What is a Rybakov 806 Vertical Portable Ham Radio Antenna?

What is a Rybakov 806 Vertical Portable Ham Radio Antenna?

Rybakov 806 is a vertical antenna supported by a telescopic fiberglass fishing rod, which gave it the name Rybakov which means fisherman in Russian language. The suffix 806 is probably because it is a broadband antenna which can cover from 80m to 6m. IV3SBE who designed it describes it as a little miracle which is only 1.2 m when not in use and 9 m when fully extended and weighing only 2.2 Kg. 8 m wire is used with a 4:1 Unun at the feed point. Unun by definition matches an unbalanced antenna to an unbalanced feed line. Here it is used to lower the impedance of a random wire antenna. Rybakov 806 Vertical is a highly portable antenna popular for field operations.

Though the length of the wire is not critical, resonance at bands of interest is avoided. As it is a non-resonant antenna, an antenna tuner is a must. Built-in antenna tuners of modern radios may be enough. A wire length of 7.6m can cover from 7 MHz upwards. If 3.5 MHz is needed, wire length has to be increased. Some sort of a ground or radial has been recommended. WB3GCK mentions a 25-foot radiator and a 25-foot radial. Extension of radiator to 53 foot for 80 m operation was suggested.