Iterations on Boom Length
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Why? The longer an LPA, the greater its gain. Not linearly so, however. Plots below quantify the diminishing returns. Click on thumbnails to see full size.

Silhouettes of LPSA antennas

* Leading Half-Angle. Ref. Definition


At Lambda/2 above Sommerfeld-Norton ground

Models over SN ground are not horizontal. Each is tilted toward ground at an angle. The angle varies in accordance with length of boom. Said angle afords each element its optimal lambda/2 height above ground. (thus to obtain a unified pattern across all frequencies of operation). Models verified by Average Gain tests performed at 0th, 5th, and 10th-file intervals.


Zin near 200 Ohms. Gain 10.26 dBi @ 27° Elev

Zin between 200 and 300 Ohms. Gain 11.07 dBi @ 27° Elev

Zin near 300 Ohms Gain 11.92 dBi @ 26° Elev

The above seems to suggest that Zin is dependent on boom length. It is not. Alternately, one might suppose that Zin maybe varies according to whether the saw teeth are sharp versus squat. Neither conjecture is supported, however, in comparison against these same three antennas when in Free Space (see further down). I am inclined to propose that Zin varies instead a result of increased horizontality. This being due to increasingly shallower tilt angles needed for each element's lambda/2 height above ground.

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 10 m   10.26 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 27° Elevation; AGT = 1.00

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 11 m   10.24 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 27° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 12 m   10.42 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 27° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 13 m   10.67 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 27° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 14 m   10.91 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 27° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 15 m   11.07 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 27° Elevation; AGT = 0.98

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 16 m   11.34 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 26° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 17 m   11.44 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 26° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 18 m   11.67 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 26° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 19 m   11.84 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 26° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 20 m   11.92 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 26° Elevation; AGT = 0.96


In Free Space

Unlikely anyone could erect a 10m-long LPSA at free-space equivalent height above ground. As a contrast, however, it clearly reveals the effect of proximity to ground. AGT likewise performed at 5th-file intervals.


Gain 7.99 dBi

Gain 8.34 dBi

Gain 9.16 dBi

As seen above, Zin remains between 200 and 300 Ohms on all three boom lengths. Zin is therefor also not strongly related to a saw-tooth array's LHA* measure.

*Leading Half-Angle: a more visual stand-in for the somtimes cryptic sigma (relative spacing constant). Ref: LHA Definition & Examples

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 10 m   7.99 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation; AGT = 1.0

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 11 m   7.89 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 12 m   7.95 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 13 m   8.10 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 14 m   8.25 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 15 m   8.34 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation; AGT = 0.98

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 16 m   8.58 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 17 m   8.67 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 18 m   8.89 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 19 m   9.08 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation

Azimuth Plot  Boom Length = 20 m   9.16 dBi Azimuth Gain @ 0° Elevation; AGT = 0.96