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HELIX ANTENNAS

REAL WORLD COMPARISON


MEASUREMENTS
Clare - VE3NPC
QCWA Dinner Nov. 21, 2006

Early Helix 2 x 10 Turns

1989

2 x 15 Turn 70 cm Helix

1991 ?

AO-13 Antennas

About 1994

AO-40 Antennas

2001

13 and 23 cm Helix Arrays

2003

So How Did We Do?


Only worked AO-40 in mode L/S
6 other low orbiters were used by others
Used Yaesu FT-736R with 10 watts on L
There were 30 submissions
We made 102 QSOs, nearly all on SSB
Placed 7th.

VE3NPC L/S QSOs AO-40


AO-40 on mode L/S from 16 Sept 01 to
28 Jan 04
10 watts output into 4 x 27 T helix array on
the L uplink
Works out to about 1500 watts ERP
In that time I logged 832 QSOs in mode
L/S

More Helix Antenna Operation


First satellite QSO in 1988
Now 18 years later have over 11 K
Satellite QSOs in log
With exception of mode A and K used in
early RS satellites all were made using
home brew helix ants for 70cm up and
down links and 23 cm uplinks

So What !

I have learned a lot about building and operating


helix antennas.
They have worked very well on the air in
competition with commercial crossed yagis, loop
yagis and dishes that most satellite operators
were and are using.
What my paper is about is that according to
some published antenna modeling theory they
should not have worked as well as the have.

THE HELIX ANTENNA

Invented by Dr. John D Kraus in 1947

He constructed large arrays of helix


antennas for radio astronomy

the dimensions of the helix are so noncritical that the helical beam antenna is
one of the simplest types of antenna it is
possible to make
circumference
turn spacing (phase angle)
reflector size
conductor diameter
helix support (boom)

Kraus
Gain (db)=10log3.325n
Linear function

Double n (turns) - double gain 3 db


Four times n four times gain 6 db

Kraus

Satellite Experimenters Handbook


0.8 > C > 1.2

C = circumference in wavelengths

12 < a > 14

a = pitch angle in degrees

But used C = 1 wavelength and a =12.5 degrees

V E3NPC

C = 1 wavelength

pa = 12.5 degrees

Helix Antenna
Computer Modeling (NEC)
1990 ARRL UHF/Microwave Experiments
Manual Bob Atkins KA1GT
1995 ARRL Antenna Compendium Emerson
2005 Proceedings of the Southeastern
VHF Society Cebik W4RNL

NEC Design Theory


The NEC designs concluded that :
- for a given number of turns there was a
particular value of circumference and
pitch angle that would provide peak gain.
- as the number of turns was increased the
increase in gain soon leveled off.

Bob Atkins

Emerson

Cebik

Cebik

Emerson - Length

Consequences
NEC modeling peak gain designs used in
ARRL publications
Web page helix antenna calculators use
NEC peak gain design formula
AMSAT experts come up with peak gain
formula dimensions

VE3NPC 1990 or so
Constructed several 70cm helix antennas
following Bob Atkins design in the ARRL
UHF/Microwave Experimenters Manual
They did not give any better performance.
Narrower band width and harder to get
good feed match

VE3NPC 1992/93
Constructed several different 2.4 GHz
helix antennas and arrays for AO-13
mode S
All were over 30 turns and most used Bob
Atkins peak gain design
Didnt work never even heard beacon
Made 4 ft dish worked like a charm

Summer 2005

Dave VE3KL proposed constructing a 70cm helix


antenna using the Emerson design
From my previous experience I questioned his choice
Dave was skeptical.
Well that started the ball rolling
Maybe I was wrong but I didnt think so
Simple matter to compare his with mine
What appeared to be simple turned into a major project
Constructed and compared 10 different helix antenna

Objectives

1 To compare the peak gain design verses the


simple Kraus design.

2 To test the validity of the difference in gain


relative to the number of turns (length in
wavelengths).

3 To test the effects of different boom materials.

Test Equipment Set Up

Antenna Test Range

Comparison Results Between Four Kraus Design Helix


Antennas of Increasing length. C = 1 w/l P.A.= 12.5 deg.
Number
of Turns

Length in
Wavelengths

Theor. Incremental
Theor.
Gain
Gain db
db

Incremental
Measured
Gain db

Theor.
B/W
deg.

Measured
B/W
deg.

6 1/2

1.44

13.4

43.3

46

13

2.88

16.4

+ 3.0

+ 2.9

30.6

32

26

5.76

19.4

+ 6.0

+ 6.2

21.7

20

52

11.53

22.4

+ 9.0

+ 7.5

15.3

12

Gain & Directivity

An antenna may be very directive i.e.


exhibit a narrow forward beam width but
due to the configuration of the side lobes
and/or degree of losses, provide higher or
lower forward gain

Kraus 12.5 cm-Increased Turns

6.5 turns

26 turns

12 turns

52 turns

Increasing Turns/Gain Differences

Comparison Results Between


Kraus Design and Emerson Design
Type

No of
Turns

Length
in
Wavelengths

Theor.
Gain
db

Measured
Relative
Gain db

Theor.
Beam
Width deg

Measured
Beam
Width deg

K 70cm

10

2.22

15.2

34.7

40

E 70cm

10

2.40

12.8

+1

29

36

K 12.5cm

13

2.88

16.4

30.6

32

E 12.5cm

12

2.88

13.2

+0.4

27

25

K 12.5cm

26

5.76

19.4

21.7

20

E 12.5cm

24

5.76

14.9

-6.1

20

44

70 cm 10 Turn Kraus/Emerson

Kraus 10 turns

Emerson 10 turns

12.5 cm 2.88 w/l Kraus/Emerson

Kraus 13 turns

Emerson 12 turns

12.5 cm 5.75 w/l Kraus/Emerson

Kraus 26 turns

Emerson 24 turns

Kraus Design
Different Boom Materials
Boom
Material

No of
Turns

Length in Theor.
WaveGain
lengths
db

Relative
Theor.
Measured Beam
Gain db
Width deg

Measured
Beam
Width deg

Fiberglass

13

2.88

18.1

30.8

32

PVC
Pipe

13

2.88

18.1

+0.3

30.8

30

Aluminum

13

2.88

18.1

30.8

32

Conclusions

Casts serious doubt on NEC computer modeling of helix


antennas

Ant based on modeling doesnt give predicted peak gain

30 Turn helix ants can be made that will give real gain.
Useful gain with 52 turns.

Aluminum or PVC OK for boom

Other Verification

Can find no other information on direct


experimental evidence to verify the
computer modeling results of helical
antennas !

Questions ? ? ?

VE3NPC 23cm Array Constructed


by KB9UPS

KB9UPS

VE3NPC

WHO CARES !!

Checked my satellite QSL cards


40 % did not list type of ant
Of the 1267 cards listing type of antenna only 37
used a helix (3%)
Only 3 were in the US
One VK,FY and FP
The rest European (G3RUH pattern?)
22 countries

G3RUH James Miller

1993 published design for 16 turn 2401 MHz


helix
C = 1.06 wavelengths
P.A. 12.5 degrees
3.3 mm copper wire conductor
Boom 1 x 1 inch aluminum
Measured gain (sun noise) = 15.2 dbic
Kraus gain = 17.3 dbic

Central States VHF Society


Antenna Range Tests 1995-2006

15 helix antennas for 70cm, 33cm,23cm and


13cm measured

2 met the theoretical (VE3KSK) G3RUH


design
5 within 1 3 db
8 within 4 11 db
Where theoretical = Kraus gain minus 3 db

Southeastern VHF Society


Antenna Range Tests 2006
2 helix antennas tested at 2304 MHz
One 27 turn and one 16 turn.
Both about 1 db less than Kraus gain
minus 3 db

AO-40 Orbit

60 k kilometers

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