VHF/UHF Antennas The Heart of Effective Radio Communication

All About VHF/UHF Antennas: The Heart of Effective Radio Communication

By Ayberk Korkmaz – Electrical & Electronics Engineer | Amateur Radio Operator TB7AEK | Broadcast Technologies Specialist

No matter how advanced your radio equipment is, one of the most critical elements that determines your communication range and clarity is the antenna. Especially for amateur radio operators working in the VHF (Very High Frequency) and UHF (Ultra High Frequency) bands, choosing the right antenna often makes the difference between reaching a repeater and hearing silence.

If you want to be heard on the frequencies, you have to start with a good antenna.

📡 What Are VHF and UHF?

VHF covers frequencies from 30 MHz to 300 MHz, and UHF spans from 300 MHz to 3 GHz.
In amateur radio, the most commonly used segments are:

• VHF: 144-148 MHz (especially 145.000–145.800 MHz)

• UHF: 430-440 MHz

These bands are ideal for local communication, but they're heavily influenced by terrain, buildings, and other obstructions. That's why the right antenna, with the appropriate gain and elevation, is essential.

🧱 Types of Antennas: Purpose and Performance

🔸 ¼ Wave Antenna

• Simple and compact; often used in handheld transceivers (HTs)

• Requires a ground plane (like a car roof)

• Good for mobile use

• Cons: Low gain, limited range

🔸 ½ Wave Antenna

• Better resonance and can work without a ground plane

• Great for portable or indoor use

• More efficient than a ¼ wave

🔸 5/8 Wave Antenna

• Common in mobile installations

• Offers higher gain, especially for horizontal coverage

• Excellent for accessing distant repeaters

🔸 Dipole Antenna

• Classic and efficient design

• Great for base and temporary setups

• Can be configured in various forms (horizontal, vertical, inverted-V)

🔸 Yagi Antenna

• Directional antenna with multiple elements

• Ideal for long-distance communications

• Used in contests, SOTA/POTA, and weak-signal operations

• Cons: Requires a rotator for best performance

🔸 Collinear Antenna

• Multi-element vertical design for high gain

• Used in fixed installations

• Excellent for city-wide repeater access and wide-area coverage

📈 Understanding Antenna Gain

Gain (measured in dBi or dBd) represents how effectively an antenna directs energy in a particular direction.
Higher gain antennas focus energy into a narrower beam, extending your range.

📌 But beware: higher gain often comes at the cost of elevation coverage, making close-in or high-angle signals harder to hear.

🛠️ My Personal Antenna Setups

At my home station:

• Diamond X-50 collinear dual-band antenna for 2m/70cm

• VHF Yagi-Uda antenna with rotator for weak signal work

• ¼ wave mobile whip for field ops and mobile communication

For portable and handheld use:

• Nagoya NA-771 and similar flexible dual-band whips

• Homemade ½ wave wire antennas for indoor/pocket setups

I also experiment with Slim-Jim and J-Pole designs from time to time.

🔧 Mounting and Placement Tips

Even the best antenna will perform poorly if placed wrong. Here's what I focus on:

• Height – Higher is always better for VHF/UHF

• Line of sight (LoS) – Avoid obstructions when possible

• Proper grounding and lightning protection

• Quality coaxial cables – Prefer RG-213 or LMR-400 over RG-58

⚙️ SWR and Tuning Essentials

SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) tells you how efficiently your system transmits power.
Using an SWR meter or antenna analyzer, I measure:

• Resonant frequency

• Reflected power

• Cable and connector losses

Keeping SWR low means more power goes out through the antenna, not back into your radio.

📡 Bottom Line: No Antenna, No Voice

Your antenna is your extended arm in the airwaves.
Whether you're using a handheld trying to hit a repeater, or running 100W from a base station to reach distant stations, your performance relies heavily on your antenna setup and positioning.

A smart amateur who knows how to analyze, test, and optimize their antenna system will always be more effective on the air.

🎙️ Until next time, may your coax be short and your SWR low!
Ayberk Korkmaz – TB7AEK
www.ayberkkorkmaz.com