Antennas for beginners
Pick by what you need to do: carry it, cover every direction, reach far, or build it cheaply.
Rubber duck
Short stock antenna
- Good
- Compact, comes with most handhelds, easy to carry
- Limit
- Shorter range than a longer antenna
- Best for
- Walking around, short local contacts
Vertical
Radiates in all directions
- Good
- Same signal every way, no aiming needed
- Limit
- Does not focus power in one direction
- Best for
- Vehicles, rooftops, base stations
Yagi
Directional beam
- Good
- Focuses signal one way for more reach
- Limit
- You must point it at the other station
- Best for
- Far stations, weak signals
Dipole
Two wires
- Good
- Simple, low cost, easy to build
- Limit
- Needs space for the wires, and a support to hang them
- Best for
- HF, where it is a popular starter
Safety: never transmit without an antenna connected. Keep antennas well away from power lines when you put them up.
@captain.ramkumar · VU3WMV. General guidance for beginners. Check your licence conditions and local rules.
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