Comparison of Radiation Pattern of Horizontal and Inverted V Dipole Antennas

While both the standard horizontal dipole and the inverted V are half-wave wire antennas, physically dropping the ends to form the “V” shape changes how the RF energy is distributed. In real-world applications—especially on lower HF bands like 80m or 160m where achieving a height of 1/2 wavelength is mechanically difficult—the radiation patterns of both antennas are heavily influenced by the ground beneath them.

The Horizontal Dipole Pattern

In theoretical free space, a flat horizontal dipole has a classic figure-8 radiation pattern in the azimuth (horizontal) plane.

• Broadside Gain: The vast majority of the signal radiates perpendicular (broadside) to the wire.
• Deep Nulls: Very little signal radiates directly off the ends of the wire.
• Real-World Height Factor: To actually achieve this directional figure-8 pattern with a low take-off angle for DX (long-distance) contacts, the dipole must be mounted at least 1/2 wavelength above the ground. If it is mounted lower than that (as is common on 80m and 160m), the ground acts as a reflector. The RF energy gets pushed straight up into the ionosphere, creating a Near Vertical Incidence Skywave (NVIS) pattern, turning your directional antenna into a cloud-warmer for local, regional contacts.

The Inverted V Pattern

By lowering the ends of the dipole to form an inverted V (typically with an apex angle between 90 and 120 degrees), the sharp figure-8 pattern begins to distort.

• Filled Nulls: Because the wire elements are now angled, the deep nulls off the ends of the antenna fill in. The pattern becomes much more omnidirectional.
• Mixed Polarization: The sloping wires introduce a vertically polarized component to the signal. This can be beneficial for local ground-wave communication and can slightly lower the overall take-off angle compared to a flat dipole at the same apex height.
• Reduced Peak Gain: The trade-off for becoming more omnidirectional is a slight reduction in peak gain broadside to the wire. You lose about 1 to 1.5 dB of gain compared to a perfectly flat dipole, but you gain the ability to hear and be heard from more directions.

Key insight: As you adjust the slider from a flat 180 degrees down to a tighter V shape, notice how you lose the sharp directional peaks but gain coverage in the “blind spots” off the ends of the wire.

Summary Comparison

Feature	Horizontal Dipole	Inverted V
Azimuth Pattern	Figure-8 (Directional)	Distorted Figure-8 (Nearly Omnidirectional)
Polarization	Purely Horizontal	Mixed (Horizontal + Vertical components)
Nulls	Deep nulls off the ends	Shallow/filled nulls
Broadside Gain	Maximum (~2.15 dBi in free space)	Slightly reduced (~1 dBi to 1.5 dBi)
Space Required	Requires two tall end-supports	Requires only one tall center mast

Ultimately, while the horizontal dipole technically has more broadside gain, the inverted V is vastly more popular for lower HF bands because it requires only a single tall support mast and provides better all-around geographical coverage by minimizing the nulls.