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Andrew VK1AD | Adventure & Radio from Mountain Tops | Bush Walking | Summits
on the Air (SOTA)

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6 metre 52 MHz SOTA Antenna

Credits to John VK2ZOI. John’s site is http://vk2zoi.com/articles/half-wave-flower-

pot/

Post updates:

9 January 2016. Today from a SOTA peak (Yellow Rabbit Hill) 40 km west of
Canberra using this antenna during a sporadic E opening, I worked ZL1SSW (2343

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km) on 6m 50.130 MHz. My SOTA rig is a Yaesu FT-857D operating at 25 watts.

10 January 2017. Today from Mt Budawang using this antenna on 50.120 MHz with
a FT-817 at 5 watts QRP I worked to radio amateurs in New Zealand, Dave
ZL1AKW at Tauranga followed by Warren ZL1AIX near Auckland.

I have searched ‘ham’ radio publications and the internet for a lightweight, portable
6m 50 – 52 MHz vertical antenna design suitable for SOTA activations. I found a
terrific site by John VK2ZOI who constructed a vertical coaxial dipole named the
‘Flowerpot Antenna’ for obvious reasons. John’s design uses a single length of coax
to form a choke and two 1/4 wave radiating elements forming a single 1/2 wave
center fed vertical dipole. The purpose of the choke is to prevent common mode
currents reaching the transceiver. The design is very simple and avoids mechanical
joints, which can be an annoying point of failure particularly on a summit. With only
one solder joint at the RF connector the likelihood of antenna failure is very low.

John’s design is perfect (IMHO) for use as a 6m SOTA antenna supported by a

single squid pole or hung from a tree branch. I plan to coil ‘roll up’ the coax antenna
for carriage in my backpack. I have no intention of enclosing the antenna in a plastic
tube as one may do for a permanent installation.

Materials

10 metre length of Mil Spec RG58CU

Short length of 50 mm plastic pipe
PL259 connector or whatever connector you prefer
2 small cable ties

I have no plans to enclose the antenna in a plastic tube therefore according to

John’s notes each radiating element must be 3% (38 mm) longer than the length
shown in his article. An interesting point is to compare the element lengths specified
by John against the formula for a 1/4 wave element at 52 MHz = 1370 mm long
(300/52 x 0.95 x 0.25 = 1.37 metres). You will note the bottom half (braid section) of
the coaxial dipole antenna is considerably shorter than a 1/4 wave length, most
likely due the velocity factor of the coax cable.

Taking John’s figures and adding 38 mm to each element, the element lengths are:

Top section (core of the coax) 1315 mm

Bottom section (braid with plastic cover in place) 1255 mm

To start out I cut the top half element to 1.370 metres and after trimming the
element for a low SWR, the 1/4 wave element is 1315 mm long. I didn’t alter the
lower 1/4 wave element leaving the length at 1255 mm. Using a 13 turn choke the
SWR is 1:1 at 52 MHz with a usable 1.5:1 range from 50.75 MHz to 53.5 MHz,
perfect for use as a SOTA antenna on 50 and 52 MHz. If you plan to operate in the
50 MHz section of the band, then you may like to increase the element lengths by

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70 mm, the difference in wave lengths between 50 and 52 MHz. I plan to change
the choke winding to 12 turns, but for now the choke is 13 turns.

VSWR plot: Antenna is mounted on a 7 metre squid pole and clear of metallic
objects.

6m vertical Coaxial Dipole VSWR

Choke Self-Resonant Frequency

Choke calculations using 13 turns on a 50 mm dia former:

D = 55 mm (cable center to center)

N = 13 turns
Length = 70 mm
d = 4 mm (diameter of the shield)
f = nominated frequency

http://hamwaves.com/antennas/inductance.html

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data for a 13 turn choke. 52 MHz is the nominated design frequency.

Self-resonant frequency

Construction

I purchased a 10 metre length of Mil Spec RG58CU from Watts Communications

(Canberra). The type without aluminum foil.

1. Prepare one end of the plastic pipe by drilling one 6 mm hole in one end.
Chamfer the hole to allow easy entry of the coax and reduce the stress of a severe
right angle turn. (see John’s pictures). I used a tapered reamer to elongate the hole.

2. Coax cable. Start by removing 1350 mm of shield to expose the insulated core,
be careful not to cut the insulation around the center wire. Trim the shield for a clean
finish. Later place a 75 mm length of heat-shrink tube over the section to prevent
moisture entry into the braid.

3. Next from the top of the braid measure 1255 mm down the coax. Mark this point
with a permanent marker, use a colour you can see. At the marked point, place a
short length of electrical tape around the coax. This marks the top of the choke or
where the braid radiating element exits the choke. Do not cut anything!

4. Next, feed the coax through the center of the tube and out through the top hole
and stop where you marked the coax with the electrical tape. Remember this is the
start of the radiating element. Next wind 13 even turns of the coax around the 50
mm former, hand-pressure is enough when winding the turns. At the completion of
the 13th even turn mark the plastic pipe and repeat the exercise in drilling and
elongating the 2nd hole.

5. With the 2nd hole complete feed the remaining coax through the hole, gently
remove any slack in the coil. The coax should exit the tube through the center of the

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tube. At each end of the tube use cable ties to secure the coax on the inside wall.

6. Next inspect the radiating elements for damage and double-check the length of
each element. If all okay fix a RF connector (of your choice) to the end of the coax. I
fitted a water-proof PL259. That’s it done!

Hoist the antenna up a non-metallic pole and check the SWR at the lowest
frequency. I used a 7 metre squid pole. Check the VSWR and ‘trim’ the dipole top
section to lower the VSWR (I reduced this section by 35 mm). If you cut too much
off, you have the option to cut the cable ties and feed more coax through the former
or solder a short length of wire to the existing core, and start again!

Please feel free to offer constructive feedback. I am a humble ‘Standard’ licence

holder, not a ‘full-call’ and not an electronics engineer. Please don’t shoot me down,
rather take the opportunity to offer constructive feedback and share your knowledge
on how I might improve the antenna. I don’t have antenna simulation software on
my MAC Air. If someone would like to produce radiation charts based on the
dimensions discussed and for various heights above ground, I am happy to include
the charts here.

SOTA summits tests

On-air tests have shown the antenna performs well. From the summit of Mt
McDonald, using a FT-817 and 5 watts output on 52.2 MHz SSB, I made contact
with Gerard VK2IO on Mt Marulan, 105 km north. Our antennas were opposite in
polarization, Gerard was using a horizontal dipole. Local VK1 and VK2 SOTA
chasers those, within a 30 km radius were well received most with signal reports at
5-7 to 5-9.

What next, well I am now seeking interest from VK SOTA activators to attempt a 6m
S2S contact using two vertically polarized antennas. I can wait for the summer
sporadic E season.

Photos: © Copyright 2013-2017 Andrew VK1AD. All Rights Reserved

Construction photos

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center of the antenna 1/4 wave elements. Do not connect the braid to the core.
Overlay this section with a short length of heat-shrink tube.

tape marker to show the start of the radiating element at the top of the choke

completed antenna on the kitchen bench

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6m Coaxial Dipole layout on the ground – ready to mount on a squid pole

RF Choke – mounted over the squid pole support

Top Section taped to the squid pole – coax core 1/4 wavelength (shield removed)

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1/4 wavelength of shield above the choke (lower half section of the dipole)

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view of the choke mounted over the squid pole

Center frequency 52 MHz

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6m coaxial dipole ready for the backpack

6m antenna in action on mountain peaks around Canberra

6m coaxial dipole on the summit of Booroomba Rocks VK1/AC-026 1382 metres

ASL (16 Aug 15)

Mt McDonald VK1/AC-048 789 metres ASL (9 Aug 15)

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Spring Hill VK2/ST-036 876 metres ASL (8 Jan 16)

Yellow Rabbit Hill 855 metres ASL – 9 Jan 16

12 turn choke:

The self-resonant frequency of a 12 turn coil is closer to 52 MHz. I am yet to

experiment with a 12 turn choke and the effects on each 1/4 wave element length.

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12 turn choke self-resonance 52 MHz

Self-resonant frequency

Post Links:

9 January 2016 – 6m QSO with ZL1SSW

10 January 2017 – 6m QSOs at 5 watts with ZL1AKW at Tauranga followed
by ZL1AIX near Auckland

Last update 24 January 2017

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