http://ozreport.com/antenna.php

http://ozreport.com/goodies.php

Frank Frankus <<frankfrankus>>
writes:

I would strongly recommend not cutting off the ground/braid
shielding wire. The mismatching really has the potential to burn the output
stage of your ham radio device. If you replace the shielding ground by a well
defined wire of identical length, you'll be able to significantly extend your
range past 70 miles.

http://www.frankfrankus.de/Funkthemen/Antennen/antennen.html#UltimativeGZAntenne

A small portion of Frank's article:

The ultimate harness antenna for hang gliders

What types of antennas do not work and which ones will perform well?

Antennas that will definitely not work - and why

Installation instructions for V-antenna in a harness

The Ultimate Harness - antenna for hang gliders

• Optimum Range: at least three times better than any "rubber duckie".

• Fits in hang glider harnesses with and without slider.

• Not visible manner: 2 wires with 45 ° to 90 ° A wire in the back and the other
standing along the front wire or the mains.

• Individually measured: excellent standing-wave

• Versions for amateur radio 2m (48.5cm long), 70cm (16.8 cm long), ATC (55.5cm
long) and LPD (17cm long)

• Reliable, rugged, durable, simple structure

• Solid construction with high quality parts: pressed-plug, bend-tolerant,
flexible, bend protection

• Polarization direction is correct: no dropouts during cranking and banking

What types of antennas do not work and which ones?

What is wanted is the ideal antenna solution for hang gliding. I have searched and found in the Bible of amateur radio operators suitable antennas. I have built and measured all promising antennas. I used a SWR meter to measure the reflected power.

When calculating the wavelength it must be remembered that the power only in theory propagates at the speed of light. In real wires it is always a little slower (roughly 95%). We then confirmed the lengths determined by fine-tuning: a millimeter at a snip off and measure. Fortunately, these dimensions are not strongly dependent on wire size, material and insulation. These real quarter wave lengths are as follows:

Amateur radio 2m band 145MHz (48.5cm long)

Amateur radio 70cm (16.8 inches long)

LPDs (17cm long)

Aeronautical mobile (55.5cm long)

Antenna types that do not work well:

• radio in your pocket. This does not work well, since only the antenna is
tuned.

• All horizontal structures: The plane of polarization is not correct. We need
vertical polarization. So never put a radio with antenna in the breast pocket
across: It will come across as choppy. Some pilots use a 90 degree BNC connector
to improve their range which often (by chance!) does better than expected.

Installation instructions for V-antenna

All these antennas must be attached to the harness so that the two radiators
(wires) make an angle of 45° to 90° with one of the radiators pointing up.
Both radiators must be installed directly stretched in their normal operating
position. The antenna should not be unnecessarily bent, especially where the two
wires come together.