Anselm, J69AH

June 2014
Saint Lucia

The Multi-band Buddipole L antenna is

essentially five L antennas in parallel.
The vertical and horizontal elements in the L
are at 90 to each other.
It can be configured as a Penta-band (5-band),
quad (4-band), tri (3-band), dual (2-band) or
monoband antenna without need for a
transmatch (tuner).
It was setup for operation on the 15m,12m,
10m,6m and 2m bands hence no loading coils or
capacity hats were used but the lower frequency
bands (below 17m) will require longer elements
and/or the use of Buddipole loading coils.

The penta-band L antenna (for use on

15m,12m,10m,6m and 2m band) consists of
three (3) vertical elements and four (4)
horizontal elements/radials.
The quad-band L antenna (for 15m,12m,10m
and 6m) has two (2) vertical elements and
four (4) horizontal elements/radials.
The tri-band L antenna (for 15m,12m and
10m) has one (1) vertical element and three
(3) horizontal elements/radials.
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The dual-band antenna (for 15m and 12m or

10m) has one (1) vertical element and two (2)
horizontal elements/radials.
The monoband antenna (for 15m or 12m or
10m) has one (1) vertical element and one (1)
horizontal element/radial.
See Table 1

Long Whips x 4
Standard Whips x 3
Long 33 inch arms x 2
11 inch arms x 4
Rotatable (RAK) Adapters x 3
Homebrew anti-windmilling bracket x 1 or IT Collar x 2
Versatee x 1
IT Adapter x 2
Antenna 3/8-24stud, 1.25 inch long x 2
Buddipole coax cable assembly x 1
Homebrew copper sheet washers x 2
Mini Banana Plug 9 inch Lead x 1
Antenna analyzer (with MultiSWR mode)

Replace the brass studs on the Buddipole 33 arms

with 1.25 inch antenna studs.
Thread two RAK arms to either end of one IT adapter
with the homebrew anti-windmilling bracket
mounted between the RAK arms and the RAK pins
locked into the bracket.
Alternatively slip IT (Yagi) collars unto the pins on
each RAK arm and thread them to either end of the IT
adapter. Tighten the lock screws on each Yagi collar
so that the RAK arms are vertical (and parallel to the
axis of hole in the IT adapter).
Place the homebrew copper washers at the base of
the red and black terminals of the Versatee.
Mount the Versatee on the mast. Note that my mast
was 1.95m (6.4 ft) above the ground.
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Place the homebrew bracket assembly on the top of the

Versatee.
Thread the 11 arm to the Long whip then screw into one
33 arm fitted with the 1.25 stud. Adjust height of
vertical Long whip using Table 2 in this document for
various bands or through use of an antenna analyzer.
Insert the 33 antenna arm +11 arm+ Long whip through
the bracket assembly and thread it down into the top (blue
end) of the Versatee to form the central vertical element.
Thread the other antennas (arms and/or whips) to the left
and right of the central element using the upturned RAK
adapters of the bracket assembly after adjusting the
heights of vertical whips using Table 2 in this document
or through use of an antenna analyzer.

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The central vertical element for the 15m,

12m and 10m bands had a length of 303.5
cm and consisted of 1x 33 inch arm, 1x11
inch arm and a Buddipole Long Whip (3
sections +43.5 cm).
The vertical element for the 6m band was
connected to the upturned RAK to the left of
the central vertical element and consisted of a
Buddipole Standard Whip with a length of
154.5 cm (5 sections +14.5 cm).

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The vertical element for the 2m band was

connected to the upturned RAK to the right of
the central vertical element and consisted of a
Buddipole Standard Whip with a length of 47
cm (1 section +15.5 cm).
See Table 2.

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Thread the third RAK arm into the red end of the Versatee so
that the RAK is horizontal. Bridge the red and black terminals of
Versatee with the mini banana plug lead and the copper
washer(s).
Place the second IT adapter in a horizontal position on the black
end of the Versatee then thread the other 33 arm (with the 1.25
stud) into black/cold end of the Versatee.
Thread the 11 arm + Long whip to this horizontal 33 arm.
Adjust the horizontal whip for resonance on the 15m band.
Connect the second arm + Long whip to the threaded end
(bearing 90 from black end) of the this IT adapter. Adjust
horizontal whip for resonance on 12m band.
Thread a Long Whip to the RAK arm on the red end of the
Versatee and adjust for resonance on the 10m band.
Connect the Standard whip to the other threaded end (bearing
270 from black end) of the IT adapter to form the fourth
horizontal (for 6m band) element. Adjust the horizontal standard
whip for resonance on the 6m band.

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The central horizontal element for the 15m

band had a length of 375.5 cm and
consisted of 1x 33 inch arm, 1x11 inch arm
and a Buddipole Long Whip (5 sections +23.5
cm).
The horizontal element for the 12m band,
connected to the IT adapter on the black end
of the Versatee, had a length of 274 cm and
consisted of 2 x 11 inch arms and a
Buddipole Long Whip (4 sections +21.5 cm).

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The horizontal element for the 10m band, connected

to the RAK arm on the red end of the Versatee, had a
length of 244 cm and consisted of a Buddipole Long
Whip (5 sections +3 cm)
The horizontal element for the 6m band, connected
to the other end of the IT adapter arm on the black
end of the Versatee, had a length of 47 cm and
consisted of a Buddipole Standard Whip (1 sections
+15.5 cm)
A new horizontal element for the 2m band is not
required as the horizontal element for the 6m band is
the common horizontal element for 2m and 6m.

Adjustment for resonance on the 2m band must be

done on the 2m vertical element to avoid detuning of
the 6m band.

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Number of Bands

Number of Vertical
Elements

Number of Horizontal
Radials

Penta (5)

Quad (4)

Tri

(3)

Dual (2)

Mono (1)

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Band

Vertical Length

Horizontal Length

15m

303.5 cm
Arms + Long whip
(33 +11 +3 sections
+43.5 cm)

375.5 cm
Arms+ Long whip
(33 +11 + 5
sections + 23.5 cm)

12m

303.5 cm

274 cm
Arms+Long whip
(11+11 + 4
sections + 21.5 cm)

10m

303.5 cm

244 cm
Long whip (5
sections + 3 cm)

6m

154.5 cm
Standard whip (5
sections + 14.5 cm)

47 cm
Standard whip (1
section + 15.5 cm)

2m

47 cm
Standard whip

47 cm
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The Buddipole coax cable assembly was

connected to the Versatee with the red (hot)
lead on the blue (top) terminal and the black
(cold) lead on the red terminal of Versatee.

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One can use this Penta-band antenna on the

20m (or 17m), 15m,12m,10m and 6m bands
if one replaces the standard whip used as the
vertical element for 2m with a new vertical
element made from a coil, antenna arms and
a Long Whip
Use an antenna analyzer to tune your multiband antenna. The MultiSWR mode on my
antenna analyzer made tuning much easier.
Make sure that there are no loose
connections

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Sorry no SWR graph available for 2m as the

upper limit of my antenna analyzers
frequency range was 54 Mhz!

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