Half-Wave Flower Pot Antenna

The diagram below shows the basic arrangement of the 2m Half-Wave version of the
antenna. To construct the antenna, first select a suitable length of grey 25mm
conduit (as a minimum 1m but if you make it longer, you will have more room below
the coil to attach to your antenna support).

Basic arrangement of the 2m Half-Wave version

Drill two holes into the side of the conduit for the choke coil. The top hole will be
approx 925mm from the end (this distance is the length of the radiator plus a small
clearance between its end and the end-cap). The spacing between the holes should
be such that the coil turns will be firm and secure. Actual hole diameter and spacing
will depend on the cable brand and/or where it was manufactured. It will be close to
being two 6mm holes spaced 45mm apart but wind 9 turns temporarily on the
conduit and take measurements.
Then take a suitable length of co-ax (I make mine using the one piece of cable, about
5 to 6m long, to reach from the antenna to the transceiver the length is your
choice). From one end, strip off 457mm of the outer sheath and braid to form the top
element. Its not a big problem if you end up with a length thats a bit short, because
a another piece of wire or the discarded braid can be soldered to the top to make the
correct length.
Using several half-hitches, tie a piece of fishing line (or similar, thin nylon line), say
about half a metre long, to the top of the upper element. This line will be used to pull
the radiator taut, it will clip over the top of the conduit and be clamped by the end
cap.
Now measure 447mm down from the feedpoint (the point where the braid/outer
sheath now starts); this is the distance to the start (or top) of the choke coil and
mark this position on the coax with a piece of tape, string, paint spot, or whatever, so
as to be a reference/stop point when inserting the cable into the conduit.

The antenna is assembled by inserting the radiating portion (together with the piece
of nylon line) through the top coil hole and pushing it upwards until the
aforementioned reference/stop point disappears into the hole.
Fish-out (pun intended) the nylon line and by pulling it taut, temporarily straighten
the radiator to set the bend at the choke coil top.

The coil is then wound on the outside of the conduit and the remainder of the cable
inserted through the bottom coil hole and pushed down. Using firm but careful
manipulation, the cable is pushed and tugged through the exit hole until the coil is
tightly wound and secure. This must be done without altering the bottom radiator
length (you should continue to just see your mark through the top hole.
At the top, cut a small (thin, narrow) notch in the edge of the conduit, pull the nylon
line taut and nip the nylon line into the notch. Later, when an end cap is fitted, the
cap will clamp the nylon line solidly in place and hold the radiator straight.

Fit a connector, measure the VSWR, if necessary trim the top element.
However, you should find that very little trimming, if any, will be necessary. If
you dual band the antenna, the 2m resonance will appear to shift upwards slightly.
So, dont be too concerned if your antenna at this stage appears to have its VSWR
curve dip a bit below 146 MHz. The VSWR plot of the 2m Half-Wave antenna should
look like the following:

VSWR plot of the 2m Half-Wave antenna

When you are happy with the VSWR, finally, cap the top, securing the nylon line and
the radiator in place.

Dont block or seal the bottom end of the conduit. This is to allow
condensation etc to drain away.

Tips
File the coil holes to ease the bends.
Heatshrink the feedpoint to seal against water entry. Also heatshrink the coils entry
and exit points to minimise water entry.

Heatshrink the bottom end to provide a buffer for the exiting coax and neaten the
base.
The type of Co-Ax is Important. Use braided co-ax only.
Do not use co-ax with a foil shield as the foil tends to break during assembly
especially at the sharp bends at the choke entry/exit points. Obviously if this
happens, your antenna will not work!

Cocky Proofing
To protect the choke coil from bird attacks especially from the White Cockatoos, the
coil needs to be covered with a Cocky shield. An empty Silicone Sealant cartridge
(enlarge the hole at the top and cut the barrel to length) neatly fits over a 2m
antenna coil. A PET soft-drink bottle can be used for larger coils which, when heated
with a hot-air gun (but dont melt the conduit), will act like heat shrink tubing and
become a very tough shield. Before fitting the shield, wrap PVC tape over the coil and
the entry/exit holes to minimise water entry.

Using something other than grey electrical conduit

To the purist and his microwave oven, grey electrical conduit is considered lossy. It is,
however, very UV resistant. The design compensates for the affect of the conduit by
shortening the elements (by about a 2% factor) but otherwise the conduit appears to
have little effect on the radiation efficiency.

If you use orange (HD) conduit, irrigation pipe, Telstra conduit, GRP, etc, the element
lengths will be different. An unenclosed antenna will have longer elements (probably
2% or maybe 3% longer). Similarly, an antenna enclosed in something that is very
much loaded with conductive filler will be much shorter (but, of course, dont ever use
a material like this for an antenna).
Scaling to Other Frequencies
The above design will scale to other frequencies, the limitation being the mechanical
properties of the conduit. To make an antenna for other frequencies, a suitable choke
coil can be determined from this table.

RG58 Co-ax Self Resonant Frequency (MHz)

PVC Conduit Former Diameter

Coil Turns
25mm 32mm 50mm

4 - 160 -

5 150 136 85

8 142 106 65

9 135 100 60

10 129 95 57

12 117 84 52

15 105 75 47

As a suggestion, construct a series of graphs from the data to make it easier to

interpolate. Ideally, the choke should consist of unit turns. Half turns are OK but do
not wind a choke coil using other than full or half turns. If your design is for a single
operating frequency (or very narrow band) then chose the lowest half turn (ie the
choke frequency is closer to the operating frequency); if, however, a broader-band
antenna is required, chose the nearest higher half turn.

The choke needs to be resonant about 5 to 6% below the desired operating

frequency. Closer spacing will sharpen (and deepen) the VSWR response; wider
spacing flattens but raises the VSWR. curve.

6m Half Wave Flower Pot

To build a 6m version, use 50mm (OD) conduit. The dimensions are in the following
diagram.
 6m version

VSWR plot of the 6m Half-Wave antenna

 Dual Band Half-Wave Flower Pot Antenna
The basic half wave version of the Flower Pot antenna can be readily modified to dual
band the antenna for operation on a band that is the (approximate) third harmonic of
the fundamental resonance.

Operation on the third harmonic is achieved by using a sleeve technique so as to form

quarter wave phasing sections (at the higher frequency) to end feed two half waves
in phase at the third harmonic.

This arrangement provides useful gain (3dBd) on the higher band. The sleeve
technique maintains the impedance matching for both bands and (probably
fortunately) there is sufficient longitudinal impedance in the choke coil to provide the
required isolation at the third harmonic.

The sleeve is applied after the basic antenna has been constructed.

Dimensions shown are for the (basic) 2m half-wave Flower Pot. The modification
involves placing a co-ax phasing sleeve around the outside of conduit, positioned as
shown.

Dimensions for a 2m half-wave Flower Pot

The sleeve material can be aluminium (kitchen) foil, copper foil, brass shim,
roof/building alfoil sarking or salvaged co-ax braid.

Before fixing the sleeve in place, check VSWR on 2m The sleeve should cause little if
no change to 2m VSWR although it may appear to very slightly raise the resonant
frequency; With the sleeve fitted, the VSWR should not be greater than 1.15:1 across
the FM portion of band).

Then check VSWR across the 70cm (430 450 MHz) band. Expected VSWR readings
will be less than 1.2:1 at band edges and less than 1.1:1 in band centre.

If VSWR is outside these limits, adjust position of sleeve (+/- 5mm max) and, if
necessary, trim sleeve length to lower VSWR. When trimming sleeve length
(dimension B) adjust dimensions A and C accordingly to keep centre of sleeve
adjacent to feedpoint of the inner 2m dipole. However, little, if any, adjustment to the
sleeve should be necessary. When satisfied with the VSWR, fix in place and protect
the sleeve with UV protected PVC tape or heatshrink.
Methods of dual banding the other versions are being developed and will be added to
this website when available.
 Single 5/8 Flower Pot Antenna
The Single 5/8 version of the Flower Pot simply substitutes a 5/8 wave-length section
for the top quarter wave of the basic half wave antenna design. The arrangement is
shown in the sketch below. The 5/8 radiator uses a 0.2 (shorted) co-ax phasing
stub to resonate the 5/8 element. In a conventional 5/8 mobile whip, an inductor is
used to bring the 5/8 element to resonance; however, in this Flower Pot style of
antenna, using a co-ax phasing (or delay) stub suits the construction technique and
has the advantage of being able to be precisely determined and cut at the
construction stage.

The antenna configuration is similar to, but slightly shorter than, the Gain Sleeve
antenna described in the RSGB Hand-book (6th Edition figure 13.99, which itself is
derived from the reactance or shunt fed 5/8 monopole antenna at figure 13.84
of the handbook).

The Gain Sleeve antenna achieves an effective radiating element length of one
wavelength and, since the aperture is twice that of a half wave dipole, a theoretical
gain of 3dBd (gain over a dipole) could be achieved.

However, note that the Handbook indicates that in practice, the Gain Sleeve antenna
would realise about 2.5dBd. The effective radiating element length of the Single 5/8
Flower Pot is 7/8 suggesting it would have somewhat less than 2.5dBd gain.
2m Construction

2m Single 5/8 Flower Pot

Construction of the Single 5/8, whilst a little more involved than the basic half-wave
antenna, is again fairly simple.

From the top of the co-ax, measure off an approximate 5/8 distance to locate the
position of the feed point. Make this distance slightly longer than the exact 5/8 length
(say 10mm) as you will trim the top element to length later.

At the feed point, cut away the outer sheath and braid so as to form a 2-3mm gap.

From the edge of the gap, measure off the distance for the 0.2 section. For solid
polyethylene dielectric cable, this is 276mm for 2m and 755mm for 6m. From this
point, expose sufficient braid to be able to make several pigtails to be soldered to the
inner conductor and then the braid and outer sheath for the remainder of the top
element length can be stripped off. At the 0.2 point, cut into the inner dielectric to
expose about 3mm of the inner conductor and solder the braid pigtails to the inner
conductor.

Trim the top element to length. It will be most unlikely that you have to further trim
the antenna later but you could leave a small, extra margin to allow some later
adjustment if desired; however, builders of this antenna have reported that further
trimming was unnecessary so you should have confidence in cutting the element to
length at this stage.

To complete construction, follow the same procedure as for the half-wave antenna. As
in the half wave version, use a length of nylon fishing line to pull the radiator taut and
clamp it in place with the conduit cap. The length of the conduit above the choke can
be 10 to 20mm longer than the total length of the quarter wave and 5/8 wave
elements.

The Single 5/8 has a slightly sharper VSWR response than the basic half wave Flower
Pot and, although a VSWR of less than 1.5:1 across the 2m band can be achieved,
the antenna can be cut to favour the high FM portion of the band or the lower packet
portion. The dimensions derived during my experiments for 2m are given in the
following table; these dimensions have since been validated in further builds of the
antenna.

Desired Portion of Upper 5/8 Bottom

Choke Coil
Band element /4

Across the Band 1228mm 465mm

9 turns on 25mm
FM & Repeaters 1224mm 465mm
former
Packet low band 1236mm 480mm

The VSWR curves for the three antennae are shown in the next figure. Note that the
Across the Band curve purposely favours the higher end of the 2m band.

VSWR curves for three antennae. Note that the "Across the Band" curve purposely
favours the higher end of the 2m band.

6m Single 5/8 Version (and using the Antenna at Other Frequencies)

The physical/mechanical properties of conduit are not conducive to building a 6m or a
lower frequency version of the single 5/8 antenna because conduit is not sufficiently
rigid to maintain straightness and it retains a set after a hot day.
I have, however, built a 6m single 5/8 by terminating the top end of the phasing stub
onto a standard mobile base mounted on a conduit cap and using a plain (braided)
mobile whip for the remainder of the top 5/8 element. This way the conduit length is
approximately halved and is less susceptible to bending. If you want to try building
one doing this, the length of the whip will, depending on its diameter, probably be
marginally longer than the equivalent length if it was made using the co-ax inner.
Also when using a whip, the overall length of the 5/8 element will need to include the
length of the phasing section. Otherwise, the dimensions readily scale from the 2m
antenna.

The antenna can be scaled to any operating frequency using the choke data given
previously. Note that the 2m single 5/8 is close on 2m long; 25mm conduit is
mechanically OK for this length and this suggests that the ideal application of this
style of antenna is for frequencies around 2m, ie boating, aircraft and the VHF two-
way communications bands.

When working out the phasing stub length for other frequencies, dont forget to take
the velocity factor of the cable into consideration.
 Double 5/8 Flower Pot Antenna
The Double 5/8 is a natural extension of the Single 5/8 and uses a 5/8 element for
both the top and bottom radiators.

The double 5/8 is a co-axially fed variation of the 1 wave (vertical) dipole shown in
the adjacent diagram.

The double 5/8 is a co-axially fed variation of the 1 wave (vertical) dipole

This antenna should not be confused with an in-phase 5/8 over 5/8 collinear. If it
was horizontal, made of wire and cut for HF, an old-timer might call it an extended
double Zep. However, in addition to having gain over a half wave dipole, it has a
predictable 100 Ohm feedpoint impedance which is transformed close to 52 Ohms by
a 75 Ohm quarter wave line transformer. About half of the line transformer is formed
into a choke to act as a current BALUN to allow co-axial cable feed.
2m Double 5/8
We fashion this antenna into the Flower Pot co-axial design by constructing the
antenna using RG59 75 OHM (solid dielectric) cable and bringing the feed co-axially
down through the bottom element as shown in the diagram below.

2m Double 5/8

The choke performs the dual role of providing isolation of the high impedance at the
end of the bottom element and acting as a BALUN. Seven quarter waves of 75 Ohm
cable are required for the bottom 5/8 element and the coil winding. Seven 1/4
wavelengths of solid dielectric cable at 2m is 2.36m, to this add the 1.225m length
needed for the top element to give a total length of 3.585m of 75 Ohm cable to
construct a 2m antenna.
There are two fiddly parts in making this antenna
The first is forming the 0.2 section at the feed point of the bottom element. I ran a
piece of braid on the outside of the cable sheath, carefully soldering this to the coax
braid at the 0.2 point and used heatshrink to hold it tight against the sheath. I
assumed a velocity factor of 0.66 for this section. Care is needed when soldering to
the coax braid (and this dictates the use of solid dielectric cable as foam or aircell
dielectric will collapse away with the heat of soldering).

The second is ensuring that the braids dont short at the feed point and I found a
piece of heatshrink solved this. The sketch opposite also shows the detail at the
radiator feedpoint and the piece of heatshrink acting as a separator.

Piece of heatshrink acting as a separator at the radiator feedpoint

Otherwise, building the antenna uses the same techniques as used in the basic half
wave and single 5/8 versions.

Bandwidth
The antenna provides a low VSWR (less than 1.2:1) across the 2m band. But, if you
like operating close to 1:1, a small variation in the bottom radiator length gives
favour to either the high or low end of the band.
The VSWR plots are shown below.

VSWR plot for the Double 5/8

Other frequencies
The Double 5/8 will scale to other frequencies, however the physical size and the
mechanical properties of the conduit suggest that the design is more suited to the
high VHF band.

Relative gain measurements between the designs

I do not have a means of accurately measuring antenna gain but set up each antenna
with a switched attenuator in the feedline to a receiver. The attenuator was not ideal
for this purpose, it had only 3,6 10 and 20 dB steps. However, using a local 2m
beacon as a signal source and the basic l/2 Flower Pot as a reference and, within the
limits of available accuracy and resolution of the steps of an S meter, I determined
that the Single 5/8 had about 2dB gain over the l/2 antenna and the Double 5/8 was
discernibly in excess of 3dBd gain (but, of course, much less than 6dBd).
Experimental Dual Band High Gain Flower Pot
Antenna
This experimental version is an extension of the basic Half Wave Flower Pot Antenna.
Higher gain is achieved by adding an additional half wave element at the fundamental
frequency (2m) coupled by a half wave phasing line to drive both half-waves in
phase. Theoretically, this should provide an antenna gain of 3dBd at 2m.

The antenna is dual banded to operate on 70cm using the same sleeve technique as
used on the dual-band basic Flower Pot. This results in the antenna operating with
four half-waves in phase on 70cm and provides a theoretical antenna gain of 6dBd on
70.

Dimensions shown are for a 1st build prototype from a concept drawing and have yet
to be refined. It started out as the 2006 Christmas break project but, unfortunately, I
havent had time to refine the design. However, several members of my local radio
club have built one of these and have reported success.
Experimental Dual Band High Gain Flower Pot dimensions

Assembly requires the same approach as used on the basic Flower Pot. The conduit is
prepared and drilled as shown below.

Conduit Preparation Details

The co-ax is pre-cut and trimmed prior to assembly as shown below.

Coax pre-Trim Details

The antenna radiating elements are constructed out of RG58 co-ax. It is essential that
braided RG58 is used rather than foil-shielded co-ax (like that supplied by some of
our local electronic hobbyist shops) as the bends required at the coil entry and exit
points will likely damage and split the foil resulting in the antenna failing to perform.

The Sleeves can be made from any available high conductivity material such as
aluminium kitchen foil, building (roof) sarking, disposable baking trays, copper or
brass shim etc. Materials such as steel or stainless steel are not suitable. The sleeves
are fixed in place and protected from the weather and mechanical damage by
covering them with UV resistant electrical tape or heat-shrink.

See original Flower Pot articles regarding protection of the coils from White-Cockatoo
Attack.

VSWR as Measured on the Prototype:-

144 MHz 1.1:1
145 MHz 1.2:1
146 MHz 1.1:1
147 MHz 1.2:1
148 MHz 1.2:1
433 MHz 1.05:1
438 MHz 1.1:1
443 MHz 1.1:1
448 MHz 1.05:1