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5/8-Wave Vertical

Vertical Antennas VHF Mobile

A taller-than-quarter-wave vertical that pushes more energy toward the horizon.

Band: VHF/UHF (also HF mobile)
Gain: ~3 dBi (low-angle)
Polarization: Vertical

Photos

Real-world photo of a 5/8-Wave Vertical in use — Real-world example. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0; Amble).

Radiation / wave patterns

New to these diagrams? How to read a radiation pattern →

Radiation pattern of the 5/8-Wave Vertical — Vertical, from above: omnidirectional, with the extra length pushing more energy to a low angle toward the horizon.

How & why it works

Making a vertical 5/8 of a wavelength tall raises the height of the current distribution so that more energy is launched at low elevation angles, concentrating radiation toward the horizon where it helps terrestrial range. At that length the feedpoint is reactive, so a small base loading coil cancels the reactance and presents a usable match. The result is roughly 1.5-3 dB more gain at the horizon than a quarter-wave, which is why it is a favourite for mobile VHF whips.

Real-world uses

Mobile and base VHF/UHF communications where maximum horizon coverage matters.