Amateur radio operators use many different antenna types, each designed for specific bands, space limits, and operating goals. Here’s a clear overview of the most common ones and why hams choose them.
Wire Antennas
These are some of the simplest and most popular antennas that include:
Dipole Antennas
- Two equal wire sections fed in the center
- Very efficient and easy to build
- Works well on HF bands
- Often used as a first antenna
End-fed wire
- Fed at one end instead of the center
- Easy to install in limited space
- Needs a matching unit (tuner or transformer)
Inverted-V
- A dipole with the center high and the ends sloping down
- Takes up less horizontal space
- Good all-around performance
Vertical antennas
Vertical antennas stand upright and radiate equally in all directions.
- Popular for HF, VHF, and UHF
- Good for DX (long-distance) contacts
- Require a good ground system or radials
- Common on small lots or rooftops
Verticals are great when you want omnidirectional coverage without rotating an antenna.
Directional antennas
These antennas focus energy in specific directions. They include:
Yagi Antennas
- One driven element with reflector(s) and director(s)
- High gain and directivity
- Common on HF, VHF, and UHF
- Usually mounted on towers and rotors
Beam Antennas
- General term for directional antennas
- Help reduce noise and interference
- Ideal for contesting and DXing
Loop antennas
Loop antennas use a closed loop of wire or tubing. They include:
Full-wave loops
- Large, efficient, and low noise
- Often used on HF bands
Magnetic loops
- Much smaller
- Useful in apartments or noisy environments
- Narrow bandwidth, needs careful tuning
VHF/UHF antennas
Used mainly for local and line-of-sight communication. They include:
Ground-plane
- Simple vertical antenna
- Common for 2 m and 70 cm
Collinear
- Stacked vertical elements
- More gain for repeater and FM use
Handheld “rubber duck”
- Compact and portable
- Less efficient but very convenient
Portable and special-purpose antennas
- Whip antennas for mobile use
- NVIS antennas for regional HF coverage
- Stealth antennas designed to be hidden
- Satellite antennas (often crossed Yagis)
Choosing the right antenna
Amateur Radio Operators usually decide what antenna to used based on:
- Available space
- Frequency bands
- Operating style (local, DX, portable)
- Budget and installation limits
A simple, well-installed antenna often outperforms a complex one installed poorly.
How do I increase Antenna Gain?
Increasing antenna gain means focusing the radio signal more efficiently rather than increasing transmitter power. One of the most effective ways is to use a directional antenna, like a Yagi or beam, instead of an omnidirectional antenna such as a dipole or vertical. Directional antennas concentrate energy in a specific direction, providing stronger signals and reducing interference from unwanted directions.
You can also look at mounting your antenna higher. The old thought of Height is Might come into play. It’s true to a point, especially if you go higher and can now talk over obstacles like hills or buildings.
Another way to increase gain is by adding more elements to antennas like Yagis. Each additional director slightly increases forward gain, allowing for stronger transmission over long distances. Similarly, antenna height plays a major role in effective gain: raising antennas above obstacles improves the radiation angle, enhances long-distance (DX) contacts, and benefits line-of-sight communication on VHF and UHF bands.
Advanced techniques include stacking antennas, where two or more identical antennas are combined with proper spacing and phasing to achieve extra gain. Even without changing antennas, improving efficiency can boost effective gain. This includes using low-loss coax, keeping feedlines short, installing sufficient radials for verticals, and tuning the antenna to achieve a low SWR, which ensures most energy is radiated rather than lost.
In short, achieving higher gain relies on focusing energy, increasing elements, raising antenna height, and reducing losses. Choosing the right antenna depends on your operating goals, such as DX contacts or local coverage, and your available space and budget.
What about you?
So what antenna have you used and has it worked well or not at all? Which antenna did I miss above?
I’m keen to get your thoughts so please add a comment below.
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