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G5RV Multiband Dipole

Wire Antennas

A 102-foot doublet with a matching section that loads on several HF bands.

Band
HF (80-10 m, best on 20 m)
Gain
~2-5 dBi (band dependent)
Polarization
Horizontal

Photos

Real-world photo of a G5RV Multiband Dipole in use
Real-world example. Source: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain; Leroy Moffat, Jr.).

Radiation / wave patterns

Idealized radiation pattern of the G5RV Multiband Dipole
Idealized azimuth radiation pattern (illustrative, generated). Radial scale in dB.

How & why it works

Designed by Louis Varney (G5RV), this antenna is a 102-foot center-fed wire with a carefully cut length of open-wire or ladder-line matching section feeding coax below it. On 20 meters the flat-top is about three half-wavelengths and the matching stub transforms the high feedpoint impedance toward 50 ohms; on other HF bands the same geometry presents usable, if varying, impedances—often with an antenna tuner. Its appeal is covering many bands with one simple wire rather than offering ideal performance on any single band.

Real-world uses

Multiband amateur HF operation where a single, simple antenna must cover many bands.