Portable Antennas
Portable Antennas
Portable antennas are essential for operators who enjoy ham radio activity away from their fixed stations, whether for field day events, SOTA activations, or casual outdoor QSOs. These antennas prioritize quick deployment, light weight, and compact size, allowing hams to set up a functional station almost anywhere. Many designs focus on multi-band operation to maximize flexibility across the HF and VHF bands, often with QRP power levels.
This category features numerous homebrew antenna projects, including various magnetic loops like the Light Loop or the Portable Magnetic Loop, and wire antennas such as the Slink-ette or inverted L designs. Operators can also find comparisons of commercial portable HF antennas, like those compiled by ON4SKY, to evaluate options for their specific needs. Resources also cover practical aspects like telescopic masts and mounting solutions for supporting wire antennas in the field.
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A light portable 2 element Delta beam antenna for 14 MHz. It is basically a two element delta loop wire antenna made for portable usage providing good directivity and a 4.2 dBd gain -
The GAWANT Antenna, or Shinagawa Antenna is an half-wave vertical end-fed in a FT817-friendly package -
Antenna for Field Day or Everyday. aA simple yet rugged six band quarter wave vertical antenna system perfect for field day or home use. -
A loop antenna made with common RG-213 coax and rests on a cross made of 6 mm fibreglass rods anf a 6.5- 30MHz tune -
A lightweight ham radio antenna for Summits On The Air (SOTA) that deploys easily and is highly compact. -
This article explores the evolution of antenna choices for DXpeditions, focusing on the shift from mono-band VDAs to a multi-band solution. It details the design and construction of a lightweight, versatile 20-17-15m VDA, utilizing readily available materials like fishing rods and IKEA breadboards. The author discusses challenges, adjustments, and offers guidance for replication. -
A lightweight portable vertical antenna for 40m -
In this post by N6CTA, discover the conversion of the Yaesu ATAS-120A screwdriver antenna for portable use. The author details the creation of two sets of radials, 16 and 32 in 16ft lengths, aiming to optimize the efficiency of ground-mounted antennas. Additionally, insights are shared on attaching male quick disconnect blade tabs, with potential plans for a radial plate kit. -
A simple drawing schematic of a portable field dipole for 14 MHz with dimensions in meters and instruction for setting up the antenna and to store the radial for easy transportation