Construction
Model Analysis and Measurements
Stacking Halo Antennas
Gain and Polarization Comparisons
References
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2. The boom is an 18 inch
piece of the 1/2" Carlon
"Plus 40" Rigid PVC
1. Here is one of the pair of Conduit that my husband 3. The resonant frequency of
2 meter Halo antennas I had in the garden shed. I the antenna will vary with
built this week. I needed a bought the 10 foot roll of 1/4 the distance between these
horizontally polarized inch copper tubing for $9 at open ends. After adjustment,
antenna for a 144 MHz Home Depot. It comes coiled UV resistant cable ties and a
WSPR propagation study in nearly the required piece of 1/4 inch fiberglass
and planned to stack these diameter. I cut a 41 inch rod on the open ends of the
to increase omnidirectional length of it and easily halo antenna secure the gap
gain. I will use it with my formed it into the 13-1/8 spacing. The open end of the
Elecraft XV144 transverter inch diameter shape. The boom will later be
with 20 watts peak output loop is continuous except for weatherproofed with self-
power and lower loss RG- a gap between the open ends sealing silicone tape.
8/U coaxial cable feed line. at the right end of the boom.
The materials for this one
antenna cost about $6.
Commercial versions cost
about $50 or more.
4. Detail of the 6-32 x 1" 5. The 6-32 x 1" screw is 6. The PVC Boom is drilled
screw ready to be soldered soldered to the center pin of for the SO-239 antenna
to the center pin of the SO- the SO-239 connector. connector. The center pin is
239 connector. 1-7/8" away from the center
point of the copper tubing.
7. Several #6 washers were 8. The SO-239 antenna 9. The shell of the SO-239
placed under a #6 nut to connector is secured to the connector is connected to the
securely maintain its PVC boom with two 6-32 x copper tubing with 12 AWG
position and to prevent 1½" screws. bare copper wire which is
traction on the solder joint soldered to the tubing.
when the mica trimmer
capacitor is secured onto the
screw.
10. The side of the boom 11. Close-up view of the 12. I investigated several feed
behind the SO-239 antenna mica compression trimmer methods and selected a
connector. The tab on one capacitor connected gamma match with a 10-80
side of the Arco 462 10-80 between the gamma match pF mica compression
pF mica compression rod and the screw on the trimmer capacitor (Arco 462
trimmer capacitor is bent center pin of the SO-239 type) soldered to a 6 inch
up to be in line with the antenna connector. length of the ¼" tubing. At
body of the trimmer and maximum capacitance, it
secured with a 6-32 nut onto barely brought the
the 6-32 screw that is impedance 50 ohms and zero
soldered to the center pin of reactance. The back-to-back
the SO-239 connector. The 7 alligator clips are a
inch gamma arm will be temporary shorting bar.
soldered to the other tab.
Tuning the antenna requires three adjustments: the gap space, the shorting bar location
and the capacitor, and these all interact.
The adjustments should be performed outdoors, away from objects, and at a comparable
height above ground. (I raised the antenna for SWR measurement after lowering it for
each adjustment.)
1. Set the capacitor at mid range and the shorting bar about 6 inches from feed point.
2. Adjust the open end gap for lowest SWR at 144.5 MHz (or your desired center
frequency).
3. Alternately adjust the capacitor and move the shorting bar position for lowest SWR.
4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 until finding the 'sweet spot' where 1:1 SWR is achieved at the
center frequency.
5. Solder the shorting bar in place.
6. Protect the feed point and capacitor preferably with a UV resistant cover.
13. The original ¼ in. tubing 14. 20 May 2012 - The 144 15. A closer view of the 144
gamma match arm was MHz halo antenna was MHz halo antenna. The
replaced with a 7" length of mounted at 80 inches (1 λ) entire antenna was
10 AWG bare copper wire above the metal roof and fed weatherproofed with clear
spaced 1-7/8" from the with Belden 8214 foam type acrylic spray paint. The open
radiator element. This RG-8/U coaxial cable. At ends of the boom and the PL-
decreased the capacitance first, the antenna resonance 259 connector were sealed
required to achieve the non- was unstable and sensitive with a self sealing silicone
reactive 50 ohms impedance to the routing of the feed tape called Rescue Tape.
match. line until 5 turns of it were Both open ends of the copper
wound to form a 8 inch loop were outside the boom
diameter choke balun. The with approximately 1.5" gap
standing wave ratio was distance for resonance at 145
then measured as 1:1 at MHz.
145.0 MHz.
18. 144 MHz Halo antenna
17. 144 MHz Halo antenna measured SWR vs.
NEC model calculated SWR Frequency. The SWR
vs. Frequency. measured at the feed point
was 1.3:1 or less over the
144.0 to 146.4 MHz range.
38. Video clips comparing noise floor and received signals from
KJ6KO/B on 144.283 MHz on Bald Mountain, CA.
39. 144 MHz 2 stacked Halo 41. 144 MHz 2 stacked Halo
Antennas 3 dimensional Antennas 3 dimensional
radiation pattern calculated radiation pattern calculated
by NEC Model. Composite 40. 144 MHz 2 stacked Halo by NEC Model. Vertical
of horizontal and vertical Antennas 3 dimensional polarization component only.
polarization components. radiation pattern calculated
by NEC Model. Horizontal
polarization component
only.
42. 144 MHz Arrow OSJ 43. 144 MHz Arrow OSJ 44. 144 MHz Arrow OSJ
146/440 J-Pole Antenna 3 146/440 J-Pole Antenna 3 146/440 J-Pole Antenna 3
dimensional radiation dimensional radiation dimensional radiation
pattern calculated by NEC pattern calculated by NEC pattern calculated by NEC
Model. Composite of Model. Horizontal Model. Vertical polarization
horizontal and vertical polarization component component only.
polarization components. only.
REFERENCES APPENDIX: NEC Model
Files
1. Some Preliminary Notes on the Gamma Match, Cebik,
LB, W4RNL 1. 144 MHz Halo
2. Horizontally Polarized Omni-Directional Antennas: Antenna 4nec2 Model
Some Compact Choices, Cebik, LB, W4RNL 2. 144 MHz 2 Stacked
3. Stacking 2 Meter Halo Antennas, Fedler M., N6TWW Halo Antennas 4nec2
4. A Tree Friendly 2 Meter Halo Antenna, Krist, A., Model
KR1ST 3. 144 MHz 2 Stacked
5. Mobile 2-Meter 144 MHz SSB/CW "Halo", Merrill S., Turnstile Antennas
KB1DIG 4nec2 Model
6. 50 MHz Halo Antenna, Milazzo CF, KP4MD 4. Arrow OSJ 146/440 J-
7. Stacking with Coax Cables as Transformation Lines, Pole Antenna 4nec2
Steyer M., DK7ZB Model
8. A 144 MHz Halo, Vallejo, Miguel A., EA4EOZ
9. 2 Meter Halo Antenna Part 12 -- "Phasing Harness LINKS
understanding & calculations", Fedler M., N6TWW
10. 2 Meter Halo Antenna Project Video Series Parts 1-14, 1. 144 MHz Halo
Fedler M, N6TWW Antenna Photo
Album
2. 144 MHz Halo
Antenna Test Videos
3. 144 MHz
Omnidirectional
Horizontal Antennas -
NEC Model
Comparisons of
Stacked Halo,
Turnstile and
Eggbeater
Omnidirectional
Horizontally
Polarized Antennas
for 144 MHz
4. Building the Elecraft
XV Transverter Kit
5. 144 MHz WSPR
Propagation Study