ground-elevated-vertical-improved-5.6m-whip

A Ground-Elevated Vertical Based on 5.6m Whip — Improved

by

Overview


Days ago, I built a ground elevated vertical based on a 5.6m whip for SOTA and POTA activations. As the radials went above the ground, it didn’t cause huge ground losses due to the poor real ground near the antenna. The antenna works really great, with the linked counterpoise, you just used 2 radials to achieve nearly 90% efficiency. Some parts of the antenna were built from the 3d printed parts. During the use of the antenna, I found some problems on some 3d printed parts. Literally, it’s not the problems of the 3d printing itself, but the design. Therefore, this contents below will describe the improvements made on this antenna.

5.6m whip ground elevated vertical antenna for SOTA POTA activations overview
Overview of the 5.6m whip ground-elevated vertical antenna, mounted above the ground with two PVC pipe sections and two radial wires spread 180 degrees apart.


The antenna was mounted above the ground by two short PVC pipes joining together with no ground connection to the earth. With two radial wires spreading out by 180 degrees from each other, so it was a ground-elevated vertical antenna.


Strain Relief on the Antenna Base

  • A pair of hooks designed to relieve strain on the banana plugs.
3D printed strain relief hooks for banana plugs on SOTA POTA antenna base
Close-up of the 3D printed strain relief hooks designed to protect the banana plugs on the antenna base.
  • The small hooks were mounted on the antenna base to stop the banana plug from slipping out of the socket while spreading out the radial wires.
Antenna base hooks preventing banana plug from slipping out of socket
Small hooks mounted on the antenna base, which prevent the banana plug from slipping out while spreading the radial wires.
  • The radial wires were being hooked on, they were spreading out 180 degrees apart from each other.
Radial wires hooked on antenna base spread 180 degrees apart
Radial wires hooked onto the antenna base, spread 180 degrees apart to ensure proper antenna performance.


Stronger Ground Stake for Supporting the Radials above Ground

  • A 50cm (D20mm) PVC pipe was used to support the radial wire above from the ground. It was strong enough to keep the wire in good shape with less bending towards the ground.
50cm D20mm PVC pipe as radial wire support stake for SOTA antenna
50cm (D20mm) PVC pipe used as a strong ground stake to support the radial wire above the ground, keeping the wire in good shape with minimal bending.
  • The end of radial was hooked up to the cap of the PVC pipe (the ground stake).
Radial wire end hooked to PVC pipe cap ground stake
The end of the radial wire hooked onto the cap of the PVC pipe (ground stake) for stable support.
  • A thin bamboo rod was used to work as the ground stake in the previous version of this antenna. It was not strong enough to keep the wire straight.
Old thin bamboo rod ground stake for radial wire (previous version)
Thin bamboo rod used as the ground stake in the previous version of the antenna, which was not strong enough to keep the radial wire straight.


An Improved Way to Connect Two PVC Pipes for Supporting the Antenna above Ground

  • A 3d printed part with outer threads was installed on the PVC pipe (D32mm, 50cm length). It was designed to make the joining of two PVC pipes easy by screwing them into each other.
3D printed outer thread connector for D32mm PVC pipe antenna support
3D printed part with outer threads installed on a D32mm (50cm length) PVC pipe, designed to easily join two PVC pipes by screwing them together.
  • A 3d printed part with inner threads was installed on the PVC pipe (D32mm, 50cm length). It joined two PVC pipes together easily by screwing them into each other.
3D printed outer thread connector for D32mm PVC pipe antenna support
3D printed part with outer threads installed on a D32mm (50cm length) PVC pipe, designed to easily join two PVC pipes by screwing them together.
  • By joining two PVC pipes together, the antenna was approximately 1m above the ground. The PVC pipe was mounted on a ground spike that was commonly used in mounting the beach umbrellas.
50cm D20mm PVC pipe as radial wire support stake for SOTA antenna
50cm (D20mm) PVC pipe used as a strong ground stake to support the radial wire above the ground, keeping the wire in good shape with minimal bending.

A Bag to Accommodate Everything of the Antenna

  • All parts of the antenna, the package mainly contains a 5.6m-whip, the antenna base, two PVC pipes (D32mm x 50cm), two PVC pipes (D20mm x 50cm) for supporting the radial wires, two linked radial wires, a loading coil and four extension aluminum rods which make the antenna work on 30m and 40m bands. They were packed in bundles and would be accommodated in a carrying bag.
Bundled 5.6m whip antenna parts for SOTA POTA activations
All antenna parts (5.6m whip, antenna base, PVC pipes, radial wires, loading coil, extension aluminum rods) bundled together for easy carrying.
  • We put everything in a bag.
Bundled 5.6m whip antenna parts for SOTA POTA activations
All antenna parts (5.6m whip, antenna base, PVC pipes, radial wires, loading coil, extension aluminum rods) bundled together for easy carrying.
  • The bag is 60cm x 10cm x 10cm in dimension, it perfectly held up everything.
All 5.6m whip antenna parts stored in carrying bag
All antenna components placed inside the dedicated carrying bag for convenient transport to SOTA and POTA activation sites.

Project Files:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kg0NLs3CJz_jpncTGnp9Q3WPj4-ssMXN/view?usp=sharing

Leave a Comment