Antenna Tools Hub ยท Calculators & Build Guides
Ham Radio Antenna Calculators & Build Guides
Get the exact length for the antenna you're building, then build it โ every calculator on this page links to a complete, step-by-step construction guide. No guessing at materials, no skipped steps.
๐ก Start Here: Which Antenna Are You Building?
I want the simplest, most proven HF wire antenna
Start with the dipole calculator. Two supports, simple feed, the most forgiving antenna to get right on a first build.
I only have room for one support point
An EFHW needs just one elevated end. A dipole can also work as an inverted-V with a single center support.
I want one antenna that covers several bands without a tuner
The EFHW calculator's harmonic table shows exactly which bands a given cut frequency reaches without retuning.
I want an omnidirectional antenna with a small footprint
A quarter-wave vertical needs no horizontal span at all โ just be ready to commit to a real radial system for good performance.
I just got licensed and want better range than my rubber duck
A J-pole is the classic first VHF/UHF build โ no radials needed, simple materials, great for 2m/70cm.
I'm choosing feedline for a long or VHF/UHF run
Use the coax loss calculator first โ cable choice matters far more there than on a short HF run.
I want a directional antenna, not a wire
See our K4KIO Hex Beam review for a compact directional HF option.
๐งฎ Antenna Calculators & Build Guides
๐ข Most Popular
Dipole / Inverted-V
Two-support or single-mast HF wire antenna
โก Portable Favorite
EFHW
End-fed half-wave, single-support multiband
โก New
Vertical / Quarter-Wave
Ground-mounted or elevated, with radials
โก New
Coax / Feedline Loss
Compare cable choices before you buy or run a long feedline
โก New ยท VHF/UHF
J-Pole
No-radial vertical for 2m, 70cm & other VHF/UHF bands
โ๏ธ Quick Comparison
| Antenna | Supports | Feed Impedance | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dipole | 2 (or 1 for inverted-V) | ~70ฮฉ โ simple balun | Fixed stations, cleanest feed, easiest first build |
| EFHW | 1 | ~1800โ5000ฮฉ โ needs a unun | Portable/POTA, tight spaces, single-mast installs |
| Vertical | 1 (no horizontal span needed) | ~36ฮฉ โ simple match | Tight footprint, omnidirectional, needs a radial system |
More antenna types and their comparisons will be added here as new calculators and build guides go live.
๐ Related Resources
Want a directional antenna instead?
Read our K4KIO Hex Beam review for a compact, multiband directional option.
Not sure which band to even build for?
Check Best Band Right Now for live conditions, or the US Band Plan for your license class privileges.
Need to aim a directional antenna?
Use the Beam Heading & Lookup tool to find the bearing to a target station or region.
โ Frequently Asked Questions
Which antenna calculators are included here?
This hub collects KE6MGB's antenna sizing calculators and matching build guides โ currently a dipole/inverted-V calculator and an EFHW calculator, each paired with a complete step-by-step construction walkthrough. Vertical/quarter-wave and coax loss calculators are in progress.
Which antenna type should a new builder start with?
A center-fed dipole is the most forgiving first build โ a simple feedpoint, no transformer to wind, and a very well-documented trimming process. An EFHW is a great second build once you're comfortable with basic wire-antenna construction, since it adds a matching transformer and counterpoise considerations a dipole doesn't have.
Do calculator lengths still need trimming in the real world?
Yes, always. Every calculator on this site gives you an accurate starting length based on the standard 468/f formula, but real installations are affected by height, wire gauge, nearby objects, and ground conditions. Each build guide includes the trim-to-resonance process to get from "close" to actually tuned.
What other KE6MGB tools should I check before building?
Best Band Right Now for live propagation-informed band suggestions, and Beam Heading & Lookup if you're building or aiming anything directional.