Figure 2-22.—Quadrant antenna.
WHIP ANTENNAS
Hf whip antennas (fig. 2-23) are vertically-polarized
omnidirectional monopoles that are used for
short-range, ship-to-shore and transportable communi-
cations systems. Whip antennas are made of tubular
metal or fiberglass, and vary in length from 12 feet
to 35 feet, with the latter being the most prevalent.
Although whips are not considered as highly efficient
antennas, their ease of installation and low cost provide
a compromise for receiving and low-to-medium power
transmitting installations.
The self-supporting feature of the whip makes it
particularly useful where space is limited. Whips can
be tilted, a design feature that makes them suited for
use along the edges of aircraft carrier flight decks.
Aboard submarines, they can be retracted into the sail
structure.
Most whip antennas require some sort of tuning
system and a ground plane to improve their radiation
efficiency throughout the hf spectrum. Without an
antenna tuning system, whips generally have a narrow
bandwidth and are limited in their power handling
2-13
