Build a Portable High Efficiency 4-Band Vertical Antenna

Following a recent field event at which I struggled to set up three antennas for coverage on 40 through 10 meters, I figured there must be a better way. So, I started looking for a new design. While there are numerous verticals on the market, most go for hundreds of dollars and are not especially portable. I preferred a less expensive approach — design and build my own (see Photo A).

Operation and Construction

My criteria for the new antenna included: 1) easily portable in a car, 2) high efficiency on all bands, 3) would not have to rely on tall trees for support, and 4) can be erected by one person.

After considerable research, I decided upon a set of full-sized vertical radiators for 20, 15, and 10 meters in a multiwire arrangement, and a shortened element for 40 meters, all attached to a single mast and with a common feed point. The mast would be collapsible down to a “car-fitting” size. The only design wrinkle was the shortened 40-meter section — shortened antennas usually have lower efficiency because of losses in loading coils and lowered radiation resistance.

While this design follows what many others have done