4 Element Vertical Dipole Array

Christian Janssen - DL1MGB

Joerg Puchstein - DL8WPX

Version 1.0 – April 2017

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array Page |2

NOTE:

This description is for private use only. All commercial use is prohibited. The officially valid version is
only available for download on the Lagunaria DX Group website. It is intended to serve as a basis for
further antenna developments. A feedback to the author is welcome.

This description has been prepared and verified to the best of our knowledge. Nevertheless, it cannot
be ruled out that one or the other error has crept in. If this is the case, we would be glad about your
feedback.

This description does not release the reader from using his own brain.

Christian Janssen - DL1MGB

As the initiator and leader of the DXpeditions of the Lagunaria DX Group, Chris
(born in 1976) tried to deliver the best possible signal from the distant DX. This
included proper antennas. After Joerg gave the idea of a 4-element vertical dipole
array, Chris as a skilled metalworker took care of the implementation in working
hardware.

Joerg Puchstein - DL8WPX

Jörg (born in 1960) was either an organizer or participant of DXpeditions such as

VK9LM (1991, 1996 and 2014), S21XX, P29VXX, VK9CR, VK9XY, ZL7DK, VK9DNX,
VK9DWX, VK9DLX and many others. He knew what mattered on radio trips around
the globe. In addition to many other aspects of a DXpedition, it was above all his
knowledge of antenna technology that formed the Lagunaria DX Group. When he
remembered the times at the Y41ZM club station, he dug out the idea of a 4-
element vertical dipole array. The Willis Island Lightweight Monoband Antenna
(WILMA) was born.

In December 2014, only a month after our DXpedition to Lord Howe Island, Joerg suddenly died
much too early.

Lagunaria DX Group

It all started in 2007 when eight contesters (DJ7EO, DJ9RR, DL1MGB, DL3DXX, DL5LYM, DL6FBL,
DL8OH and DL8WPX) decided to leave Germany for three weeks to do a joint DXpedition from Nor-
folk Island. This was followed by VK9DWX (2008), ZL8X (2010) and VK9DLX (2014). Since then, the
core team has been traveling together with other fellow travelers as Lagunaria DX Group.

More information about the Lagunaria DX Group, its DXpeditions and projects can be found at

http://lagunaria-dx-group.org

Thanks to DJ2YA and DK4YJ for proofreading.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array Page |3

For Joe.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array Page |4

Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................................................................................................. 5
Theory...................................................................................................................................................... 7
General Aspects................................................................................................................................... 7
Geometry............................................................................................................................................. 7
Dipole – Straight vs. Folded ................................................................................................................. 8
Ground conductivity ............................................................................................................................ 9
Non-homogeneous terrain .................................................................................................................. 9
Comparison with a horizontally polarized directional antenna ........................................................ 10
Simulation.......................................................................................................................................... 12
Results ............................................................................................................................................... 13
In Practice .............................................................................................................................................. 15
Requirements for the components ................................................................................................... 15
Mast ............................................................................................................................................... 15
Dipoles ........................................................................................................................................... 16
Guy wires ....................................................................................................................................... 17
Peg template ................................................................................................................................. 18
Switching ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Production of the components ......................................................................................................... 21
Installation ......................................................................................................................................... 21
Preparations .................................................................................................................................. 21
Erecting the antenna ..................................................................................................................... 25
Initial operation ............................................................................................................................. 27
Operation .......................................................................................................................................... 27
Outlook / Others.................................................................................................................................... 28
Bibliography........................................................................................................................................... 30
List of Figures......................................................................................................................................... 32

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array Page |5

Introduction
To find out who the real inventor of this form of antenna is, it would need a historian to work on this
issue. Since we are not here in a history lesson, but in a lesson for practical antenna construction, we
can deal very quickly with the topic. There have already been many interesting articles in magazines
and books, which contributed to the development, or the better understanding of the 4-Element
Vertical Dipole Array (VDA). We would like to refer to the publications of the following authors with-
out claiming to be complete and without chronological sorting: G6XN [18], K1WA [22], K8UR [17],
G3PJT [35], KB8I / K3LR / WA3FET [5], N6LF [25] / [26] and OE5CWL [32].

In 1988, it was the article of K1WA that served the club station
Y41ZM [23] in Schkeuditz near Leipzig as a base to erect a
passable DX antenna for 40m at the new QTH. It was a full-size
5-Element sloper array (Fig. 1). Unfortunately, this location had
to be abandoned almost three years later after the German
reunification.

In the mid-nineties, a group around K2KW and N6BT dared to

go to Jamaica several times to participate in the CQ WW CW
Contest ([27] and [29]) - only with vertical antennas. The re-
sults were numerous victories both as multi-multi-team and
single-band participations in the QRP categories. They used
primarily vertical dipoles, assembled in arrays and set up in
close proximity to the beach. The proverbial salt in the soup
was the proximity to the sea, the salt water that guaranteed an
Fig. 1 40m VDA at Y41ZM (Photo: DL3XM)
optimal radiation. Furthermore, these antennas were used at
the DXpedition on Kingman Reef in 2000 ([11] and [28]).

In the spring of 2008, the VDA gained an increasing public attention when 13 operators on Ducie
Island (VP6DX) set a new QSO world record for DXpeditions. The 2-element VDA developed by Uli,
DJ2YA, consisted of a radiator and a reflector. On the bands from 10m to 20m, the antennas placed
at the beach produced loud signals all over the world.

At the end of the DXpedition to Norfolk Island

(VK9DNX in February 2007), we decided that
the next target should be Willis Island. Joe
(DL8WPX), who had already designed the 5-
Element sloper system for 40m at Y41ZM,
adapted the antenna type for our needs. With
Europe and the USA as the main directions
about 90° apart from Willis Island, you need
four directions including the opposite direc-
tions. We just added a direction switch to the
antenna. Done. Based on our simulations and
after the reports of Team Vertical and the
success of VP6DX, we were very confident that
Fig. 2 Some VDAs at TX5K (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) we had the right antenna selection for
VK9DWX.

While we had only VDAs for the high bands at VK9DWX, we added horizontally polarized monoband
Yagis at ZL8X. The location on Raoul Island forced us to rethink the antenna concept. We were con-

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array Page |6

fronted with a 40m high cliff, which is not as easy to model in the simulations as the sea, in the im-
mediate vicinity of the antennas of VK9DWX. From numerous considerations and calculations, we
concluded that a combination of both horizontally and vertically polarized antennas seemed reason-
able. The direct comparison of the two antenna forms revealed interesting results.

This description is not a plain instruction for simply copying a VDA. It rather provides the basics of
this antenna form and presents the results of numerous simulations and experiments. The way we
built the antennas was mostly due to the availability of some parts. A general insight into what the
components are all about should allow a design with other materials. We also explain in detail how
the VDA has been developed and operated so far. Throughout the document, we have incorporated
the experiences with the VDAs that we have made on DXpeditions such as VK9DWX, ZL8X, TX5K or
VK9DLX.

Fig. 3 VDA lineup at the beach of Clipperton Island (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array Page |7

Theory
General Aspects
The theory has already been extensively described (see also references in the introduction). The
functionality of the 4-element VDA described here can be summarized as follows: Four dipoles ar-
ranged at a right angle vertically on a mast are each connected to the switch box via a coax cable.
The shields of the coax cables are isolated from each other. In operation, one element is fed directly.
The coaxial cables of the three other elements remain open. These open coaxial cables each act as a
stub, which electrically lengthens the respective dipole. Thus, the three unsupported dipoles act to-
gether as a reflector.

Fig. 4 Side view of a VDA Fig. 5 Top view of a VDA

Geometry
When choosing the element spacing, you can orient yourself from traditional Yagi designs. According
to [24], the optimal distance for a 2-element system is between 0.2 and 0.25 λ. If several dipoles are
attached to a mast, the distance between them decreases. For a 4-element VDA, the direct distance
between two feeding points is only about 0.18 λ.

This element distance therefore determines how far the feeding points are located from the central
mast. The angle of guying is then determined by the mast height. An angle of 60° has proven to be
reasonable in practice and enabled a safe guying of the antenna.

Since the coaxial cable electrically lengthens the dipoles of the non-fed elements as a stub, their in-
ductive load determines antenna characteristics such as gain and F/B ratio. According to [32] we
have determined an optimal value of 130 Ω for our purposes. The length of the feed line using the
example of the 20m band ( = 14 MHz) is calculated according to [16] (Chapter Verlustfreie Leitungen)
as follows:

𝜆𝜆 𝑋𝑋
𝑙𝑙1 = � � arctan � �
2𝜋𝜋 𝑍𝑍𝐿𝐿

𝑐𝑐 3 ∗ 108 𝑚𝑚⁄𝑠𝑠
𝜆𝜆 = = = 21.41375 𝑚𝑚
𝑓𝑓 1.4 ∗ 107 1⁄𝑠𝑠

𝑍𝑍𝐿𝐿 = 50 Ω

21.41375 130
𝑙𝑙1 = � � arctan � � 𝑚𝑚 = 4.10207 𝑚𝑚
2𝜋𝜋 50

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array Page |8

When using H155 (vf = 0.79) as a feed line, the length is 𝑙𝑙𝑠𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = 𝑙𝑙1 ∗ 𝑣𝑣𝑓𝑓 = 4.10207 ∗ 0.79 = 3.24 𝑚𝑚.
This value applies to a short-circuited line. Due to the short cable length, the switch box would not be
accessible from the ground. It can be lengthened by λ/4 to get the same behavior. However, it must
be left open. The length of the open feed line is

21.41375
𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜𝑜 = �4.10207 + � ∗ 0.79 = 7.47 𝑚𝑚
4

Dipole – Straight vs. Folded

The original form of the sloping dipole represents a dipole sloping from top to bottom that is at-
tached to a mast. Considerations, calculations and experiments have shown that folding back the
lower half of the dipole towards the mast results in an improvement in the radiation properties for
DX connections.

Fig. 6 Straight dipole Fig. 7 Folded dipole

Fig. 8 Elevation radiation pattern straight dipole Fig. 9 Elevation radiation pattern folded dipole

The two red vectors represent the current flowing When the lower half of the dipole is folded back
in the dipoles. These vectors can be split into a towards the mast, the currents of the two dipole
horizontal and a vertical component. The addition legs are also added. However, in the vector addi-
of the currents of the two dipole legs results in a tion, the two horizontal components (green)
vector consisting of a horizontal and vertical cancel each other. Only the vertical component
component. The radiation diagram clearly shows remains. The radiation diagram has no high-
quite a portion of high-angle radiation caused by angle radiation. In both cases, the mast was as-
the horizontal component. sumed as nonconductive.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array Page |9

Ground conductivity
Nothing affects the radiation characteristics of a vertically polarized antenna as much as the quality
of the ground around the antenna. This is best seen in the corresponding radiation diagrams. The
elevation diagram in Fig. 10 clearly shows the comparison on different soils. To find out more about
the ground characteristics, we recommend the online article of DL1GLH [13].

Description Ground Dielectric

conductivity constant
1 Perfect ground n/a n/a
2 Salt water 5 S/m 80
3 Average ground 0.005 S/m 13
4 City 0.002 S/m 5

Fig. 10 Elevation radiation diagram of a VDA over differently conductive ground

It is clear that the VDA can only play its full potential directly at the sea. A maximum gain of just un-
der 10.3 dBi can only be achieved with ideal ground conductivity. The result is clearly disillusioning
with average soil conductivity. More than 3.75 dBi at an elevation angle of 20° is pretty out of reach.

In addition to ground conductivity, consideration must also be given to the angle at which the signal
must be radiated in order to be the loudest in the desired target area. Numerous calculations and
investigations by N6BV [30] provide information on this. Ideally, the antenna should be surrounded
by salt water, but due to local circumstances, this is not always possible. In order to be able to use
the antenna as long as possible, the surf and the tidal range should be taken into account and the
antenna must be installed at the proper distance from the water.

On average ground, it is clearly outperformed by a conventional 3-element Yagi (see below).

Non-homogeneous terrain
When preparing for ZL8X in 2010, we faced a terrain that is no longer that easy to simulate. We had
to place the antennas about 40m above the sea at a distance of about 20m from the steep coast. The
ground on the plateau consisted essentially of volcanic rock covered by a layer of humus.

In EZNEC, you can enter this terrain under "Media" in "Ground Description". To what extent the re-
sults of the simulation with this information on the ground coincide with reality, has not yet been
verified.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 10

High plateau
Ground conductivity: 0.005 S/m
Dielectric constant: 13

Fig. 12 EZNEC window for ground characteristics definition

Sea
Ground conductivity: 5 S/m
Fig. 11 Terrain profile of ZL8X location Dielectric constant: 80

Fig. 13 Simulation on non-homogeneous terrain – Fig. 14 Simulation on non-homogeneous terrain –

Elevation radiation pattern Azimuth radiation pattern

Comparison with a horizontally polarized directional antenna

Let us have a look at antennas you can normally find on DXpeditions. We compare a 3-element Yagi
for 20m (regardless of whether in the form of a monobander or as part of a multiband beam) in 5m
or 10m height with a VDA.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 11

Description
1 3 Element Yagi @ 5m
2 3 Element Yagi @ 10m
3 4 Element VDA

Fig. 15 Comparison Yagi - VDA, average ground, ground conductivity 0.005 S/m, dielectric constant 13

In the case of average ground conductivity (Fig. 15), the Yagi antenna is superiour compared to the
VDA, if the Yagi has the appropriate height. In view of safety aspects and limited resources, this is not
always possible on DXpeditions.

Description
1 3 Element Yagi @ 5m
2 3 Element Yagi @ 10m
3 4 Element VDA

Fig. 16 Comparison Yagi - VDA, Salt water, ground conductivity 5 S/m, dielectric constant 80

The comparison at the sea is quite different (Fig. 16). As a rule, low elevation angles are required for
DX contacts. The 3-element Yagi has about 3 dB more maximal gain, but only at an elevation angle of
26°. This may be sufficient for medium-range distances, but not for transmitting from the Pacific to
Europe. Here, the VDA scores about 2 dB more gain (at 8°) and better coverage of the angles be-
tween 0° and 25°. In addition, there are two further advantages of the VDA. On the one hand, a 20m
VDA is easier to erect than a 3-element Yagi (and remains stable in stormy weather conditions be-
cause of the smaller wind area). On the other hand, one can cover four directions without leaving the
shack due to the simple directional switching. In the case of the Yagi antenna, a DXpedition usually

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 12

uses a "rope rotator" as a rotary device, whose operation always requires an interruption of the radio
operation or a voluntary helper to turn the antenna. With changing short path / long path propaga-
tion, this can become an ordeal.

Simulation
Which simulation software is used plays only a subordinate role. The availability or personal taste
may be decisive. In our calculations, EZNEC+ from W7EL [14] was used. The freely available 4NEC2 by
Arie Voors [31] would also be a good choice.

The geometrical dimensions of the dipoles are entered according to the software requirements. The
source is set as shown in Fig. 17 in the case of a dipole (preferably in the positive x-direction, in order
to obtain the corresponding radiation diagrams):

Fig. 17 EZNEC Source window for a VDA simulation

The coaxial cables play a role in that they compensate the reactive component of the feed point and
act as a lengthening of the three reflector dipoles. For EZNEC+, the three cables are entered as fol-
lows:

Fig. 18 EZNEC Transmission Lines window: Definition of the coax cables of the three reflector dipoles of a VDA

"End 1" is the dipole feed point, "End 2" is the open end of the coaxial cable (Open ckt). The length in
the "Length" field is the mechanical length. The impedance Z0 and the shortening factor VF of the
coaxial cable also have to be entered.

The central mast, if it is not conductive, can be neglected. During our simulations, several parameters
were varied. The system was somewhat non-problematic regarding to small changes. This gives you
the necessary tolerance for practical implementation.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 13

Results
Table 1 summarizes the dimensions for VDAs from 40m to 10m, as used for the antennas of the La-
gunaria DX Group's DXpeditions.

Fig. 19 Side view of a VDA with dimensions

Fig. 20 Top view of a VDA (1...4 dipoles, X mast guy lines)

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 14

40m 30m 20m 17m 15m 12m 10m

A 90 63 45 60 60 60 50
B 568 399 285 249 221 197 171
C 833 589 412 369 328 287 246
D 1178 815 583 521 464 406 348
E (bottom dipole guy line) 219 154 90 120 120 120 100
F (top dipole guy line) 180 125 90 120 120 120 100
G (bottom mast guy line) 1120 844 648 621 598 492 470
H (center mast guy line) 1486 1197 - - - - -
I (top mast guy line) 1938 - - - - - -
J (center dipole guy line) 1197 834 596 546 485 418 355
K (dipole half) 958 671 480 377 322 274 241
L 750 604 500 500 500 400 400
M 1030 722 516 473 420 362 308
N 1230 1042 - - - - -
O 1750 - - - - - -
P 2016 1412 1010 903 803 703 603
Coax cable 1475 1034 740 578 487 412 363
Table 1 Dimensions of a 4 Element VDA

Remarks
• All lengths are in cm
• The dimensions are the result of a simulation or a simple geometric calculation. The cuts can
be a bit longer.
• The wire lengths (dimension K) are calculated for Wireman CQ532 (18 AWG, jacket thickness
0.02")
• The coax cable lengths are valid for H155 (vf = 0.79)

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 15

In Practice
Requirements for the components
In the following chapters, you can find the requirements for the individual components of a VDA.

Mast
The mast is the central component of the antenna. In order to minimize the electrical influence of
the mast on the antenna structure, the mast should be made of non-conductive material. While
there are almost no limits in the case of a stationary setup, the selection of the appropriate mast is
rather restricted for portable activities, especially with regard to transport or set-up time. For the
20m version, you already need an antenna support with at least 10.1 m height.

Fig. 21 12m GRP mast by Spiderbeam for VDAs from 20m to 10m (Photo: Spiderbeam)

Fig. 22 18m GRP mast by Spiderbeam for a 30m VDA (Photo: Spiderbeam)

Fig. 23 26m GRP mast by Spiderbeam for a 40m VDA (Photo: Spiderbeam)

A telescopic fiberglass mast meets all these requirements. In the case of a VDA, we require a very
stable mast because of the high stress of the individual dipoles. The initial tests were carried out with
GRP masts from Spiderbeam [19] (Fig. 21, Fig. 22 and Fig. 23), which made the most stable impres-
sion compared to other products. Based on the experience gained so far, we stayed with these masts
and did not carry out any further tests with other masts. However, no matter what telescopic mast
you use, the locking of the individual mast sections is important. Simple taping of the junctions with
adhesive tape is not sufficient. Securing against inad-
vertent slipping should be provided, e.g. with special-
ly prepared hose clips.

The mast base (Fig. 24) has two tasks to fulfill. On the
one hand, it should prevent the mast from sliding
sideways. On the other hand, it serves as an attach-
ment point for the ends of the four dipoles.

We had access to steel cones that were perfect for

our needs. They already had the necessary four holes
Fig. 24 Mast base of a VDA from 10m to 30m at an angle of 90° each. On Willis Island, where we
(Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) predominantly found loose coral sand as ground, we
also needed a large-area base against sinking in the

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 16

ground and a ground nail against lateral slipping. With solid humus soil, as it prevails on Raoul Island,
we only had to dig a small trough into the ground.

As an alternative to our metal cone, one can also

imagine a solution with an old metal pot or pan. If
necessary, you can also work with ground anchors,
but you have to make sure that they are fixed very
firmly in the ground. Otherwise, they can be pulled
out of the earth by the high forces in the dipoles.

While the masts for the VDAs for 10m to 30m can be
erected very easily, the size and weight of the 40m
VDA requires a somewhat more elaborate construc-
tion at the base of the mast. We built a simple tilting
joint (Fig. 25). Both when erecting and when the mast
is mounted, it ensures that the mast cannot slip off at
the base.

Dipoles
While the focus of the mast is on mechanical stabil-
ity, the dipole still has one further aspect, its weight.
Any unnecessary grams will cause the dipoles to sag Fig. 25 Tilting joint for the 26m GRP mast
and prevent accurate antenna guying. Sagging dipoles (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)
and cables also have a direct influence on the electri-
cal properties (VSWR and radiation pattern).

The central element of a dipole is its feed point. The two dipole-halves, the coax cable and an addi-
tional guy line are mounted together on a center isolator. There are many possibilities to manufac-
ture this insulator. Due to the existing raw material and the processing possibilities, we have made
some insulators of 5mm thick Plexiglas according to Fig. 26. The two dipoles are fixed in the two larg-
er holes on the two tabs, the center guy line is mounted in the center hole and the four small holes
are used to secure the feed cable and thus the strain relief of the feed.

To reduce weight, we did not use complex terminals or connecting boxes for the feeding. The wires
of the dipole were soldered directly to the coax cable. In order to protect the connections from water
ingress and to isolate them from each other, they were protected with shrink tubing and finally
sealed with a heat shrink cap with inside glue. These measures have the advantage that the dipole
can be constructed with very low weight. Of course, on the other hand, it takes more effort when it
comes to replacing parts such as coax cables or dipole wires.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 17

Fig. 26 Drawing of the center insulator

Fig. 27 Center insulator in use
(Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)

We also deliberately omitted a choke at the feed point since all the coax cables are located within
the antenna and RF is induced on the cable screen between the feed point and the antenna switch.
We added the choke on the coax right after the switching box that runs to the shack.

The wire used in our case was the CQ-532 from Wireman, which we purchased from Spiderbeam
[19]. The copper-clad steel braid combines the good tensile strength of the steel braid and the good
electrical properties of the copper. Very low strain is another argument for this wire. In principle, any
other wire can be used. One only has to consider the wire thickness and the jacket material used in
the simulation of the antenna.

The weight of the coaxial cable is also the focus of the selection. Of
course, the cable must meet the requirements for the transmitted
power used. However, too much sag of the cable has a direct influence
on the VSWR and possibly also on the radiation pattern. As a good
compromise, H155 was the coax cable of our choice, which with 3.9kg
per 100m is as heavy as RG 58 but has only about half as much loss.
H155 is also dimensioned for power up to almost 1000 watts. In addi-
tion, a large shortening factor (0.79) allows larger cable lengths and a
positioning of the switch box at eye level. Alternatively, cables with an
aluminum braid or copper-clad aluminum inner conductor may also be
used. This means that higher power levels can be transmitted at the
same weight.
Fig. 28 Insulator made of PTFE
The search for suitable material for the isolators of the dipoles became (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)
interesting. While the insulator in the feed point is relatively uncritical
(in this case only the mechanical requirements play a role), the isolators at the dipole ends have to
withstand high voltages. If aggressive salt spray is an issue, there is no way around PTFE or porcelain.
Due to the lower density and the better processability, PTFE is first choice (Fig. 28). Insulators made
of polycarbonate were replaced immediately after the first traces of breakthrough.

Guy wires
In order to keep the antenna where it was erected, it needs guying. For the ropes, our choice was 2
mm Kevlar, as distributed by Spiderbeam [19]. It is characterized by very low lengthening (approx.
1%), high breaking load (150 kg) and high temperature resistance. Of course, its low weight was also

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 18

important here. The low strain ensures that the antenna always remains in shape. The temperature
resistance is particularly advantageous at the dipole ends when it comes to arcing due to salt depos-
its and RF.

We had good results with so-called simplex clamps (Fig. 29), as can be found in
the lighting market. They are very simple to handle; they offer a surface pres-
sure of the wire or the line (compared to the standard cable clamps, where a
constriction takes place) and have the necessary protection against corrosion in
the stainless steel version.

When we were looking for rope tensioners, we found them at camping suppli-
ers. The simplest, cheapest and most effective way to tighten the ropes are so- Fig. 29 Simplex clamp
called aluminum tent-drawers (Fig. (Photo: Lagunaria DX
Group)
30). They have proved most useful at
VK9DWX and ZL8X very well. An un-
beatable advantage is the low weight of a few grams. With
the VDAs for 30m and 40m, we have used ratchet-type
tension locks as they were once sold with the Titanex verti-
cal antennas due to the higher forces in the guy lines.
Fig. 30 Rope end with tent-drawer and snap
hook (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)
In order to increase the effectiveness of the installation of
the antenna, snap hooks have been attached at all ends of
guy lines, which have been fixed to the ground. This makes it possible to attach the lines quickly at
the anchor points, if these are equipped with appropriate eyelets. Also with the snap hooks, we
chose the stainless steel variant that can resist the aggressive sea air a little bit longer than the gal-
vanized hooks. Due to the smooth surface of these
snap hooks, chafing of the guy lines is prevented.

It is important to use correct anchors for the appropri-

ate ground. While in solid humus ground steel pegs of
angle or T-profile are used, pegs of great surface and
appropriate length are more suitable for loose sandy
ground. Especially for VK9DWX we made over 120 v-
shaped pegs of 5 mm thick steel sheet with an edge
length of 7 cm, to offer sufficient support in loose coral
sand. For stony ground, you can use round steel pegs.
In the case of larger rock formations, drop-in anchors Fig. 31 Worm's-eye view of a VDA
or concrete dowels should be used. (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)

Peg template
An important accessory, if you want to set up the VDA quickly and accurately, is a peg template (Fig.
32 and Fig. 33). This allows you to quickly and precisely define the necessary anchor points. Without
precise positioning the anchor points, the proper installation of the antenna is not possible. This
again has a strong influence on the function of the antenna. This template serves only as a work-
relief, if you want to set up the antenna more than once. For a one-time installation, it is sufficient to
determine the anchor points with the measuring tape.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 19

Fig. 33 Peg template for 20m

Fig. 32 Sketch of a peg template: 1. Anchor point dipole, 2.

Center of antenna (mast), 3. Anchor point mast

Band 40m 30m 20m 17m 15m 12m 10m

L [cm] 1666 1153 825 737 656 574 492
Table 2 Dimensions of the peg template

Switching
Fig. 34 shows the switching of the VDA, that was used at VK9DWX in a simplified version and with the
protection circuit against hot switching (according to DJ7EG) at ZL8X. The relays K1, K2 and K3 are
located in the switch box at the antenna and switch the corresponding dipoles. The relays K4 to K9
are used for the hot-switching protection of relays K1 to K3. If, by mistake, the antenna direction is
switched during transmission, the antenna relays K1 to K3 remain in the position in which they were
before switching. The antenna direction selected during transmission is switched when the trans-
ceiver goes from transmit to receive. Only, of course, if the protection circuit is connected to the PTT
of the transceiver.

Fig. 34 Simplified diagram of the VDA switching (incl. protection circuit against hot switching)

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 20

The relays K1, K2, K3, K4 and K7 are DPDT, SPST is sufficient for relays K5, K6, K8 and K9.

The dimensioning of the antenna relays K1, K2 and K3 depends primarily on the RF power to be used.
The calculation of the expected maximum voltages and currents is given by the formulas

𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣𝑣 𝑈𝑈𝑆𝑆 [𝑉𝑉] = √2 × 𝑃𝑃 × 𝑅𝑅

2 × 𝑃𝑃
𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃𝑃 𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐𝑐 𝐼𝐼𝑆𝑆 [𝐴𝐴] = �
𝑅𝑅

For a VSWR = 2: 1, different power levels result in following values:

5W 100 W 500 W 1000 W 1500 W

US (at Z = 100 Ω) [V] 32 141 316 447 548
IS (at Z = 25 Ω) [A] 1 3 6 9 11
Table 3 Maximum voltages and currents at different power levels

The supply voltage of the relays is a further decision criterion. Due to the standardization of 12 V for
a large number of our station equipment, we have decided to do so. At a length of more than 50 m,
we have not been able to detect any noticeable losses due to voltage drops.

There are no special requirements for the relays in the

hot-switching protection circuit (K4 ... K9), since only
small voltages at low currents are switched.

Due to availability and electrical characteristics, we

chose Omron's G2RL-2 relays for the switch boxes.
These are sufficient for operation with ACOM1000
power amplifiers, as we use them on our DXpeditions.
They are easy to get at Conrad Electronic [6]. So far,
they have survived all DXpeditions of the Lagunaria DX
Group.
Fig. 35 Switching box of the VDA
(Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) The switch box consists of a weatherproof (IP65) hous-
ing made of non-conductive plastic. The latter property
is especially important for the function of the antenna since the individual coax cables must be
switched completely (inner and outer conductors) and
electrically separated from each other. The switch box is
shown in Fig. 35 and Fig. 37. The five UHF sockets for the
four antennas and the connection to the shack are sealed
from the inside with molded gaskets (available from Spi-
derbeam [19]). Also visible is the connection for the con-
trol cable (Hirschmann ST-series housing plug) and a GORE
vent to equalize pressure in the enclosure. The advantage
of this is that no condensation water can accumulate in
the housing, no small animals can settle and no salt air can
penetrate (after VK9DWX and ZL8X the inner life still looks
brand new). Small money that is well invested.
Fig. 36 VDA selector switch
(Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 21

Antenna directions are switched from the shack via the

selector switch with the integrated protection circuit
against hot switching. Fig. 36 shows a selector switch, as
used at VK9DWX and ZL8X. Of course, other solutions
(such as rotary switches or push buttons) are also possible.
The following features characterize this wall-mounted
double rocker: selection of four directions possible, easy
and fast switching between the directions, mechanical
stability and cheap and easy to purchase in any hardware
Fig. 37 Interiour of the VDA switch box (Photo:
store.
Lagunaria DX Group)

Production of the components

We will not describe the preparation of the antenna in detail. Rather, the reader should have look at
the pictures the components and the assembly process and draw the right conclusions for his own
setup.

Installation
Preparations
Meticulously work during the preparations, costs a little more time at the first moment, but it is re-
warded by a smooth and fast erection of the antenna.
The VDA is a wire antenna with quite a number of wires
and guy lines. They can entangle very easily, where
these come together. Once this has happened, only a
complete disassembly helps to unravel all wires before
starting again. This procedure can take a multiple of the
time required to prepare the assembly properly.

The process described here is intended to provide an

insight into how it has proven several times on our
DXpeditions. With some practice, patience and the
Fig. 38 Clamp set by Spiderbeam right sensitivity, a person can set up a complete VDA
(Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) (30m to 10m) in one hour, a 40m VDA in about two
hours.

Assembly of the telescopic mast

With the 12m long version, the GRP mast of
Spiderbeam does not have to be assembled
for its full length. For the 20m version, the
top section, for the 17m version, the top two
sections, etc. should be omitted.

On the one hand, these sections are not

needed; on the other hand, they only gener-
ate additional unnecessary wind loads, mak-
ing the whole structure less stable. To secure
the individual shots against slipping, it is not
enough to simply wrap a few layers of adhe- Fig. 39 Mounted clamp (left) and wrapped with adhesive tape
(right) (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)
Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX
4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 22

sive tape around the stops. Such connections easily get loose in the sun or in cold wet weather and
the mast collapse.

For this reason, Spiderbeam provides a special set of clips. Mount the clamps over each transition
between the sections. Note: “Tight” is easily followed by “Broken”. It is necessary to develop certain
sensitivity to how tightly the clamps have to be screwed so that the mast sections do not slide any-
more, and so that the mast is not destroyed. To prevent the wires from threading into the clamps
when the antenna is being erected, wrap the clamps with some layers of adhesive tape (Fig. 39). The
lower end of the mast should remain open to allow any condensation water to drain off, however,
once you have the tape already at hand, close the hole at the top.

Position the anchor points

First, select the location where the antenna should stand. The total space requirement results from
the position of the anchor points:

40m 30m 20m 17m 15m 12m 10m

Space 16.7 x 16.7 11.6 x 11.6 8.5 x 8.5 7.5 x 7.5 6.7 x 6.7 5.8 x 5.8 5.0 x 5.0
requirement
[m x m]
Table 4 Space requirement of VDAs for 40m to 10m

If you are planning to erect and dismantle the antenna several times, it is recommended to use a
template (Fig. 32 and Fig. 33) that can be used to determine the anchor points very easily and
properly. Before the pegs are driven in, you should already know in which direction the antenna
should radiate later, otherwise a later change of the direction takes a lot of extra effort.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 23

Laying out dipoles and guy lines

Lay out the prepared mast. Make sure that the lower end of the mast protrudes slightly over the
center. For the 40m version, you should use a tilting joint in the middle.

Fix mast guy lines #1 and #2 to the mast. Lay out #1 completely and attach it to the peg (with suffi-
cient over length so that the mast is not held down half way during installation). Lay out #2 along the
mast in the direction of the mast base. With the 30m version, there are two, with the 40m version,
three guying levels.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 24

Lay out the first two dipoles. Just lay down the upper ends onto the ground (they will be attached to
the mast later together with the other two dipoles). Lay out the coax cable first towards the mast,
then along the mast towards the base. Lay down the center dipole guy lines together with the lower
halves of the dipoles.

Fix mast guy lines #3 and #4 to the mast. Place them over the coax cables and dipoles and fasten
them to the pegs (not too tight, but taut enough so that the mast cannot tip sideways when erect-
ing). With the 30m version, there are two, with the 40m version, three guying levels.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 25

Lay out the other two dipoles. Just lay down the upper ends. Lay out the coax cables first towards the
mast, then along the mast towards the base. Lay down the center dipole guy lines together with the
lower halves of the dipoles.

Fixing the wires

When attaching the upper dipole ends make sure that all four upper dipole guy lines have the same
length. The four coaxial cables can be fixed with four loops (Fig. 40). This allows corrections after the
installation (the coax cable between the feed point and the mast must be horizontal). In general, all
mounts on the mast should be designed to prevent accidental slipping during installation. A few
turns of adhesive tape are usually sufficient for fixing (Fig. 41).

Fig. 40 Guided coax cables (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) Fig. 41 Attachment of the guy lines
(Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)

Erecting the antenna

To erect the antenna, pull all the dipoles to the mast. In the first installation attempts, one can work
best with a helper, later with more experience and routine you can do it alone. Due to the large
number of wires and the size, the 40m version should always be built in pairs. A person takes the
mast including the dipoles and coaxial cables, a second person takes the mast guy line(s) #2. Erect
the mast, attach mast guy line(s) #2 to the peg and fix the mast to the base. Then the whole antenna
structure is fixed vertically.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 26

First, tighten the four mast guy lines to align the The center dipole guy lines are then attached to
mast vertically. The dipoles can be left hanging. the pegs and tightened so tightly that the upper
dipole halves are tight with the mast still
straight.

Fix the lower dipole legs to the mast base. Tight-

en them only so tightly that the lower dipole
halves are tight, but the upper halves with the
center guy line still form a line. Finally, the coax
cables are pulled so far that they form a horizon-
tal line between the feed point and the mast.
Then attach the coax cable to the mast using
adhesive tape or cable ties.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 27

Now the switch box can be attached to the mast and the coax cables can be connected. The remain-
ing lengths of the coax cables determine the position of the switch box on the mast. The coax cables
are connected according to the directions for which the antenna has been set up (corresponding
marks on coax cables and lower dipole halves simplify the assignment of the individual directions).
The choke and the coaxial cable to the shack are connected
at the COM port. Finally attach the control cable, and the
antenna is ready to use. It is recommended to strain-relieve
the two cables that go into the shack (coax cable and con-
trol cable) by fixing them to the mast base with adhesive
tape.

It is, of course, preferable to erect the antenna on flat ter-

rain. The dimensions of page 14 are calculated for that.
However, if you find uneven terrain, you should first set the
four anchor points for the mast guy lines, then erect the
complete mast with dipoles and guy lines, align the mast
vertically and finally fix the dipole anchor points manually
and attach the dipoles. If you already have a sense of how
the antenna is supposed to look at the end, installation on
uneven ground should not be a major problem. You may
have to adjust the lengths of some guy lines.
Fig. 42 Completely wired VDA switch box
(Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) Initial operation
With the dimensions in Table 1, more than ten complete
VDAs have already been built. A tuning of the individual antennas was either not necessary at all or
by back-folding the ends of the lower dipole-halves. If, however, a larger change is required, the an-
tenna must completely be dismantled to make the necessary dipole adjustments.

Before applying RF to the antenna, make sure that the lower dipole ends are free and do not come
into contact with high grass or other vegetation.

Operation
Here we would like to present our experience from the practical operation of the VDAs. For the
DXpeditions VK9DWX, ZL8X, TX5K and VK9DLX twelve VDAs from 10m to 40m have been erected and
operated. All VDAs played to the end perfectly without failures. As a rule, a correction of the reso-
nance frequency of the antennas was not necessary. By backfolding the lower dipole ends, however,
a slight correction could be made in a few cases. Only twice a VDA has slipped. In both cases, incor-
rect attachment of the clamps was responsible.

Of course, you can select the antenna direction manually, by changing the individual coax cables di-
rectly at the antenna. However, switching the antenna direction from the shack is a comfort that you
would not want to miss in both stormy rain and midday sun. Likewise, the operator can react rapidly
to changing conditions (e.g., by switching between short and long path).

The outstanding performance right on the beach amazed everyone who was working with the VDAs.
Likewise, the QSO partners at the other end of the pile-ups have often thanked us for our exception-
ally loud signals. What we also noticed is the reduced performance as soon as the antenna is operat-
ed further away from the sea. This turned out to be the case on Clipperton Island, where one of the
VDAs was positioned slightly off the water compared to the rest of the antennas. We immediately

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 28

got asked, if we had any problem with this particular band. The difference between Yagi and VDA on
Kermadec Island came out more clearly. All antennas were positioned on a cliff about 40m above the
sea. While on a certain band no QSOs were possible with the VDA, switching to the Yagi antenna
caused the pile-up to flash up again.

Outlook / Others
We hope that this description of the 4-element vertical dipole array will be the beginning of further
developments. While we operate only monoband antennas for large DXpeditions, it is certainly also
possible to design the system as a multiband version. Likewise, one can still think about ways to get
more gain from a VDA.

On 30m and 40m, it would be interesting to know, if a VDA beats a 4-square array. So far, we have
not yet tested that extensively. The smaller space requirement as well as no necessity of radials
makes the VDA on these bands an interesting alternative.

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 29

Fig. 43 The world's first portable 40m VDA used at VK9DLX on Lord Howe Island in 2014 (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 30

Bibliography
[1] BAVARIAN CONTEST CLUB. Tipps für HF-taugliche Relais [online]. Available at:
http://www.bavarian-contest-club.de/projects/misc_projects/hfrelais.txt [24.03.2017]
[2] BEEZLEY, BRAIN K6STI (1995). Antenna Optimizer. Software, V6.54
[3] BÜRKLIN OHG [online]. Available at: http://www.buerklin.de [24.03.2017]
[4] CEBIK, L.B. W4RNL. Antennas – Service and Education [online]. Website, various articles,
http://www.cebik.com [24.03.2017]
[5] CHRISTMAN, AL KB8I & DUFFY, TIM K3LR & BREAKALL, JIM WA3FET (1994). The 160-Meter
Sloper System at K3LR. In: QST, August 1994, pp. 36-38
[6] CONRAD ELECTRONIC SE. Produktkatalog [online]. http://www.conrad.de [24.03.2017]
[7] CUTSOGEORGE, GEORGE A. W2VJN (2008). Relays used in Top-Ten Devices Products. private
communications
[8] DISTRELEC SCHURICHT GMBH [online]. Available at: http://www.distrelec.de [24.03.2017]
[9] EDELSTAHL.NIRO VERSANDHANDEL [online]. Available at: http://www.edelstahl-niro.de
[24.03.2017]
[10] FA-LESERSERVICE (2008). KW-Umschalter für 100W. In: Funkamateur 58 (2008) H.2, S.186...187
[11] FORCE12 INC (2001). K5K Kingman Reef DXpedition with SVDA Switchable Vertical Dipole Ar-
rays [online]. Available at: http://force12inc.com/k5kinfo.htm [01.07.2008]
[12] GORE (2011). Screw-In Druckausgleichselemente [online]. Available at: http://www.gore.com/
[24.03.2017]
[13] LAU, HARDY DL1GLH (2012). Measurement of the ground conductivity and relative permittivity
with high frequency using a open wire line (OWL) [online]. Available at:
http://www.dl1glh.de/groundconductivity.html [24.03.2017]
[14] LEWALLEN, ROY W. W7EL (2008). EZNEC+. Software, V5.0.16 2008, http://eznec.com
[24.03.2017]
[15] MADAY, MANFRED DC9ZP (2007). Ein Antennenschalter der besonderen Art. In: Funkamateur
56 (2007) H.12, S.1312...1313
[16] MEINKE, GUNDLACH (1992). Taschenbuch der Hochfrequenztechnik, Band 2. 5. Auflage, Berlin,
Heidelberg, New York: Springer-Verlag
[17] MITCHELL, D.C. K8UR (1989). The K8UR Low-Band Vertical Array. In: CQ magazine December
1989, pp. 42...45
[18] MOXON, Les G6XN (1993). HF Antennas for All Locations. Second edition, Potters Bar Herts:
Radio Society of Great Britain
[19] PAUL, CORNELIUS DF4SA (2006). Spiderbeam© High Perfomance Lightweight Antennas
[online]. Available at: http://www.spiderbeam.net [24.03.2017]
[20] PERKIÖMÄKI, JARI OH6BG (2007). VOACAP Quick Guide [online]. Available at:
http://www.voacap.com [24.03.2017]
[21] PETER BOGNER TECHNISCHER HANDEL-ANTENNENTECHNIK [online]. Available at: http://dx-
wire.com/ [24.03.2017]
[22] PIETRASZEWSKI, DAVID K1WA (2000). 7-MHz ‘Sloper System’. In: American Radio Relay League
(Hg.). Antenna Book, 19th Edition, Newington: American Radio Relay League, Chapter 6 “Low
Frequency Antennas”, pp6-32…6-35
[23] REHBEIN, GÜNTER DL3XM (2007). Von DM3XM bis DL0XM – zur Geschichte der Klubstation
[online]. Available at: http://dl3xm.dl0xm.de/dl0xm.html [24.03.2017]
[24] ROTHAMMEL, KARL Y21BK (1984). Antennenbuch. 10. überarbeitete Auflage, Berlin: Militärver-
lag der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik
[25] SEVERNS, RUDY N6LF (2003). Single Support Gain Antennas for 80 and 160 Meters. In: National
Contest Journal, March/April 2003

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 31

[26] SEVERNS, RUDY N6LF (2004). Getting the Most from Half-Wave Sloper Arrays. In: QEX, Janu-
ary/February 2004
[27] SILVERMAN, KENNY K2KW & SCHILLER, TOM N6BT (1998). Verticals for Contest Expeditions
[online]. Available at: http://www.k2kw.com/verticals/learning.html [24.03.2017]
[28] SILVERMAN, KENNY K2KW (1999). DXpedition Antennas for Salt Water Locations, a Study on
20m Antennas [online]. Available at: http://www.k2kw.com/k5k/dxcomp.htm [24.03.2017]
[29] STRAW, R. DEAN N6BV (1999-2001). Antennas Here are Some Verticals on the Beach. In: Amer-
ican Radio Relay League (Hg.). Antenna Compendium Vol. 6, First Edition Second Printing,
Newington: American Radio Relay League, pp216…225
[30] STRAW, R. DEAN N6BV (1999-2001). Using HF Propagation Predictions. In: American Radio Re-
lay League (Hg.). Antenna Compendium Vol. 6, First Edition Second Printing, Newington: Ameri-
can Radio Relay League, pp101…111
[31] VOORS, ARI (2017). 4NEC2. Software, V5.8.16, http://www.qsl.net/4nec2/ [24.03.2017]
[32] WEIGL, JÜRGEN A. OE5CWL (2007). Sloper-Antennen. 1. Auflage, Baden-Baden: Verlag für
Technik und Handwerk
[33] WEIGL, JÜRGEN A. OE5CWL (2007). Umgebungseinflüsse auf Antennen. 1. Auflage, Baden-
Baden: Verlag für Technik und Handwerk
[34] WEIGL, JÜRGEN A. OE5CWL/OE6CWL (1988). A Shortened 40-Meter Four-Element Sloping Di-
pole Array. In: ham radio magazine, May 1988, pp74…78
[35] WHELAN, R.C. G3PJT (1988). An Electrically-Steerable Vertical Parasitic Array for 10 MHz. In:
Radio Communication 01/1988, pp24…26/29

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX

4 Element Vertical Dipole Array P a g e | 32

List of Figures
Fig. 1 40m VDA at Y41ZM (Photo: DL3XM) ............................................................................................. 5
Fig. 2 Some VDAs at TX5K (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ........................................................................ 5
Fig. 3 VDA lineup at the beach of Clipperton Island (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ................................ 6
Fig. 4 Side view of a VDA ......................................................................................................................... 7
Fig. 5 Top view of a VDA .......................................................................................................................... 7
Fig. 6 Straight dipole ................................................................................................................................ 8
Fig. 7 Folded dipole ................................................................................................................................. 8
Fig. 8 Elevation radiation pattern straight dipole.................................................................................... 8
Fig. 9 Elevation radiation pattern folded dipole...................................................................................... 8
Fig. 10 Elevation radiation diagram of a VDA over differently conductive ground ................................ 9
Fig. 11 Terrain profile of ZL8X location.................................................................................................. 10
Fig. 12 EZNEC window for ground characteristics definition ................................................................ 10
Fig. 13 Simulation with different ground characteristics - Elevation radiation pattern ....................... 10
Fig. 14 Simulation with different ground characteristics - Azimuth radiation pattern ......................... 10
Fig. 15 Comparison Yagi - VDA, average ground, ground conductivity 0.005 S/m, dielectric constant 13
............................................................................................................................................................... 11
Fig. 16 Comparison Yagi - VDA, Salt water, ground conductivity 5 S/m, dielectric constant 80........... 11
Fig. 17 EZNEC Source window for a VDA simulation ............................................................................. 12
Fig. 18 EZNEC Transmission Lines window: Definition of the coax cables of the three reflector dipoles
of a VDA ................................................................................................................................................. 12
Fig. 19 Side view of a VDA with dimensions.......................................................................................... 13
Fig. 20 Top view of a VDA (1...4 dipoles, X mast guy lines) ................................................................... 13
Fig. 21 12m GRP mast by Spiderbeam for VDAs from 20m to 10m (Photo: Spiderbeam).................... 15
Fig. 22 18m GRP mast by Spiderbeam for a 30m VDA (Photo: Spiderbeam)........................................ 15
Fig. 23 26m GRP mast by Spiderbeam for a 40m VDA (Photo: Spiderbeam)........................................ 15
Fig. 24 Mast base of a VDA from 10m to 30m (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ....................................... 15
Fig. 25 Tilting joint for the 26m GRP mast (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ............................................. 16
Fig. 26 Drawing of the center insulator ................................................................................................. 17
Fig. 27 Center insulator in use (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)................................................................ 17
Fig. 28 Insulator made of PTFE (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ............................................................... 17
Fig. 29 Simplex clamp (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ............................................................................. 18
Fig. 30 Rope end with tent-drawer and snap hook (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group)................................ 18
Fig. 31 Worm's-eye view of a VDA (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ......................................................... 18
Fig. 32 Sketch of a peg template: 1. Anchor point dipole, 2. Center of antenna (mast), 3. Anchor point
mast ....................................................................................................................................................... 19
Fig. 33 Peg template for 20m ................................................................................................................ 19
Fig. 34 Simplified diagram of the VDA switching (incl. protection circuit against hot switching)......... 19
Fig. 35 Switching box of the VDA (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ........................................................... 20
Fig. 36 VDA selector switch (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) .................................................................... 20
Fig. 37 Interiour of the VDA switch box (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ................................................. 21
Fig. 38 Clamp set by Spiderbeam (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ........................................................... 21
Fig. 39 Mounted clamp (left) and wrapped with adhesive tape (right) (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) . 21
Fig. 40 Guided coax cables (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ..................................................................... 25
Fig. 41 Attachment of the guy lines (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ....................................................... 25
Fig. 42 Completely wired VDA switch box (Photo: Lagunaria DX Group) ............................................. 27
Fig. 43 The world's first portable 40m VDA used at VK9DLX on Lord Howe Island in 2014 (Photo:
Lagunaria DX Group) ............................................................................................................................. 29

Version 1.0 – April 2017 DL1MGB :: DL8WPX