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Inverted-V Dipole

Wire Antennas

A center-fed dipole with its ends sloping down from a single high support.

Band: HF (160-10 m typically)
Gain: ~1.5-2 dBi
Polarization: Mostly horizontal (some vertical component)

Photos

Real-world photo of a Inverted-V Dipole in use — Real-world example. Source: Wikimedia Commons (Public domain; KVDP (talk)).

Radiation / wave patterns

Idealized radiation pattern of the Inverted-V Dipole — Idealized azimuth radiation pattern (illustrative, generated). Radial scale in dB.

How & why it works

An inverted-V is an ordinary half-wave dipole supported only at the center, with the two legs angled downward (typically 90-120 degrees between them). Needing just one tall support makes it popular for portable and home stations. The drooping legs lower the feedpoint impedance to roughly 50 ohms and broaden the azimuth pattern toward omnidirectional, at the cost of a little gain compared with a flat-top dipole.

Real-world uses

Field Day, portable HF operation, and home stations with a single mast or tree.