Question for everyone:
What is the most simple, but yet effective antenna you have used?

I've only ever built and used a 1/4 wave groundplane antenna - the one with a vertical radiating element and 3 drooping radials at 45 degrees.

When made out of enamelled copper wire it can be folded up and put in a rucksack and the SWR can be got down to virtually nothing just by altering the angle of the drooping radials.

I've never built any other aerials as I've had great success with these and they can be knocked up for less than a pint of 1664.

MiXiN wrote:I've only ever built and used a 1/4 wave groundplane antenna - the one with a vertical radiating element and 3 drooping radials at 45 degrees.

When made out of enamelled copper wire it can be folded up and put in a rucksack and the SWR can be got down to virtually nothing just by altering the angle of the drooping radials.

I've never built any other aerials as I've had great success with these and they can be knocked up for less than a pint of 1664.

Would be good if people included their methods and calculations for building these aerials.

Some good info HERE
Make a J pole, use the calculator on the page for the frequency you want to use: J POLE
Make a dipole: HERE

As far as I understand the question, generally the more effective the antenna, the less simple it is to make it.

Here is a calculator for the 1/4 wave GP antenna, and please accept my apology for not posting it earlier - http://www.csgnetwork.com/antennagpcalc.html

A 5/8 should always be better than a dipole!! ...But I think it's got nothing to do with the aerials, it's all down to the manufacturers who built them.

Yeah I agree I've used a few 5/8s and thought they were cac until I got one from Veronica which worked bloody well.also you can buy a 1/4 wave off pcs for €19.99