[TowerTalk] Expected VSWR of antenna near the ground

[Paul Christensen]

SWR peaks and valleys are part of every LPDA design, but you'll need to get 
the LPDA well up above the ground for any meaningful results from your VNA.

Paul, W9AC

-----Original Message----- 
From: Doug Ronald
Sent: Friday, September 25, 2015 9:16 PM
To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
Subject: [TowerTalk] Expected VSWR of antenna near the ground

I have assembled my 19 element LPDA with the front 12 elements about 3 feet
off the ground and parallel to the ground. The back elements are laying on
the ground, but electrically connected in the usual LPDA way. Today, as a
check before I erect it, I swept with a VNA, the antenna from 1 MHz through
32 MHz. The VSWR is horrible! It has peaks and deep dips at the low end, and
then at 14 MHz or so, rises to over 5:1 and stays there.  Now I didn't
expect even 2:1 over the range, but I expected the VSWR on the high end to
be at least reasonable, because the front shorter elements are off the
ground.



Anyone care to weigh in with an opinion? I hoping an expert says this is
perfectly normal for an antenna just a few feet off the ground. If not, I'm
kind 'a stuck as I have checked all the connections with an ohm meter, and
they are all okay.



Thanks,

W6DSR

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