Vertical antenna designer

*** BETA version - this page is in development ***

Design a vertical antenna for portable use. This type of antenna is designed for one principal amateur HF band only, and has an advantage over other types of antenna in receiving and transmitting in all directions. Radiation patterns in elevation typically show low-angle radiation, so this can be a good DX antenna. One disadvantage of a vertical antenna is that it picks up more noise than other antenna types.  Read more...

Set antenna color:    

Principal band
Band:
Frequency: kHz    ?
Wavelength: m
Antenna wire
Diameter: mm
Support pole
Height: m
Main vertical section
Type:
Length: m
Base height: m
Radials
No. of radials:
Radials length: λ = m ?
Radials angle: °  from horizontal
Antenna overview
Support
height 		Main vertical section Radials
Length Top
height 		Bottom
height 		No. Length Angle Tip
ht.
 
Press the "Show antenna" button to display your antenna
configuration here in interactive 3D graphics mode
Antenna feed-point: ⬥   

Antenna performance

Here you can generate plots of radiation patterns, VSWR chart, antenna currents diagram and Smith chart for your antenna over a choice of ground types. By changing the physical dimensions of the antenna, and refreshing these plots, you can learn a lot about how such antennas will perform in the field.
Please note that radiation patterns are here modelled over flat ground - generally speaking, when an antenna is erected on a hill-top or mountain summit, surrounding sloping ground will often cause angles in the elevation radiation pattern to be lowered in the direction of the slope.
This is not, however, the case with vertical antennas, since the vertically-polarized waves radiated by the antenna are emitted horizontally, such that reflections from the ground will be minimal, with the resulting elevation radiation pattern being largely unaffected by downward-sloping ground.
A more profound effect on the take-off angle from vertical antennas arises from the conductivity of the ground immediately surrounding the antenna: the higher the ground conductivity, the lower will be the take-off angle. Try it!

Choose ground type of
land in the vicinity
of the antenna: 		   Conductivity: S/m    Dielectric const.: F/m
 
View radiation patterns:    Set elevation angle for azimuth plot:  °    ?
  Set azimuth angle for elevation plot:  °    ?
View currents diagram:
View VSWR chart:
Display impedance curves: Using unun   
Impedance curves scales:   
View Smith chart:
Antenna gains
at 0° elevation:
Antenna impedance:
Frequency range: