Read the Latest News from KJ6ER Antennas
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| Introducing the New KJ6ER 2-Element Phased PERformerArray Antenna with +4.3 dB gain over a single PERformer Quarterwave Antenna
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| Dear Fellow Portable Antenna Geeks 😀
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| First of all, I want to thank all of you for voting for my PERformer article in the September 2025 QST issue - I was just notified that the article won the ARRL™ September QST Cover Plaque Award as the most popular and well-liked article in the issue! I will receive a shiny plaque for the achievement. Once again, I am honored by your incredible support and it motivates me to keep designing and sharing high efficiency portable antennas for free with our worldwide community. |
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| In this month's newsletter, I am excited to announce that the ARRL™ QST award-winning PERformer Antenna can now be transformed into a 2-Element Phased PERformerArray featuring more than double the gain over a single PERformer antenna and providing incredible front-to-back! As the 11-year solar cycle winds down, be prepared to combat it with more radiated power in the field.The new 7-band, 2-element phased array is available to homebrew in two configurations: a bidirectional broadside figure-8 radiation pattern with +4.3 dB gain over a single PERformer and over 19.0 dB front-to-side, as well as a unidirectional cardioid radiation pattern with +3.88 dB gain over a single PERformer and a 22.0 dB front-to-back ratio! If you do not have the time or ability to build a PERformer, you can purchase a high quality US-manufactured PVC mount version already assembled with bundled or a la carte options for different elevated radial sets and a 16" stainless steel spike. More than 50 PERformers have already been sold during the first three months and have received all 5-star reviews from buyers! Consider getting yours today and have some fun in the field!
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| What is a Phased Array? A 2-element phased antenna array uses two driven elements (radiators connected to feedlines), each fed with electrical length cables cut for the band based upon the frequency and cable velocity factor. Depending on the spacing and phasing between the elements, the phased array produces either a bidirectional broadside radiation pattern or a unidirectional cardioid radiation pattern. The electromagnetic field from both radiators combine constructively and destructively. Where constructive, the elements reinforce a portion of the driven signal for increased gain. Where destructive, the elements cancel some of the side or rear driven signal to create a null forming beneficial directivity and amazing front-to-side/back characteristics. |
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| The new 2- Element Phased PERformerArray has been extensively computer-modeled in 4NEC2 to optimize the spacing and phasing between the two elements, as well as their telescoping whip lengths on 40M-6M. The free 27-page PDF plans feature both configurations with all the design details, radiation charts and the deployment essentials to get your phased array up an running easily in the field! I have already used this phased array on 20M at a few POTA activations recently and had amazing success! From the west coast, I deployed the two phased omnidirectional PERformers a halfwave apart and aligned them broadside to a bearing of 70 degrees ENE and 250 degrees WSW to radiate forward across North America and behind to the South Pacific. To my pleasant surprise, I was receiving S7-S9 signal reports in both directions from operators asking if I was using an amplifier in the field. Wooo hooo! The 2-Element Phased PERformerArray is an exciting antenna system for more experienced geeks who want to experiment with something they may not have tried before! Unlike a parasitic array, a phased array requires electrical length cables to each driven element including the insertion of a special 52-degree phasing cable (52/360 of a wavelength) for the unidirectional cardioid configuration. Electrical length cables are cut in specific, fractional wavelengths to manage the voltage and phasing arriving at the feedpoints which control the direction of the broadside or unidirectional radiation. When you order these cables from ABR Industries, you will receive a 10%-20% discount on your total cable order.
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| What's Coming - In November, I will be taking a fresh look at one of my most popular antennas: the 7-band Challenger Off-Center Fed (OCF) halfwave antenna with a 21-degree takeoff angle for excellent continental and DX communications. Now that the upper bands, 15M-10M, are open again, it is time to take advantage of those bands during your portable ops before they diminish with the 11-year solar cycle in a few years.
The Challenger comes in two configurations: one with the very popular LDG 4:1 unun, and the Challenger+ with the outstanding Palomar 4:1 unun for broader bandwidth and higher radiation efficiency! In fact, the Challenger+ is my most efficient portable antenna with over 94% radiation efficiency. If you have not built one yet, take a look at the plans and give it a try! Or, if you would prefer to buy an assembled Challenger antenna, it is now available on Etsy as both a core offering without a 25' telescoping whip and ground spike, or as a complete antenna system bundled with a new Chameleon™ 25' telescoping whip and a stainless steel ground spike! Take a look! |
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| Until next time, keep having fun out there! Building ham radio antennas is our last homebrewing frontier and I am dedicated to helping you do so successfully! See all my free antenna design plans at the cloud links below. If someone forwarded this email to you and want to be added to my antenna geeks email list, send me a message and you will be the first to receive new KJ6ER antenna designs and updates! I am also available to present my antennas to your Amateur Radio Club via Zoom. Let me know if they are interested! As always, feel free to reach out to me if you ever have any questions, I'd be happy to help you! 🙂 73 KJ6ER, Silicon Valley |
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| My mission is to design efficient and effective portable antennas for the every-ham that focus on the optimal integration of performance (high radiation efficiency), elegance (speed and simplicity of deployment) and convenience (ease of transport and storage). These designs are always shared for free with the global amateur radio community to encourage more radio operators to homebrew their own portable antennas. |
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