TECHNICAL ARTICLE

PORTABLE ANTENNAS FOR VHF-III. 1/2 wave Vertical Flower Pot

A simple walkie-talkie is enough to make good contacts from an elevated area. However,
The antenna that they usually carry is too small to have good performance.

In previous articles, we have presented several gain antennas: the JPole and Yagi antennas.

We completed, to finalize the VHF delivery, with one more antenna for the backpack that improves our
signal in portable. This time it is a half-wave vertical antenna. But wasn't it
Is that precisely the JPole antenna? Why build another similar antenna?

In our field tests, we have confirmed that the JPole, besides being cumbersome for the
transport, it may have some disadvantage due to its narrow radiation angle. If the signal comes with
At an elevation greater than 28º, the JPole antenna shows signal attenuation. The ½ wave antenna
conventional, despite having lower gain than the JPole, has a broader and more regular lobe, avoiding
Those attenuated areas of the JPole. The ½ wave antenna has better performance than a quarter wave antenna.
from the wave.

Let's see a simulation of the radiation from a J antenna, a half-wave, and a quarter-wave antenna:

J-pole
½ wave
¼ wave

The half-wave antenna has a more regular lobe for high elevations, and although it does not have the peak
the gain of the J will allow for listening to more varied signals, making it a more versatile antenna.
It also has greater gain than the quarter-wave antenna.

The characteristics of this design are as follows:

Direct feeding with the 50-ohm coaxial cable

Totally collapsible antenna made of coaxial cable as the radiator.
Radiofrequency shock to prevent returns through the mesh.
Homemade construction on a PVC pipe for impact.
It can be hung from a tree or secured on a rod.
No radials are needed as it is a ½ wave antenna fed at the end.
It is a good emergency antenna.

Prepared by: EA2BD / EA2BSB. 2014

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Half-wave coaxial antenna diagram: the 'Flower pot' antenna

This antenna was designed and refined with much experimentation by VK2ZOI. On his website, he describes the
dimensions for this antenna and other higher gain variants.

The antenna is built entirely with RG-58 coaxial cable.

Original dimensions for a model intended for the voice range and centered at 145.000 MHz:

Central conductor of the coaxial: 45.7 cm

Coaxial segment: 44.7 cm

Tube of Ø 25mm

Shock: 9 laps

Operation of the antenna

The antenna works as a half-wave dipole. The uncoated central conductor is one arm of the dipole (¼
of the wave) and the coaxial mesh forms the other quarter-wavelength arm that radiates from the outer layer. The part
The interior of the mesh acts as a transmission line.

The choke is a resonant trap so that the coaxial line does not radiate, avoiding currents in the mesh of the
power supply line to the equipment.

Construction of the portable half-wave antenna for 145 MHz.

The design is entirely made of coaxial cable that will serve as a radiator. Out of respect for the original design.
We are going to keep calling her Flower pot.

In his model, VK2ZOI introduces the coaxial inside a PVC tube that he uses as a support for
place it in a fixed installation.

We have modified the design to use the antenna in portable mode and it is cumbersome to have to
carry the antenna with its tube on your back, the PVC tube is omitted, of which is maintained
only the piece for the shock. The rest of the coaxial is left exposed to the air.

Prepared by: EA2BD / EA2BSB. 2014

TECHNICAL ARTICLE
It is about having an antenna that can be easily carried for emergencies and takes up very little space. The final assembly
It rolls up and is stored in a bag, and it is very simple to unfold and hang it when you want to use it.

Materials List:
- 2 m of RG-58 coaxial cable.
- 2 m of RG-174 coaxial cable (for power supply)
- 10 cm of PVC pipe with a diameter of 25mm
- Self-vulcanizing rubber tape and epoxy glue
- heat shrink tubing
- Nylon ties.

Prepare the coaxial:

2 meters of RG-58 cable are taken. At one end, 45.7cm of insulation is carefully removed.
also the mesh. This is the upper part of the radiator.

The coaxial is maintained below another 44.7 cm.

Next, the clash is prepared, which consists of 9 complete laps over the 25 mm PVC pipe.
of diameter. For this, grooves are prepared in the tube and 3 holes are made to pass some flanges.
that will keep the impact subject.

Holes

Grooves

Prepared by: EA2BD / EA2BSB. 2014

TECHNICAL ARTICLE

Nutrition

To power the antenna, an additional 2 meters of thinner RG-174 cable is added. The idea is to have an antenna
very light that will be used with the 5 watts of a walkie-talkie and that is why this lighter cable is added from the
shock.

Instead of putting coaxial connectors between both cables that add extra weight, the end is joined.
from RG-174 to RG-58. To do this, the ends are carefully stripped and the central conductor is joined with a
welding

To prevent a short circuit between the center and the mesh, the soldering is isolated with epoxy glue.
to finish, a braided mesh (from the upper section of the coaxial that was removed) is added to surround the entire
exposed section.

To cover and protect against moisture from the weather, the area is covered with rubber tape.
self-vulcanizing.

It is also necessary to seal in the radiant section of coaxial where the transition to the area begins.
discovery of the central conductor.

Prepared by: EA2BD / EA2BSB. 2014

TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Cut 2 centimeters of heat shrink tubing, insert it and heat it so that it folds and adapts.
sealing the transition:

Finally, a male BNC connector for the RG-174 cable is added. The antenna has been completed and
ready to try:

ROE Essays:

The flower pot built with the presented measurements has a generous bandwidth with a very high ROE.
stable; a value less than 1:1.5 across the entire band:

Prepared by: EA2BD / EA2BSB. 2014

TECHNICAL ARTICLE
2.4
ROE Flower Pot
2

1.6

1,2

0.8

0.4

0
143 143.5 144 144.5 145 145.5 146

Field trials

In a recent SOTA activation, we tested the Flower pot antenna. Below are the
Contacts made indicating the distance in kilometers with the correspondent. Some of them were others.
SOTA activators from different summits, others were colleagues who were at their QTH.

My position: top of Mount Bitigarra, 1169 m, Grid locator: IN82ts

Good contacts were made with the antenna. The best part was when I realized that the walkie-talkie was
adjusted to low power: the contacts were made with 0.5 watts!

The antenna works wonderfully.

Weight: its final weight is 90 grams. Much less than a steel mobile antenna.

The Flower pot antenna we have tested is a foldable antenna and works correctly. It deserves
It's worth carrying one in the backpack and having a reliable antenna to activate or for an emergency.

Best regards 73

Prepared by: EA2BD / EA2BSB. 2014