What is an Inverted V Amateur Radio Antenna?

What is an Inverted V Amateur Radio Antenna?

Inverted V antenna is very popular among radio amateurs, especially the beginners, as it is very easy to put up and has a fairly good performance. As the name implies, it has an inverted V appearance with the two limbs of the antenna forming an inverted V, with the apex at the tip of the non-conducting mast. As the horizontal dimension is lesser than that of a horizontal half wave dipole antenna, it is useful when there are space constraints.

Though theoretically the performance of a horizontal dipole and inverted V are similar, practically it can be lower for the inverted V. This is because of proximity to the ground, effect of ground conductivity and end effects. Elevating the antenna higher above the ground can improve the performance of the inverted V, though it may not be always possible in a given location.