, 255

losses, 254

nonresonant, 253, 257–258,

nonresonant vee beam, 260, 261

patterns, 256–259, 261

radials, 254–255

receiving, 360–361

rhombic, 260–262

tilt angle, 261–262

standing vs. traveling wave, 256–258, 260

static charge buildup and discharge, 256

terminating resistor, 257–258

tuned feeder antennas, 221–224

location of feedpoint, 222

pattern vs. band, 223

vee beam, 258–261

loop antennas, 157–158, 207–216

large vs. small, 207

loop antennas (large), 157–158, 207–216

λ/2 half-delta sloper (HDS), 214–215

λ/2 loop, 207–209

1λ delta loop, 157, 211–214

polarization, 212

1λ quad loop, 157, 209–214

current (reversal) in, 209

2λ bisquare loop, 215–216

current (reversal) in, 157, 215

diamond, 210–211

gain, 210

near-vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) antenna, 216

quad (1λ), 157

radiation patterns, 207

loop antennas (small receiving), 341–361

air core (“box”) frame, 345–348

amplifier, 355, 356

capacitance tuning, 349–351

coaxial cable loop, 357–358

coupling loops, 348–349

depth wound, 345–346

effective height, 348

EWE, 358–359

Faraday shield, 357–358

flag, 359–360

Grover’s equation, 345

isopotential line, 346

K9AY, 359–360

vs. large loop, 342

nulls, 342–346, 359

parallel tuned, 349–350

pennant, 359–360

planar wound, 345–346

preamplifier, 355–356

Q-multiplier, 354–355

response to magnetic field, 342

self-resonance, 355, 357

series tuned, 349–350

shielded, 352–354, 357–358

sports fan’s loop, 352

transformer loops, 348–349

tuning, 349–351

varactor tuning, 349–351

VLF/LF design considerations, 355, 357

loopstick (See ferrite rods)

LORAN (long range navigation) systems, 332–333, 423

loss:

coaxial cable, 615–617

dielectric, 448

dipole, 107, 178

ground, 28, 36, 60–61, 163, 167, 328, 692

longwire, 254

Smith chart, 582–583, 585

transmission line, 119–121, 614–617

Yagi elements, 291

lowest useable frequency (LUF), 55–56

L-section network, 535–537

λ/2 loop, 207–209

λ/4 inverted-L antenna (See inverted-L antenna)

M

magnetic fields, 14, 87–92, 88–90, 342

far-field equation, 94

magnetic flux density (B), 89–90

magnetic north pole, 72

mantissa (of a logarithm), 708, 709

manufacturers and suppliers, 727–743

Marconi antennas, 175

Marconi, Guglielmo, 3, 20, 45

marine radio antennas, 383–388

antenna tuning unit (ATU), 385–388

grounding, 384

HF SSB, 383

VHF-FM, 383

mast and stays as antennas, 384–386

mast-mounted antennas, 288–289, 384, 395–397, 516, 638, 642, 646–651

masts and supports, 288–289, 677–679

diameter, 678

material, 678

(See also towers)

Mata, Jose, EA3VY, 360

matching networks:

balun, 139–140

distributed, 139–147

lumped-element, 139

step-down, 140

step-up, 140

stub, 140–142

matching section, quarter-wavelength coax, 213

maximum effective length (MEL), 334–335

maximum useable frequency (MUF), 53, 54–55, 61–64

MUF control points, 61, 64

Maxwell, James Clerk, 3, 9, 90–91

displacement current, 91–92

prediction of electromagnetic waves, 9, 90–91, 93

Maxwell’s equations, 9, 13, 88, 91, 92–93

medium (media), 12–13

megahertz (MHz), 11–12

Mercator projection, 65

meteor scatter propagation, 76

micromatch SWR bridge, 606–607

microwave antennas, 471–489

aperture, 478

arrays, 485–487

branch feed, 485–486

corporate feed, 485–486

flatplate array, 488–489

phase shifters, 485–487

slot array, 487–488

solid-state, 486–487

back lobes, 477

beamwidth 476–477

Cassegrain feed geometry, 483–484

cavity antenna, 480

corner reflector, 480–481

dipole elements, 473–474

directivity, 474–477

directivity gain (G_d), 477–478

directrix (of a parabola), 481–482

dish antennas (see parabolic antennas)

effective radiated power (ERP), 477

efficiency, 473, 477

feed illumination, 482

gain, 477–478, 483

gain vs. aperture, 478

horn radiators, 479

impedance, 471, 473

interference, 477

isotropic radiator, 471–472

monopulse feed system, 484–485

near field vs. far field, 472

phase shifter, 485–487

radiation loss, 473

radiation patterns, 475–476

radiation resistance, 473

reflector, 480–481

splash plate, 483

microwave waveguides, 447–470

analyzed as quarter-wavelength shorted stub, 450–451

attenuation, 377

boundary conditions, 452

characteristic impedance, 461–463

coupling methods, 468–470

aperture (slot), 470

capacitive (probe), 468–469

inductive (loop), 470

choke joints, 466–467

coordinate system, 453–454

cutoff frequency (f_C), 458–461

dominant mode, 453–454

dummy loads, 463–466

effective aperture (A_e), 478

electric fields, 449, 452–453, 461

end plate, 463, 466

feedpoint impedance and matching, 473

free-space velocity (c), 454–458

frequency spectrum, 447

graphite-sand, 463–464

group velocity (V_g), 455–458

joints and bends, 466–468

light pipe analogy, 448

losses, 447–449

magnetic fields, 452–453, 461

materials, 449

permanent joints, 466

phase velocity (V_p), 455–458

power gain (G_p), 477–478

probe coupling, 468–469

propagation modes, 451–454

radiating vs. nonradiating slots, 470

rotating joints, 468

safety issues, 447

semipermanent joints, 466–467

side lobes, 476, 477

terminations, 463–466

transverse electric (TE) mode, 452, 453–454, 459–460, 462

transverse electromagnetic (TEM) mode, 452

transverse magnetic (TM) mode, 453–454, 461, 462

velocities, 454–458

wavelength, 454–458

millimeter waves, 12

MiniNEC modeling software, 546

mismatch (VSWR) losses, transmission lines, 135–138

mobile antennas, 375–383, 369–370, 372

bandwidth, 381–382

capacitive top-hat, 379, 382

coil-loaded whips, 380–382

collinear, 376

efficiency, 376–379

feedpoint impedance and matching, 377, 380

height limitations, 376, 378–379

helical whips, 380–381

HF/MF, 376–383

loaded (monopole) whips, 379–382

losses, 377–378

multiband resonator assembly, 381

top-loaded whip, 379

tuning, 380, 382–383

vehicular considerations, 376, 378

VHF/UHF, 375–376

VSWR minimum, 382–383

windowsill-mounted, 369, 371

modeling software, 545–557

basis, 545–546

convergence, 556

coordinate systems, 546–547

EZNEC+ example, 549–554

graphical user interface (GUI), 546, 549–554

grounds, 550, 552, 555, 556

method of moments, 545, 554

modeling and simulation benefits, 545

model space, 546, 548

pattern plots, 550, 553

propagation modeling, 76–78, 556–557

standing wave ratio (SWR) plots, 553–554

stepped diameter (taper) algorithms, 292–293, 554–555

terrain-modeling, 78–79, 556–557

transmission lines, 555

wires, 546–548

segments, 546–547, 555

monomatch SWR bridge, 607

monopulse feeds (parabolic “dish” antennas), 484, 485

Moore, Clarence, 315

Morris, Steve, K7LXC, 671, 674

Morse code, 3, 4

Moxon, L. A., G3XN, 307

Moxon beam, 306–308

multiband and tunable-wire antennas, 217–227

antenna tuning unit (ATU), 221–222, 225

bandswitching jumpers, 220

end-fed Zepp antenna, 222–224

feedpoint, 222

G5RV multiband dipole, 224

harmonic operation, 222–223

log-periodic, 220–221

longwire, 225

multiple-band dipole, 219–220

off-center-fed dipole, 225–226

trap dipole, 217–218

tuned feeder antennas, 221–225

Windom, 226–228

multiband fan dipole, 204

multifilar winding, 542

multihop propagation, 60–64

multipath propagation, 32

Myers, W. L., K1GQ, 309

N

NASA, 20

National Bureau of Standards (See National Institute for Standards and Technology)

National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST), 50, 58

natural logarithms (ln), 709, 710

Naval Research Laboratory, 4

near field vs. far field, 472

near-vertical incidence skywave (NVIS), 165, 216

NEC-2, 546, 556

NEC-4, 546, 556

license, 557, 740

NECWin Plus, 546, 556

nepers, 120, 710

nitrogen-cooled receiver, 492

nitrogen-filled cable, 112

nodes (See current; voltage)

noise:

antenna noise temperature, 491–495

atmospheric noise (QRN), 331, 389

canceling devices, 366, 423

galactic noise, 49

Johnson (thermal) noise, 491–492

man-made noise (QRM), 266

noise bridge, 592–598

signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), 491

sky noise, 494–495, 498

solar, 49

noise bridge, 592–598

noise factor (F_n), 492–493

noise figure (NF), 492–494

noise temperature (T_e), 493–495

nonresonant longwire, 256–258

nonresonant loop, 365–366

nonresonant rhombic, 260, 262

nonresonant vee beam, 260, 261

normalized impedance, 559–562, 574

northern lights, 75–76

nulls (loop antenna), 342–346, 359

Numerical Electromagnetic Computation (NEC) program, 546

O

off-center-fed dipole, 225–226

ohm (Ω unit of resistance), 82–83

ohmic loss, 28, 107, 178, 447, 449, 473

ohmmeter (coaxial cable test), 615–616

Ohm’s law, 82–83, 686

in transmission lines, 125

omega (Ω), 115, 715

omega-match feed systems, 244–246

omnidirectional, 265–266

1λ loops, 209–216

open-wire line (OWL), 110–111, 687, 689

ordinances, 701

Orr, William, ex-W6SAI, 277

OSCAR satellite communications, 6

oscilloscope, 127–131, 712

(See also transmission lines)

P

parabolic (dish) antennas, 481–485

beamwidth, 483

Cassegrain feed, 483–484

directrix, 481–482

effective aperture, 483

feed geometries for, 483–485

gain, 483

monopulse feed, 483, 485

parallel conductor lines 110–111

(See also open-wire line)

parasitic arrays, 161–162, 277, 280–282, 419

path loss, 18

pedestal (tower), 669–671

pennant antenna, 359–360

period (T; of a waveform), 712, 715

permeability (μ), 90, 116, 460

relative (μ_r), 90

permittivity (ε; dielectric constant), 88, 105, 116–118, 460

relative (ε_r), 88

phase, 91, 100, 150

phase constant (β), 120, 140–142

phase-control circuit, 340–341

phase-locked receivers, 68

phase-shift networks, 156, 267–271, 485–487

phase velocity (V_p), 455–458

phasing, 149–153, 158–159, 266, 273, 340–341

physical vs. electrical length, 105, 140, 176–177

pi network, 537

“picket fencing,” 32

planar loop windings, 345

planetary terminator (See gray line propagation)

planning board, 702–703

“plumbers’ delight” Yagi, 277

polarity, 82, 88, 99, 104

polarization, 18–19, 229, 473

polarization diversity, 67–68, 331–332

Popov, Alexander, 3

pop rivets, 290, 296

power (P), 83

(See also effective radiated power)

power density, 16–17, 471–472

power distribution, 683, 689–690

power gain (G_p), 477–478, 710–711

preamplifier for receiving antennas, 355–356

PRB-1 (FCC), 700

predictions, propagation, 76–79

propagation constant (β), 462

propagation modes in waveguides, 451–454

propagation of radio waves, 9–79

ducting, 39–40, 42

fading, 41–42

ground wave, 27–38

ionospheric (see ionospheric propagation)

inversion, 39

line of sight, 28

medium, 12–13

meteor scatter, 76

path types, 26–27

radio horizon, 32, 39

subrefraction, 40

superrefraction, 39

surface wave, 26–27, 36–38

propagation predictions, 76–79

pulley, 642–644

Q

Q-multiplier, 354–355

QST (see American Radio Relay League)

quad beam antennas, 315–325, 436–438

quad loop antennas, 315–325, 328

construction, 321–325

feedpoint impedance and matching, 319–321

gain, 316

gain and bandwidth vs. Yagi, 316–319

quadrature, 714

quarter-wavelength line, 213

quarter-wavelength shorted stub, 144–145

waveguide analysis, 449–451

quarter-wave (“Q”) section, 143–145, 213

quarter-wave vertical monopole, 233–235

R

radar, 5, 486–487, 497

radials:

Beverage, 336

bobtail curtain, 263

emergency and portable verticals, 391–393

ground-plane vertical, 234–235, 426–427, 433–434, 696–698

grounded monopole, 237–244, 403, 406, 694–696

half-square, 264

insulated-base vertical, 413

inverted-L, 417–418

lightning, 685–686

T-antenna, 421–422

vertical array, 275

(See also grounding and ground systems; vertically polarized antennas)

radian, 118, 715

radiated fields, 9–10

radiating vs. nonradiating slots, 470

radiation angle, 59–63

radiation patterns

modeling, 550, 553

(See also specific antenna types)

radiation resistance, 96, 107, 473

radio astronomy antennas, 497–509

extraterrestrial sources, 497–499

helical antennas, 505–507

interferometer antennas, 508–509

Jupiter reception antenna, 499

radio direction finding (RDF), 344, 511–529

Adcock antenna, 520–523

AM aircraft band, 519

AM broadcast band (BCB), 511

bidirectional pattern, 512–514

CONELRAD frequencies, 439

Doppler antennas, 524–525

Doppler shift, 524–525

double ducky direction finder (DDDF), 528–529

“fox hunting,” 518, 529

Geiser, David T., W5IXM, 528

Global Positioning System (GPS), 511, 515

loop antenna, 516–517

loopstick antenna, 511, 515

N0GSG Doppler system, 525

“rubber ducky” VHF antennas, 528

sense antenna, 513, 517

shortwave and AM BCB “skip,” 520

signal strength (S) meter, 511–512, 519

switched-pattern RDF antenna, 528–529

time difference of arrival (TDOA) array, 525–527

tracking down electrical noise, 518–519, 529

triangulation, 513, 515–516

VHF/UHF, 518

Watson-Watt Adcock array, 522–523

Welch, Daniel F., W6DFW, 525

radio wave(s):

discovery, 3, 91

intensity, 15–17

polarization, 18–19

propagation, 9–79

velocity, 19–20

random-length longwires, 253–258

Rauch, Tom, W8JI, 274

ray tracing, 25–26

RCA Riverhead (NY) site, 333

reactance:

cancellation, 534–535

Smith chart, 564–566

transmission line, 140–142

(See also capacitive reactance; inductive reactance)

real estate agents, 702

real estate search suggestions, 703–704

Reber, Grote, 497

receiving antennas for HF/MF, 331–361, 415, 423

receiving arrays, 161

reciprocity, 138, 331, 471, 478

recombination, 22, 26, 52–53

rectangular waveguide, 449–451

reflected current, 99

reflected power (P_REF), 134

reflected voltage, 99

reflected waves, 99–100, 121–133

reflection, 22–23, 45

reflection coefficient (γ), 31

Smith chart, 570–572, 579

transmission lines, 124, 126

reflection loss, 578–579

reflector (parasitic element), 162, 280

reflector antennas, 480–481

refraction, 22–23, 33

index of, 33

refractivity (N), 34–35

remotely tuned:

ATU, 534

small loop antennas, 349–351

repeaters, 390

resistance, 82–83

(See also Smith chart)

resistor, 82–83

resonance, 85

dipole, 106, 177, 184–187

resonant vs. nonresonant longwires, 256–258

restrictive covenants (CC&Rs), 363, 703

homeowners’ association, 703

return loss, 571, 573, 577, 579

RF ammeter, 604

RF noise bridge, 592–598

RF power measurements, 602–605

RF wattmeters, 603–612

rhombic beam longwire antenna, 67, 260–262

frequency range, 261

gain, 261

receive-only, 261

termination, 261–262

tilt angle, 261–262

(See also longwire)

right triangle, 717–719

hypotenuse, 717

ring antenna, 500–502

rivets, 290, 296

RLC networks, 85, 217–218, 299–300, 597

(See also trap dipoles)

rotatable 20-m dipole, 287–291

rotating joints, 466–468

rotators, 663, 677–681

accessory shelf, 678

braking torque, 679

cable, 680–681

controllers, 679–681

noise, 663

prop pitch motors, 679

rotator loop, 677–678

thrust bearing, 677

“rubber ducky” VHF antennas, 528

S

safety:

installation projects, 426, 625–628

lightning, 683–689

microwave, 447

power distribution, 689–690

tower work, 625–628, 653, 660, 662, 663, 666, 670, 675, 677, 681

satellite communications, 6, 425, 497

scanner band VHF/UHF antennas, 196–197, 678–679

scanner skyhook VHF/UHF antennas, 439–440

scatter propagation, 71, 75, 76

seasonal variations (propagation), 52–53, 56–57, 178

second derivative, 716

selective fading, 67

sense antenna (RDF), 513, 517

series-fed vertical monopole, 233–234, 413–415

series feed, 244

series matching section, 145–147

series-resonant loop, 349–351

shadow zone, 23

shape constants (loop antennas), 345

shielded loop antennas, 352–354, 357–358

shielded parallel line, 111

shielded twin-lead, 111

shorted stubs (See stub matching systems)

shortened coil-loaded dipoles (See coil-loaded antennas)

shortened verticals (See vertically polarized antennas)

short path propagation, 66–67, 71, 73–75

short skip, 59, 70

shortwave(s), 4–6, 45, 53, 520

shunt feed, 244, 408–412

side lobes, 156, 159, 477

side scatter, 75

signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), 491, 55

simple refraction, 39

sine function, 714, 718–719

sine waves (sine curves), 712–719

single-sideband (SSB), 383

sinusoidal curves (See sine waves)

skin effect, 115

skip distance, 48, 59

skip propagation, 59–63

skip zone, 48, 59

sky noise sources, 494–495, 498–499

sky temperature, 494–495

sky wave, 59–79, 520

sloping dipole (“sloper”), 191–193, 394

half-delta sloper (HDS), 214–215

slot array, 487–489

S-meter, 511–512, 518, 519

Smith, Phillip H., 559

Smith chart, 559–585

admittance, 564, 575, 579

angle of reflection coefficient circle, 567, 570, 577, 579

angle of transmission coefficient circle, 567, 570

applications, 573–585

complex admittance in, 564

complex impedance, 559, 562

constant reactance (susceptance) circles, 564–566, 574

constant resistance (conductance) circles, 562–564, 574

denormalizing impedances, 562, 575, 585

frequency response plots, 584–585

isoresistance circles, 562–564

locating impedances and admittances, 564, 568–569

loss coefficient scale, 570–573

lossy transmission lines, 582–583, 585

normalizing impedances (admittances), 559–562, 574, 575, 580

pure reactance (susceptance) circle, 564, 567, 569, 582

pure resistance (conductance) line, 559, 561–562

radially scaled parameters, 567, 570–572, 582

reflection coefficient, 570–572, 579

reflection loss, 578, 579

return loss, 571, 573, 577, 579

standing wave ratio (SWR), 574–576

stub matching example, 579–582

susceptance, 580

transmission line examples, 573–579

transmission loss, 571, 573

coefficient (TLC), 571, 573, 577, 579

unit(y) resistance (conductance) circle in, 562–564, 580

voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR)

circle, 564, 568, 569, 574, 579, 580, 582

wavelength calculation, 574

wavelength circles, 569

Snake (BOG) antenna, 341

soil characteristics, 37, 692–694

solar flares, 48, 57–58

solar flux index (SFI), 50

solar radiation, 48

noise, 49

particles, 48

sunspots (see sunspots)

solar storms, 57–58

solder and soldering, 629–632

solid-state array, 486–487

southern lights, 75–76

spark-gap transmitters, 4, 91

spatial diversity, 67–68, 331–332

SPC transmatch, 539

spectrograms, 498

speed of light (c), 12, 13, 93

sporadic E propagation, 57

spreaders, 110–113, 197, 219, 321–322, 324–325,

stacking distance (Yagi), 309–313

stack(ing) gain (Yagi), 310–312

stagger-tuned dipole, 197

stainless steel hardware, 290, 296

standing wave ratio (SWR):

effect on line loss, 135–138

in Smith charts, 564, 568

on transmission line, 133–135

standing waves:

on antennas, 97, 98–104

current maxima and minima, 100

current reversal every half-wavelength, 104

measurement of, 603–615

on a rope, 121–122

on transmission lines, 123–124, 131–133

voltage maxima and minima, 100

station grounding, 690–691

station RF interconnections, 587–588

steady-state ac response, transmission lines, 131–133

steerable notch Beverage antennas, 340–341

step-function response, transmission lines, 121–131

stepped-diameter (taper) algorithms, 292–293, 554–555

storms, ionospheric, 58

stratosphere, 20–22

Straw, R. Dean, N6BV, 78

stripline (or microstripline), 63, 64, 66–67, 113

stub matching systems, 140–142, 285, 444–445

Smith chart solutions, 579–582

subdivisions, 363,

subrefraction, 40

suburban lot installation plan, 626–628

sudden ionospheric disturbances (SIDs), 57–58

summation interferometer array antenna, 508–509

sunspots, 49–52, 56–57

A-index, 50

cycles, 49–52

K-index, 50

solar flux index (SFI), 50

sunspot number (SSN), 49, 57

variation, 49–52

superposition, 81, 124, 150, 162, 163–164

superrefraction, 39

support posts, 645–651

supports, 625–651

project preparation, 626–627

safety, 625–628

vertical antenna installation, 645–651

wire antenna construction and installation, 628–645

(See also towers)

surface waves, 36–38

wave-angle tilt, 37

surge impedance (See characteristic impedance)

susceptance, 142

Smith chart, 117

switched-pattern RDF antenna, 528–529

SWR (See voltage standing wave ratio)

SWR analyzer, 614–615

T

T-antenna, 419–423

tangent (See sine waves)

tangent function, 719

tapped balun, 540–541

telegraphy, 4

wireless, 4

telescoping mast, 396–397

television and scanner VHF/UHF antennas, 196–197, 679

temporary antennas, 389–398

temporary mast mount, 397–398

terminated longwire antennas, 256–262

terminations for microwave waveguides (See waveguides)

terrain analysis, 78–79

Tesla, Nikolai, 3

testing and troubleshooting, 587–622

dip oscillator, 598–600

measuring traps, 599–600

measuring tuned circuits, 597–598

documenting antenna and transmission line performance, 622

dummy load, 619–621

field strength meter, 600–602

impedance bridge, 590–592

RF interconnections, 587–588

RF noise bridge, 592–598

measuring capacitors, 598

measuring feedpoint impedance, 594–596

measuring inductors, 598

measuring tuned circuits, 597–598

standing wave ratio (SWR) overview, 588–590

RF wattmeter and SWR meter, 602–617

bridge methods, 605–607

current transformer, 608–612

micromatch, 606–607

Model 43 Thruline, 608, 612

monomatch, 607

thermocouple RF ammeter, 603, 604

SWR analyzer, 612–615

measuring coaxial cable, 615–617

vector network analyzer (VNA), 617–618

time-domain reflectometer (TDR) mode, 618

transmission line velocity factor (υ_F), 596–597

thermal agitation noise, 491–492

three-dimensional pattern, dipole, 97–98

tilt angle (rhombic), 261–262

tilt angle (surface wave), 37

time difference of arrival (TDOA) array, 525–527

time domain reflectometry (TDR), 127–131

(see also transmission lines)

T-match (See also gamma-match feed system), 285

topband (160-m band), 401

top-loaded mobile antenna, 379–380

topographic map, 515

toroid cores and transformers (See balun)

tower lighting, 700

tower ordinances, 701–702

tower proximity to airport, 700

tower regulations, 700–703

towers, 653–681

base, 656, 669–671

drainage, 670–671

grounding (Ufer), 671

reinforcing rods (rebar), 671

bracketed, 663–664

forces on support wall, 664

building codes, 660, 669, 681

cherry-picker, 676

compressive forces in tower legs, 659–660

concrete, 669–671

cure time, 671

cost, 654, 655, 667

crane, 676

crank-up, 655, 665–667

motorized, 666

safety bars, 666–667

deadweight, 655

design constraints, 655–663

documents, 681

equivalent projected (surface) area, 657

erecting, 675–677

force balance (equilibrium), 662, 674

freestanding, 655, 659, 663

frost line, 670–671

galvanizing, 681

gin pole, 675–676

guy anchors, 661–662, 671–673

holding power, 672,

screw anchors, 672–673

types, 672

guyed, 655, 660–663

guy station, 663, 676

guy wires, 660–663, 673–674, 676,

acceptable materials, 663, 674

insulators, 674

securing, 674

temporary, 676

tension components, 661–662, 674

tensioning tools, 673–674

turnbuckles, 673

hardware, 681

height factors, 653–655

helicopter, 676

masts, 662

noise and vibration, 663–664

overturning moment, 656

pedestal, 669–671

preowned, 668, 681

professional engineer (licensed), 660, 663, 681

raising, 675–677

riggers, 667, 677

rooftop, 654, 663

rotating poles, 655, 669–670

rotator (see rotators)

safety, 625–628, 653, 660, 662, 665, 666–667, 670, 672, 675, 676, 677, 681

self-supporting, 660, 667–669

shunt feeding, 406–412, 674

side-mounts, 662

tapered, 660

TIA-222, 657, 658, 681

tripod, 654

types, 655

wind

force (load) due to, 656–660

pressure, 657

speed, 657, 659

zones, 663

transatlantic tests, 45

transducer, 81

transmatch circuits, 538–539

transmission lines, 109–138

absorbed power (P_a), 578

admittance, 142

attenuation constant (α), 120

attenuation factor, 120

boundary conditions, 124–125

capacitance, 114–115

characteristic (or surge) impedance (Z₀), 110, 114–118

equations for, 116–117

coaxial cable, 112–113 (see also coaxial cable)

conductance, 114–115

current standing wave ratio (ISWR), 133–134

dielectric loss in, 447–448

distortionless, 115

electrical vs. physical length of, 118–119, 120, 267–268

equivalent circuit, 114

forward current (see incident current)

forward voltage (see incident voltage)

gas-filled line, 112–113

geometries, 109–113

half-wavelength, 143

hardline, 112

helical line, 112

impedance, 110

impedance matching, 138–147

incident (forward) current (I_FWD), 124–127

incident (forward) voltage (V_FWD), 124–127

inductance, 114–116

loss, 119–121

lossless, 115

matched (“flat”), 133, 135

measurements, 141–142

mismatch (VSWR) losses in, 135–138

ohmic loss in, 114, 447–448

Ohm’s law in, 125

open-wire line (OWL), 110–111

parallel (conductor) lines, 110–111, 579–582

permeability (μ), 116

permittivity (ε; dielectric constant), 116–118

phase constant (β), 120, 140–142

phasing section, 156

propagation constant (γ), 120

quarter-wavelength matching section, 143–144

quarter-wavelength shorted stub, 144–145

Q section matching, 143–144

radiation loss, 447–448

reactance, 140–142

reflected current (V_REF), 124–127, 131–134

reflected voltage (V_REF), 124–127, 131–135

reflection coefficient, 124, 126

reflection loss, 135–138

resistance, 114–115

responses, 121–138

return loss, 573

rigid, 112 (see also hardline)

shielded parallel line, 111

shielded twin-lead, 111

shorted lines, 130, 140–142

shorted stubs, 140–142 (see also stub matching systems)

single-wire, 110, 225, 254

skin effect, 115

Smith chart, 559–585

spacers, 110–111

standing wave ratio (SWR), 133–138

standing waves, 121–122

steady-state ac response, 131–133

step-function response, 121–123

stripline (or microstripline), 113, 117–118

stub matching systems (see stub matching systems)

surge impedance, 110 (see also characteristic impedance)

time domain reflectometry (TDR) measurements, 127–131

transmission loss coefficient (TLC), 573

triangles, 717–722

twin-lead, 111

velocity factor, 118–119, 129, 142, 267–268

voltage minima and maxima, 132

voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), 134–138

wavelength calculation in, 116

transmission line transformers, 118, 143–147

transmission loss, 571, 573

coefficient (TLC), 571, 573, 577, 579

transmitters, spark-gap, 4, 91

transverse electric (TE) mode, 452–454

transverse electromagnetic (TEM) waves, 14, 93–96, 451–452

transverse magnetic (TM) mode, 453–454, 461, 462

trap dipoles, 217–218, 419

traveling wave antennas, 260–262, 332–334, 358

traveling waves:

on dipole, 97, 98–102

triangles, 717–722

area, 720–722

triangulation, 515–516

trifilar winding, 540, 542–543

troposphere, 20–22

tropospheric propagation, 38–44

T/R switch, 587

tuned feeder antennas, 221–224

tuning:

ground wire, 691

dipoles, 175–178

marine antennas, 385–388

small loop, 349–350, 359–360

turns calculator, 543–544

TV receive-only (TVRO) satellite dishes, 483–484, 497

twin-lead, 111

folded dipole, 636–638

2λ (bisquare) loop, 215–216

U

Ufer ground, 671

ultra-high-frequency (UHF) antennas (See VHF/UHF antennas)

ultraviolet radiation, 14, 48

umbra region, 23

unit(y) resistance (conductance) circle in, 562–564, 580

V

varactor tuning (loop), 349–351

vector network analyzer (VNA), 127, 129, 141, 187, 338, 585

vee beam longwire antennas, 258–261

(See also longwire)

velocity, 715

velocity factor (υ_F), 14, 118–119, 267–268, 573–575, 597

coaxial cable, 20, 129, 141–142, 441, 596–597

microwave waveguides, 454–458

table of (for transmission lines), 119

velocity of propagation, 12, 105

vertical antenna installations, 645–651

base construction, 647–652

cherry-picker, 651

elevated ground-plane, 645

frost heaves, 649

ground-mounted, 645

guy wires and ropes, 646–648

lightning grounding, 645–646

masts, 646–648

pivoting, 646, 648

radials, 645–647

safety, 625–628

vertical antennas (See vertically polarized antennas)

vertical arrays, 265–275, 415

advantages, 265–266

array factor, 153–159

broadside mode, 149–152, 266–267

cardioid pattern, 158–159

end-fire mode, 152–153, 267–268

four-square, 273–274, 415

grounding, 237–244, 275, 692–698 (see also ground)

phasing and switching techniques, 267–271

receive-only, 274–275

six-, eight-, and nine-circle, 274–275

three-element, 272–273

two-element, 149–153, 158–159, 266–271

vertical coaxial VHF/UHF antenna, 231

vertical dipole, 230–231, 430, 432

vertically polarized antennas, 229–249, 401–415

-wavelength ground-plane vertical, 157, 429–430

coaxial vertical, 427–429

collinear dipole, 430, 432

current, 233–234

dipole, 230–231, 232

coaxial, 231, 427–429

dimensions, 230

drooping radials (see ground-plane vertical antennas)

feedpoint impedance and matching, 244–247, 403–414, 408, 410, 412, 413–414

series feed, 244

shunt feed, 244–246

fence-post supports, 647, 649–650

gamma-fed, 244–246, 504

grounded monopole, 232–234, 236–237

equivalence to vertical dipole, 233

grounding and ground system, 237–244, 401–403

losses in, 237

radials, 237, 239–244, 401, 403, 406, 412, 413

RF height vs. surface height, 248

ground-plane vertical monopole, 157, 233–237, 248, 415, 426–427, 433–434

-wavelength, 236–237, 246–247

effect of base height on loss and efficiency, 248

feedpoint impedance and matching, 233, 234, 236

quarter-wavelength, 233–235

short monopoles, 236

half-slope vertical dipole, 191–193

image antenna in, 166–167

insulated-base, 413–415

J-pole, 430

polarization defined, 229

quarter-wavelength grounded monopole, 233–235, 402

feedpoint impedance and matching, 233

radials (see radials)

radiation pattern, three-dimensional, 232

radiation resistance, 236–239

series-feed, 408

short verticals:

for 1.8 MHz, 404–415

continuous loading, 405–406

discrete (lumped-component) loading, 404–405

efficiency, 406

ground systems (radials), 406, 412, 417–418

linear loading, 405–406

modeling, 409–410, 412

top loading, 404–405, 416

tower loading, 406–412

shunt-feed, 408–412

delta match, 408–409

gamma match, 408–412

omega match, 410

windowsill antennas, 369–371

vertical plane ground reflection factors, 167, 169–171

vertical polarization, 18–19, 36–37, 229

Beverage antenna, 334–335

vs. horizontal polarization, 248–249

very high frequency (VHF) antennas (See VHF/UHF antennas)

very low frequency (VLF), 342, 344

VHF/UHF antennas, 425–445

-wavelength 2-m vertical, 429–430

2-meter Yagi, 434–436

aiming, 425

balun, 441–442, 445

coaxial vertical, 427–429

collinear vertical, 430, 432

construction tradeoffs vs. HF, 425

delta match, 426, 442–443

dipole, 439–440

feedpoint impedance and matching, 440–445

frequency spectrum, 425 gain, 425

gamma match, 445

ground-plane vertical, 426–427, 433–434

halo, 436

J-pole, 430–431

quad, 436–438

Quagi, 438

safety, 426

scanner skyhook, 439–440

scanner antennas, 438–440

stub matching system, 140–142, 444–445, 579–582

television antennas, 438–439

voltage (V), 82–83

voltage gain, 711

voltage source, 86

Yagi, 434–436

virtual height, 54, 55

voltage, 82–84, 86, 88

dipole, 102–104, 106

(See also voltage standing wave ratio)

voltage standing wave ratio, 132, 134–135, 136–138, 572, 576, 588–590

W

W1FV, 275

W8JI, 274

W8JK array, 277

WA2WVL, 358

WARC bands, 312, 314, 325

water vapor vs. radio wave propagation, 9, 17, 27, 42–44

water wave analogy to radio wave propagation, 10–13

Watson-Watt Adcock array, 522–523

wattmeters, RF, 603–613

wave antenna (See Beverage or “wave” antenna)

waveguides, 109, 447–470

(See also microwave antennas; microwave waveguides)

wavelength, 11–13

in transmission lines, 116, 118–119

units, 11–13

in waveguide, 454–458

in wires, 104–106

in Yagi beams, 284–285

WBZ radio station, 11–12, 159

weather-related propagation phenomena, 28, 34, 39–41, 42–44, 57

Web resources, 743–744

Welch, Daniel F., W6DFW, 525

Wheatstone bridge, 590–592

wide-aperture direction finder (WADF), 525

WiFi, 3

wind:

force (load) due to, 656–660

pressure, 657

flat-plate impact pressure, 657

speed, 657, 659

zones, 663

winding toroids, 542–543

Windom, Loren, 226

Windom antenna, 226–228

windowsill antennas, 369–370, 372

wire antenna construction, 628–638

balun, 629, 631–633, 636

center insulator, 629–634

center support, 633

common-mode choke, 633–634

connection to feedline, 629–634

counterweight, 641

door spring, 633, 638, 641

drip loop, 633

end insulators, 634–635

halyard, 638–639, 641–644

heat-shrink tubing, 633

hoisting techniques, 638–640

baseball, 639

bow and arrow, 640

fish line and reel, 639

potato launcher, 640

slingshot, 640

twine, 639

knots, 635

messenger cable, 644–645

pulley systems, 642–644

rope (cordage), 634, 635, 637–639

safety, 625–628, 640, 641

soft-drawn copper, 630

solder and soldering, 629–632

strain relief, 629, 633, 644–645

twin-lead folded dipole insulators, 636–638

weatherproofing, 632–634

wire gauge and type, 630, 641

wireless, 3

nodes, 6

wireless communications services, 701

wireless telegraphy, 3

Wolf number, 49

Wonder Bar antenna, 197

wood preservation, 288, 291–292

World Administrative Radio Conferences (WARC), 4

Wullenweber array, 525–526

WWV radio station propagation forecasts, 50, 58

WWVH radio station propagation forecasts, 50

X

x-ray radiation, 48

Y

Yagi antennas, 277–314

advantages, 278–279

aluminum oxide suspension, 290

aluminum tubing, 293

back lobes, 279

bandwidth, 292

beam vs. beamwidth, 278

beamwidth, 279

BIP (beams in phase), 309–312

boom, 279, 284, 292, 293–295

boom-to-mast and boom-to-element brackets, 296

BOP (beams out of phase), 309–312

construction and materials, 286–299

dimensions, 282–286

director, 280

driven element, 280, 285

element(s):

caps, 291

diameter and nesting, 282–283, 285, 290, 293–297

Leeson corrections, 293

linear loading, 301–302

loading coils, 301–302

traps, 299–301

element spacing, 281, 284

feedpoint impedance and matching, 285, 291, 296, 297, 302–306

balun feed, 302

gamma match, 302–304

hairpin match, 305–306

T-match, 304–305

four or more elements, 286

front-to-back (F/B) ratio, 284, 285

front-to-side (F/S) ratio, 285

gain, 278, 284

long-boom, 63

modeling, 292, 293–295

multiband, 299–301, 678

optimum height, 63

pattern, 278

reflector, 280

multiple, 286

scaling for other frequencies, 283–284

shortened elements, 285, 299–302

side lobes, 279

stacking, 308–313

distance, 308–313

gain, 310–312

multiple bands, 312–313

for same band, 308–312

test and measurement, 291

three-element, 279–286

as top-loading for fed towers, 286, 406–412

triband, 299–301, 678

two-element, 282, 297–299

wind and ice loads, 290, 296

wire construction, 297–299

Yagi-Uda antenna, 162, 277–314

Z

Zepp, 222–224

(See also extended double Zepp)

zip cord (lamp cord), 394

ZL-special beam antenna, 264

feedpoint impedance and matching, 264

zoning and regulatory, 699–704

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), 702–703

zoning office, 701–702, 704

Zurich Smoothed Sunspot Number, 49