DIY Antennas, QRP, SDR & Ham Radio Projects from VU3DXR
The Antenna category collects all of our HF, VHF, and UHF antenna designs in one place — from compact balcony loops to multiband wire antennas and portable verticals. You’ll find step‑by‑step builds for 80 m to 70 cm, including delta loops, trapped dipoles, doublets, magnetic loops, collinears, J‑poles, Moxons, and more, each with practical dimensions and matching options that actually work on the air.
Many designs are optimised for small plots, apartments, and portable operation, with notes on noise behaviour, radiation patterns, SWR results, and tuning tricks. Whether you are chasing DX on 40 m, experimenting on 6 m “magic band,” or improving repeater coverage on 2 m and 70 cm, this section helps you choose and build the right antenna for your station
Boost your VHF performance with the DIY 145 MHz Twin Delta Loop antenna. This technical guide explains how to construct a high-gain, bi-directional array using simple wire and a gamma match. Perfect for weak-signal 2-meter DX and satellite work without the bulk of a Yagi
Unlock extreme bandwidth with the UR0GT Broadband Avia Antenna (RW4HVN Mod). This technical guide explores the unique geometry that allows for seamless performance across Airband, 2m Ham, and Marine VHF without a tuner. The ultimate wideband solution for VHF explorers and monitoring enthusiasts.
A simple and effective 2-meter ham band sleeve dipole antenna design using a ¼-wave whip and a ¼-wave aluminium sleeve over copper braid.
Looking for an effective HF antenna for a high-rise or apartment balcony? This practical guide from VU3DXR details the construction and performance of a Loaded Loop Antenna—a compact, high-efficiency solution designed specifically for radio amateurs facing severe space constraints.
Build the ZED dipole antenna for 2 m and 70 cm bands — a compact bent-element half-wave dipole with near-50 Ω feed, broadband VHF/UHF coverage, and simple DIY construction
The Faulkner FM Loop Antenna is a popular and highly effective design among FM radio enthusiasts and DXers worldwide. It provides excellent reception over the 87.5–108 MHz FM broadcast band and can be built easily using common materials. Despite its simple structure, it performs as well as many commercial indoor FM antennas
Quarter-wave COCO antenna design for 2 m band: stacked λ/4 coax elements with phase-reversing joins for compact high-gain VHF performance and easy DIY construction
Build a compact dual-band FBK sleeve antenna for VHF/UHF bands from coax cable. Simple, efficient, and ideal for portable ham radio use.
From the smallest Wi-Fi chip antenna to the largest High-Frequency (HF) wire arrays, radio antennas are the crucial link between your radio and the airwaves. They are marvels of physics, yet decades of folklore have created persistent myths that trip up even seasoned operators.
Shortened G5RV antenna design: a compact multiband HF dipole covering 20m–6m bands with ladder-line matching and 4:1 balun for portable or small-yard installs.