Plans for a 5/8 wave 2M ground plane
 

Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials needed
to build one?

Thanks

George Cronk wrote:
Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials needed
to build one?

ARRL Antenna Book
--
73, Cecil, W5DXP



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MFJ makes a phased 5/8 wave 2 meter antenna that also works as a 1/2 wave
vertical on 6. Sells for $49 at HRO.
73 Dave K4JRB

George Cronk wrote in message
54.205...
Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials needed
to build one?

Thanks

George Cronk wrote in message . 154.205...
Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials needed
to build one?

Thanks

You would be better off with a 1/4 wave ground plane on 2m. Seriously.
And one of those can be as simple as five 19 inch pieces of wire and a
So-239 connector. MK

"Mark Keith" wrote in message
om...
George Cronk wrote in message
. 154.205...
Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials
needed
to build one?

Thanks

You would be better off with a 1/4 wave ground plane on 2m. Seriously.
And one of those can be as simple as five 19 inch pieces of wire and a
So-239 connector. MK

Why would he be better off with a 1/4 wave, with it's large vertical lobe?

On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 06:36:31 -0500, "Dave VanHorn"
wrote:

You would be better off with a 1/4 wave ground plane on 2m. Seriously.
And one of those can be as simple as five 19 inch pieces of wire and a
So-239 connector. MK

Why would he be better off with a 1/4 wave, with it's large vertical lobe?

Hi Dave,

For any of a couple of reasons, principal among them being simplicity.
I have 2M, 220 and 440 versions with drooping radials that match quite
easily and couldn't be any cheaper for only the cost of the SO239. As
for "it's large vertical lobe," I am not sure what you mean by that.
The 5/8ths has more gain, but not so much more in a band and
application that is dominated by line of sight communication. If the
difference between the two is important to getting into a repeater,
getting into the repeater is not the same as full quieting and can be
an obnoxious advantage suffered by those who have to listen to a poor
connection. Such problems are more simply remedied by elevating the
existing antenna than trying to "add gain."

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

The 5/8ths has more gain, but not so much more in a band and
application that is dominated by line of sight communication.

Funny, it's made a significant difference for me in the decade or so I've
been using them.

A folded monopole is almost as simple, and has more gain as well.
http://www.w4dex.com/kc4fwc/proj_2.htm

If the
difference between the two is important to getting into a repeater,
getting into the repeater is not the same as full quieting and can be
an obnoxious advantage suffered by those who have to listen to a poor
connection.

?? More gain is worse?
I don't follow you. Being able to run into the same machines at lower power
is always good for my batteries, and taking me from noisy to quiet on the
same power is always a good thing.

Such problems are more simply remedied by elevating the
existing antenna than trying to "add gain."

Altitude is king, as long as you don't throw it all away in the feedline.

On Sat, 3 Apr 2004 14:35:29 -0500, "Dave VanHorn"
wrote:


The 5/8ths has more gain, but not so much more in a band and
application that is dominated by line of sight communication.

Funny, it's made a significant difference for me in the decade or so I've
been using them.

Less than 1 dB is significant? Are we talking about VHF FM DXing?

If the
difference between the two is important to getting into a repeater,
getting into the repeater is not the same as full quieting and can be
an obnoxious advantage suffered by those who have to listen to a poor
connection.

?? More gain is worse?

More gain is not always enough gain. Again, if this is about getting
into a repeater, the less than 1dB difference that holds it open with
a scratchy signal is no panacea. There is nothing your contacts can
do to improve your poor S/N ratio; so, in a sense, it being better is
only from your point of view and an imposition on others to strain
their ears.

I don't follow you. Being able to run into the same machines at lower power
is always good for my batteries, and taking me from noisy to quiet on the
same power is always a good thing.

The same logic applies to getting your buddies to push your car to
boost your MPG. Better MPG cannot be said to be bad, but then you
aren't the one doing the pushing.

Such problems are more simply remedied by elevating the
existing antenna than trying to "add gain."

Altitude is king, as long as you don't throw it all away in the feedline.

Adding altitude also overcomes obstructions that could easily strip
away the added "loss" of the line.

My buddy's 2M repeater is over a nearby hill from me (I am roughly 100
feet below its crest) and 10 miles away. I can hit it with a pocket
HT (100mW with a cheesy antenna) from inside my basement, but move
into another room and it's a morgue. A "better" antenna is hardly
going to do as good a job as the same poor one above ground level. A
"better" antenna will not fit in the pocket, so "better" is entirely
subjective with its objective analysis not so much very better.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC

Dave VanHorn wrote:
?? More gain is worse?

Depends on the TOA. Around Phoenix, we had a mountaintop repeater
that we could hit better with a 1/4 wave than with a 5/8 wave when
we were close to the base of the mountain upon which it resided.
That's where we camped out a lot.
--
73, Cecil, W5DXP



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"Cecil Moore" wrote in message
...
Dave VanHorn wrote:
?? More gain is worse?

Depends on the TOA. Around Phoenix, we had a mountaintop repeater
that we could hit better with a 1/4 wave than with a 5/8 wave when
we were close to the base of the mountain upon which it resided.
That's where we camped out a lot.

I'm aware that there are off cases where the normal rules don't apply, but
in general, higher gain and a flatter pattern, is always better than lower
gain and heating the clouds..

I've not seen many hairpins out there, and they are just a small bit more to
build than the GP.
Why is that? Are they just not well known?

Looking over the replies to this post makes me wonder where the helpful
ham hand is lurking these days. This poor guy just wants to know about
plans and materials for an antenna to build and all but one reply tells
him he doesn't want one or you should buy this one or he's stupid for
considering one or I can get into this repeater with that antenna, bla,
bla bla. It can be made with the same components as an SO-239 1/4 wave
ground plane but with a little more wire with a cork screw turn at the
bottom. Doesn't anyone have the simple plans for this guy?

George Cronk wrote:

Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials needed
to build one?

Thanks

On Mon, 05 Apr 2004 00:54:06 GMT, Mike wrote:

Looking over the replies to this post makes me wonder where the helpful
ham hand is lurking these days. This poor guy just wants to know about
plans and materials for an antenna to build and all but one reply tells
him he doesn't want one or you should buy this one or he's stupid for
considering one or I can get into this repeater with that antenna, bla,
bla bla. It can be made with the same components as an SO-239 1/4 wave
ground plane but with a little more wire with a cork screw turn at the
bottom. Doesn't anyone have the simple plans for this guy?

George Cronk wrote:

Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials needed
to build one?

Thanks
Actually I do have plans for a colinear 5/8 over 5/8 2 meter antenna;
all you'd have to do is omit the phasing coil and top radiator. This
one is built from wire on an SO-239.

To the original poster - I can scan the sketch & email it to you, let
me know if you'd like that & it's a done deal.

Howard
KE6something or other

"Dave VanHorn" wrote in message ...
"Mark Keith" wrote in message
om...
George Cronk wrote in message
. 154.205...
Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials
needed
to build one?

Thanks

You would be better off with a 1/4 wave ground plane on 2m. Seriously.
And one of those can be as simple as five 19 inch pieces of wire and a
So-239 connector. MK

Why would he be better off with a 1/4 wave, with it's large vertical lobe?

Cuz it's easier decoupled with it's 1/4 wave radials, and is less
likely to have feedline radiation than the funky 5/8 antenna with 1/4
wave radials. In direct comparisons here, the 1/4 GP was a good bit
better than the 5/8 with 1/4 radials. The maximum gain of an elevated
1/4 wave GP on 2m, mounted at 35 ft at the base, is appx 6.2 dbi at 3
degrees. The maximum gain of a 5/8 GP with horizontal 1/4 wave
radials, at the same height, is about 4.7 dbi at the same angle. And
this does not yet take into account any decoupling problems! If the
feedline radiates, any gain on the horizon is likely lost as the
pattern is skewed up off the horizon. The average 5/8 antenna is
ruined by using 1/4 wave radials. A 5/8 should be paired with a mirror
image 5/8 to function properly. IE: dual 5/8 collinear such as the
isopole, etc...
And decoupling must still be used even on those. I agree with one
thing Richard said about height and a 1/4 wave..If you get the tip of
the 1/4 GP at the same height as the tip of a tall dual 5/8 collinear,
there is little real difference between the two. And the dual 5/8's
collinear is better than a 5/8 GP. 2m is real critical as far as the
low angles used, and also to the effects of feedline radiation
lowering the gain at those low angles. Now on 10m, many times I do
prefer a 5/8 GP over a 1/4 GP, but there the angles used are less
critical.
If your 5/8's works, I wouldn't worry much, but in comparing them in
A/B tests, "at appx 35 ft" I've never seen a 5/8 GP with 1/4 radials
beat a 1/4 wave GP with 1/4 radials. I once built a fancy 5/8 GP with
a nice larson coil, lots of 1/4 wave radials, etc...Was a super
dud...I tore it up the 1st day and went back to a 1/4 wave. The 1/4
wave was an average 3-4 S units better on local rptrs, and simplex.
About the same difference as comparing a undecoupled ringo ranger, to
a decoupled ringo ranger 2... MK

Mike wrote in message .com...
Looking over the replies to this post makes me wonder where the helpful
ham hand is lurking these days. This poor guy just wants to know about
plans and materials for an antenna to build and all but one reply tells
him he doesn't want one or you should buy this one or he's stupid for
considering one or I can get into this repeater with that antenna, bla,
bla bla. It can be made with the same components as an SO-239 1/4 wave
ground plane but with a little more wire with a cork screw turn at the
bottom. Doesn't anyone have the simple plans for this guy?

Sure, if he really wants to use an inferior antenna, I can tell him
how to build it. It's simple. A 5/8 wave radiator, and about 4-5 turns
of coil on a one inch form for matching will get him fairly close.
But I don't recommend one. You wouldn't get me running a 5/8 GP on 2m
for anything. It's like G5RV's on 80m...They usually suck...So do most
5/8's GP's on 2m...:/ But don't take my word for it. Compare them with
an antenna switch and see. The only time I ever see a 5/8's beat a 1/4
on 2m, is if they are nearly on the ground. And I think thats just a
line of sight deal... MK

"Mark Keith" wrote in message
om...
"Dave VanHorn" wrote in message
...
"Mark Keith" wrote in message
om...
George Cronk wrote in message
. 154.205...
Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials
needed
to build one?

Thanks

You would be better off with a 1/4 wave ground plane on 2m. Seriously.
And one of those can be as simple as five 19 inch pieces of wire and a
So-239 connector. MK

Why would he be better off with a 1/4 wave, with it's large vertical
lobe?

Cuz it's easier decoupled with it's 1/4 wave radials, and is less
likely to have feedline radiation than the funky 5/8 antenna with 1/4
wave radials. In direct comparisons here, the 1/4 GP was a good bit
better than the 5/8 with 1/4 radials.

Interesting. You obviously have developed a far superior measurement
technique than most antenna engineering firms, and maybe even NIST. Your
results disagree with pretty much everyone who measures antenna gain
professionally, and the ARRL handbooks, but hey they must all be wrong then.

Though it's entirely done in the HF spectrum, a pretty detailed analysis is
presented he
http://www.cebik.com/58-3.html
A good ground, and cleaner near-field space, is easier to come by at VHF and
UHF, so I would expect results to be somewhat better than what was seen here
even at the high end of the HF spectrum.

If you google a bit, you'll probably find some articles on converting a CB
antenna to a 5/8 2 meter antenna.

Dave VanHorn wrote,
lobe?

Cuz it's easier decoupled with it's 1/4 wave radials, and is less
likely to have feedline radiation than the funky 5/8 antenna with 1/4
wave radials. In direct comparisons here, the 1/4 GP was a good bit
better than the 5/8 with 1/4 radials.

Interesting. You obviously have developed a far superior measurement
technique than most antenna engineering firms, and maybe even NIST. Your
results disagree with pretty much everyone who measures antenna gain
professionally, and the ARRL handbooks, but hey they must all be wrong then.

Though it's entirely done in the HF spectrum, a pretty detailed analysis is
presented he
http://www.cebik.com/58-3.html
A good ground, and cleaner near-field space, is easier to come by at VHF and
UHF, so I would expect results to be somewhat better than what was seen here
even at the high end of the HF spectrum.

If you google a bit, you'll probably find some articles on converting a CB
antenna to a 5/8 2 meter antenna.


In volume 1 of the Antenna Compendium series is an article entitled "The
5/8-Wavelength Antenna Mystique" by Donald K. Reynolds, K7DBA.
I don't think Reynolds would disagree with Mark too much.
73,
Tom Donaly, KA6RUH

"Dave VanHorn" wrote in message

Cuz it's easier decoupled with it's 1/4 wave radials, and is less
likely to have feedline radiation than the funky 5/8 antenna with 1/4
wave radials. In direct comparisons here, the 1/4 GP was a good bit
better than the 5/8 with 1/4 radials.

Interesting. You obviously have developed a far superior measurement
technique than most antenna engineering firms, and maybe even NIST.

Maybe so if using a simple antenna switch to A/B test is superior...

Your
results disagree with pretty much everyone who measures antenna gain
professionally, and the ARRL handbooks, but hey they must all be wrong then.

No, they do NOT disagree with most who have a clue. BTW, those
"results" I gave you with gain numbers were from modeling.

Though it's entirely done in the HF spectrum, a pretty detailed analysis is
presented he

HF? Thats the problem....You can't apply the performance shown on HF,
and expect it to pan out on 2m. The decoupling problem will rear it's
head on VHF.

http://www.cebik.com/58-3.html
A good ground, and cleaner near-field space, is easier to come by at VHF and
UHF, so I would expect results to be somewhat better than what was seen here
even at the high end of the HF spectrum.

A good ground is not the whole answer. Decoupling is more important at
those higher frequencies.

If you google a bit, you'll probably find some articles on converting a CB
antenna to a 5/8 2 meter antenna.

Why would I need to do that? I already done that before. I've built
enough 5/8 antennas to choke a horse. Maybe two or three. Thats why
I'm fairly comfortable with what I say.
I'd like to ask one question. Have you ever actually compared the two
types at the same time using a switch? MK

"Dave VanHorn" wrote in message

If you google a bit, you'll probably find some articles on converting a CB
antenna to a 5/8 2 meter antenna.

One note...There is only one case on VHF where I often prefer a 5/8
over a 1/4 , and that is on a car when roof mounted. The 5/8 will
usually "picket fence" less, if you are in an area that is all flat
terrain. But as far as elevated ground planes at the house, I prefer
the 1/4 wave anyday. If I use 5/8 elements at home, it will always be
a dual 5/8 collinear of some type. Not a GP with 1/4 wave radials. MK

"Mark Keith" wrote in message
om...
"Dave VanHorn" wrote in message

If you google a bit, you'll probably find some articles on converting a
CB
antenna to a 5/8 2 meter antenna.

One note...There is only one case on VHF where I often prefer a 5/8
over a 1/4 , and that is on a car when roof mounted. The 5/8 will
usually "picket fence" less, if you are in an area that is all flat
terrain.

And that's exactly where I use them.
Not much problem with ground planes or decoupling.

Hustler makes a 5/8 wave 2M antenna they call the SF-2. HRO sells them for
$14.95.
At that price the only reason to make one is "for fun" but that's
worthwhile.
73, K3DWW

"George Cronk" wrote in message
54.205...
Does anyone know where I can get plans for this antenna? Materials needed
to build one?

Thanks

"Dave VanHorn" wrote in message

Though it's entirely done in the HF spectrum, a pretty detailed analysis is
presented he
http://www.cebik.com/58-3.html
A good ground, and cleaner near-field space, is easier to come by at VHF and
UHF, so I would expect results to be somewhat better than what was seen here
even at the high end of the HF spectrum.

It's more decoupling than anything. Although the usual 5/8 GP with 1/4
wave radials is a flawed animal from the git-go. I think the best
article to describe the effect is from a Dr. Reynolds , "I think thats
the name anyway", that wrote an article for AEA about this problem.
They put out a small brochure with the article and some pictures. They
described the problems with most of the common verticals used. IE: 1/2
waves, 5/8's, and collinears. The result of all that led to the
development of the AEA isopole. Probably the best decoupled dual 5/8
collinear ever designed. And thus , the highest performing compared to
less well decoupled competitors. Thats why cushcraft modified their
ringo ranger, and added a decoupling section, and renamed it the ringo
ranger 2. The effects of a lack of decoupling was glaring when
compared to an antenna of the same appx size, using good decoupling.
The RR was also an appx dual 5/8, although slightly perverted in
dimensions...The RR2 is a good antenna. But the isopole will still
usually beat it. The 5/8 GP or other poorly decoupled antenna does
have the rare chance of the feedline currents adding in phase and
creating some gain, but this is like a one in twenty chance...Like
going to Vegas...Doesn't usually work out that way for most people.
Never did for me...I've never had an elevated 5/8 GP on 2m that was
worth a hoot. Not a one...
Only on a car were they ok. But you look at a car...It's large enough
to usually provide a lower 5/8's of sorts, and also there is no
feedline radiation to skew the pattern upwards. The feedline radiation
if any, is shielded by the car body.
HF is a whole different story. On 10m, a 5/8 GP is best over both a
1/4 wave and a 1/2 wave. I've tested this many times in the real
world...
HF is less critical as far as using a real low wave angle, and also
the average angle used , even locally, is probably slightly higher.
But it doesn't apply to VHF or UHF. It's a whole different world
there, and feedline decoupling is by far the most critical part of a
good antenna. Not brute gain numbers. It won't do any good if the gain
is not where you need it. And thats under 5 degrees for local VHF. MK

Mark makes a good point. Those with EZNEC or other modeling program
might try this -- build a model of a ground plane antenna, and do an
elevation plot. I'll describe the process with EZNEC, but you can do the
same with other programs. With EZNEC, start with the example description
VHFGP.EZ, and change the Plot Type to Elevation. Click FF Pat to run a
pattern. In the 2D window, select Save Trace As, enter a name, and click
Save. Then, from the junction of the ground plane and vertical wire,
extend a wire downward for 3/4 wavelength, by adding a wire (in the
Wires Window) with end coordinates 0,0,5 and 0,0,4.25 wavelengths. Give
the new wire 15 or so segments. Change the Units to Inches or
Millimeters, and make the diameter about equal to the outside diameter
of your feedline coax. Do a pattern calculation on the new antenna. In
the 2D window, select Add Trace, and enter the name of the trace you
just saved to show the original pattern for comparison. The distortion
of the pattern is due to current induced on the outside of the feedline
by the antenna -- the radiating feedline is as much a part of the
antenna as the intended radiator. (Those of you enamored with with CFA,
EH, or other small antenna take note!) In fact, feedline radiation can
actually contribute more to the overall field than radiation from the
supposed "antenna". You can see this current in the View Antenna display
after doing a calculation. You'll find that very small changes in the
length of the feedline wire make profound differences in the pattern.
(The phenomenon is similar to what happens when you change the length of
a Yagi element.)

This open ended feedline of course doesn't do a good job of representing
most real feedlines, and the length was chosen to be nearly resonant.
The real feedline is likely to be longer, and take a circuitous path,
perhaps through the mains wiring, eventually ending at ground, and might
or might not resonate. The pattern you'll actually get depends on this
path and length, which are often hard to predict or quantify. But the
program shows that pretty severe pattern distortion is possible for some
feedline lengths, so you might or might not experience it. It also
illustrates that the ground radials do an ineffective job of isolating
the outside of the feedline from the antenna. I believe it's very
possibly a reason people have such varying opinions about ground planes
of various lengths and of J-poles -- and why people seem pretty
uniformly satisfied with the AEA Isopole. It's not spectacular, but it's
consistent, and independent of the feedline.

To further your education, try different ground radial angles and
lengths in the model antenna, and different radiator lengths. Another
fun experiment is to put a "balun" -- a resistive or reactive load of
about 1000 ohms -- at the "coax" feedpoint connection (wire 6, 0% of the
way from end 1), and see what that does to the current and pattern. Try
moving it, and adding a second one at various spacings. Interesting,
isn't it?

The conclusion you should reach is that a description of the vertical
and ground plane wires alone isn't an adequate description of the actual
radiating structure -- the feedline is an integral part of the system
and has to be included if you're to have any idea of how the antenna
will really work.

Hopefully, this exercise will help you understand why, when you ask a
question about how well a "simple" antenna will work, some of us hem and
haw and answer "It depends".

Roy Lewallen, W7EL