Category: DX Commander

In this episode we take the ground mounted vertical from Part 3 and add elevated radials to see how the antenna behaves.

Using MMANA-GAL, we model a simple vertical and experiment with different radial configurations to see how they affect the far-field radiation pattern.

In this video we:

• Start with a basic ground mounted vertical
• Add two elevated radials
• Compare radiation patterns using the Compare function
• Add additional radials and experiment with geometry
• Raise the antenna and slope the radials downward
• Observe how the low-angle radiation changes

The goal here isn’t deep theory – it’s learning how to draw the antenna and observe what happens when you change the geometry.

You’ll also see how elevated radials can slightly improve low-angle radiation, which is important for DX performance.

In the next episode we’ll move on from verticals and start looking at loop antennas.

Software used

MMANA-GAL (Basic version)
Free download:
http://gal-ana.de/basicmm/en/

Model files used in this series

All MMANA-GAL antenna models used in these tutorials can be downloaded here:

📁 https://mega.nz/folder/EnoXlTQL#Iuq-TqnW7ZglzkJMEIk59w

This folder will be updated as new videos in the series are released.

Full Video Playlist

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7zl-6HKJ5ihuSH3-22IX6kq

If you want to follow the whole modelling series, subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

Thanks to Regin (OY1R) and Stian (LB5SH) for arranging this. You may have heard them previously calling in to my streams with their home calls in the past. With the help of WhatsApp to get a sked, we made it. Just for fun guys, I don’t really collect DX Entities.

It takes a whole community to make these things happen and everyone should be proud, the operators, the major sponsors and of course the small donations from the average ham. I know it goes a long way.

You can hear Stian calling me as 3Y/LB5SH and that starts here:

I have to say, the team this time around have done an awesome job. I think they almost cleared 100,000 QSOs and a great boost and focus for many.

See https://3y0k.com/

Thank you to the team on Bouvet Island for this amazinig experience for the 100,000 or so QSOs they made before packing up.

40m Band. 1kW, 4-Square and hunting and grinding! Join in, chat or just listen. All good fun!

Let’s see if we can find Bouvet Island today – but of course, we can do plenty of search-and-pounce and of course, calling CQ too. Join in, chat or just watch. Just for fun.

In this short tutorial we model a ground mounted vertical antenna using the free MMANA-GAL antenna modelling software. This is Part 3 of the Model Your Own Antennas series where we learn how antenna modelling works in simple practical steps.

In this episode we:

• Create a 20m ground mounted vertical
• Define the antenna using X, Y and Z coordinates
• Run the far-field calculation
• Compare the elevation pattern to the inverted-V from the previous episode

Vertical antennas produce a low take-off angle, which is why they are often used for DX communication.
Model files used in this series

All MMANA-GAL antenna models used in these tutorials can be downloaded here:

📁 https://mega.nz/folder/EnoXlTQL#Iuq-TqnW7ZglzkJMEIk59w

This folder will be updated as new videos in the series are released.

Full video playlist

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7zl-6HKJ5ihuSH3-22IX6kq

If you want to follow the whole modelling series, subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

In this episode we take the flat-top dipole from Part 1 and convert it into an inverted-V antenna using the drawing tools in MMANA-GAL. This short practical tutorial shows how to modify antenna geometry and understand how shape affects radiation patterns.

In this video we:

• Use the wire drawing editor
• Split a dipole into two wires
• Convert a flat dipole into an inverted-V
• Adjust antenna height above ground
• Check SWR and resonance
• Use the Wire Scale function to retune the antenna
• Compare the far-field radiation pattern

You’ll also see why modelling sometimes shows odd impedance values when elements are very close to ground, and why that doesn’t necessarily mean the antenna won’t work in practice.

Model files used in this series

All MMANA-GAL antenna models used in these tutorials can be downloaded here:

📁 https://mega.nz/folder/EnoXlTQL#Iuq-TqnW7ZglzkJMEIk59w

This folder will be updated as new videos in the series are released.

Full video playlist

📺 https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcC64tNkZB7zl-6HKJ5ihuSH3-22IX6kq

If you want to follow the whole modelling series, subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode.

Over the last couple of years I’ve been quietly building up the antenna field here at Holly Farm – towers (well… masts), verticals, phased arrays, four-squares and various receive antennas. This spring I could do with a bit of help finishing a few practical jobs, so I’m organising a couple of Sunday work parties. Nothing complicated, just some good old-fashioned radio engineering in the field.

Jobs planned:

• Laying two Beverage-on-Ground receive antennas (VK/Japan & North America)
• Burying LDF4-50 Heliax runs from the shack across the field
• Tidying the tree line and trimming overhanging branches

If you’re within driving distance and fancy helping out for a few hours, fill out the interest form below so I can coordinate dates and numbers.

👉 Volunteer Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSckcAraHP2dhzpa7uFJXKcs3QTwCvDZjgUs1MpCjNqUnAvdKA/viewform?usp=dialog

Typical plan will be 10am – 2/3pm on a Sunday.

Bring gloves, boots, and if you have one, a spade or shovel. It should be a relaxed day – a bit of digging, a bit of antenna chat, and probably a lot of radio talk.

I’ll also be filming parts of the work for future videos.

Later this year I’m hoping to start a monthly Shack Night at Holly Farm as well – more on that in another video.

Enjoy your radio.

In this short practical series I’ll show you how to model your own antennas using the free MMANA-GAL antenna modelling software.

We start with a simple dipole and build up through inverted-V antennas, verticals, loops, loading coils, end-fed wires, phased arrays and more.

Each video in this series is under five minutes. No heavy maths – just practical modelling so you can understand what happens when you change antenna height, length and geometry.

In this first episode we:

• Download and run MMANA-GAL
• Set the program language to English
• Learn the X, Y and Z coordinate system used to draw antennas
• Model a simple 20m dipole
• Run the first far-field plot

This series follows my earlier deep dive video:

Why IS DX Hard? https://youtu.be/XL1ZbXjGA_s

because understanding take-off angle and radiation patterns is interestiunig before *and* after modelling antennas!

Later episodes will cover:

• Inverted-V dipoles
• Ground mounted verticals
• Elevated radial verticals
• Loops
• Loading coils
• Phased vertical arrays
• Yagi modelling

All example model files will be shared shortly.

Software used: MMANA-GAL (Basic version) Free download:
http://gal-ana.de/basicmm/en/

If you want to follow the full series as it’s released, subscribe to the channel so you don’t miss the next parts.

Next episode: Turning this dipole into an inverted-V.

Feel free to listen, chat or just cruise. It’s just for fun.