All Locations Moxon Pdf | Hf Antennas For

The story of the Moxon antenna is fundamentally a tale of practical engineering meeting the constraints of the "backyard" environment. Centered on the work of Les Moxon (G6XN)

, a World War II radar developer and communications engineer, the narrative explores how radio amateurs can achieve high-performance results in limited spaces. The Genesis: Les Moxon and G6XN

The antenna's legacy is rooted in Les Moxon’s seminal book, " HF Antennas for All Locations

," first published by the Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) in 1982.

The Problem: Standard beam antennas (like Yagis) were often too large for suburban lots and required complex matching networks to work with standard 50-ohm coaxial cable. The Inspiration: Moxon refined concepts from Fred Caton (VK2ABQ)

, who had experimented with square-shaped antennas in the 1970s.

The "Moxon Rectangle": While Moxon himself primarily wrote about the VK2ABQ antenna and wire-beam variations, his refinements led to what we now call the "Moxon Rectangle"—a two-element parasitic array with ends folded toward each other. Technical Breakthroughs

The Moxon design is celebrated for solving three major hurdles for HF operators: The Moxon Rectangle

HF Antennas for All Locations: A Comprehensive Guide to Moxon Antennas

Introduction

High-frequency (HF) antennas are a crucial component for any amateur radio or communication setup. With the increasing demand for reliable and efficient communication, HF antennas have become a popular choice for many applications. One type of HF antenna that has gained significant attention is the Moxon antenna. In this article, we will explore the design, benefits, and applications of Moxon antennas, as well as provide a comprehensive guide for building and optimizing these antennas for various locations.

What is a Moxon Antenna?

A Moxon antenna, also known as a Moxon rectangle or Moxon doublet, is a type of HF antenna that consists of two parallel dipoles connected at their ends. The antenna was invented by G3PAS (Les Moxon) in the 1950s and has since become a popular choice for HF communication. The Moxon antenna is known for its compact design, high gain, and directional radiation pattern.

Benefits of Moxon Antennas

Moxon antennas offer several benefits, including:

• Compact design: Moxon antennas are relatively small in size, making them ideal for limited-space applications.
• High gain: Moxon antennas have a high gain of around 7-9 dB, making them suitable for long-distance communication.
• Directional radiation pattern: The Moxon antenna has a directional radiation pattern, which helps to reduce interference and improve signal-to-noise ratio.
• Easy to build: Moxon antennas are relatively simple to build and require minimal materials.

Design and Construction

The design of a Moxon antenna is relatively straightforward. The antenna consists of two parallel dipoles, each with a length of around 0.25 wavelengths. The dipoles are connected at their ends, and the antenna is fed at the center of one of the dipoles. The Moxon antenna can be built using a variety of materials, including wire, tubing, or even printed circuit boards.

Optimizing Moxon Antennas for Different Locations

To optimize a Moxon antenna for different locations, several factors need to be considered, including: hf antennas for all locations moxon pdf

• Frequency range: The Moxon antenna can be designed to operate on a specific frequency range or can be made tunable to cover a wider range of frequencies.
• Space constraints: The size and shape of the Moxon antenna can be adjusted to fit specific space constraints.
• Environmental factors: The Moxon antenna can be affected by environmental factors such as terrain, buildings, and trees. These factors need to be considered when optimizing the antenna for a specific location.

Moxon Antenna Designs for Different Locations

Several Moxon antenna designs can be used for different locations, including:

• Inverted Moxon: This design is suitable for locations with limited vertical space.
• Horizontal Moxon: This design is suitable for locations with limited horizontal space.
• Tilted Moxon: This design is suitable for locations with uneven terrain.

Conclusion

Moxon antennas are a popular choice for HF communication due to their compact design, high gain, and directional radiation pattern. By understanding the design and benefits of Moxon antennas, as well as optimizing them for specific locations, users can build and use these antennas for a variety of applications.

PDF Resources

For those interested in building and optimizing Moxon antennas, several PDF resources are available online, including:

• "The Moxon Antenna" by G3PAS: A comprehensive guide to Moxon antennas, including design, construction, and optimization.
• "Moxon Antennas for HF" by VK5BR: A guide to building and using Moxon antennas for HF communication.

These resources provide detailed information on Moxon antenna design, construction, and optimization, and can be used as a starting point for building and using these antennas.

Why it works for "all locations":

1. Small Physical Size: A 20m Moxon is roughly 22 ft wide by 6 ft tall. A 20m 2-element Yagi requires a 12 ft boom and 33 ft elements. The Moxon fits in an attic.
2. Low Angle Radiation: Despite its small vertical height, when mounted horizontally, the Moxon provides excellent DX performance due to its clean pattern.
3. No Tuner Required: Direct 50-ohm feed means your radio sees a happy load without a lossy matching unit.

Location 2: The Suburban Attic (20m band)

The Challenge: Wood framing, asphalt shingles (lossy at some frequencies), limited turning radius. The Moxon Solution: A 20m Moxon made of aluminum arrow shafts or 14 AWG wire. Because it is only 6 feet tall and 22 feet wide, it fits between the trusses. You can rotate it using a cheap TV rotator because the wind load is negligible indoors. Loss from shingles? Minimal—most users report only 0.5 dB loss, far outweighed by the gain over a dipole.

Sample Screenshot Text (for a software tool implementing this feature)

"Select your location type:"
○ Suburban backyard (full size)
○ Townhouse / small lot (shortened)
○ Apartment balcony (bent / indoor)
○ Portable / Field (collapsible)
○ Marine / RV (mountable on metal) The story of the Moxon antenna is fundamentally

Choose band: [drop-down: 80m … 6m]
→ Instantly generates a custom Moxon plan + PDF export.

Location 3: The Portable Field Operator (SOTA/POTA)

The Challenge: Weight, setup time, wind resistance. The Moxon Solution: A "Taco" Moxon. Use 12 AWG copperweld wire and spreaders made of military fiberglass poles. The entire 20m antenna packs into a 30-inch tube. In 10 minutes, you have a directional antenna with 5dBi gain that fits in your backpack. PDF plans for these "tactical" Moxons are highly sought after.

Part 2: Enter the Moxon – The Rectangle That Changed Everything

The Moxon rectangle (invented by Les Moxon, G6XN) is a two-element parasitic array. Visually, it looks like a squashed rectangle or a bowtie. Electrically, it performs like a 2- or even 3-element Yagi, but with a critical advantage: the elements are folded back toward each other, drastically reducing the overall width.

Why the Moxon Antenna for “All Locations”?

The Moxon rectangle is a two-element parasitic array that offers:

• High front-to-back ratio (typically 15–25 dB)
• Modest gain (≈5–7 dBi, similar to a 2-element Yagi)
• Small footprint — roughly 30–40% smaller than a Yagi for the same frequency
• Low noise pickup due to balanced feed and tight pattern

Because of these traits, it works well in:

• Small city lots (roof or balcony mounting)
• Stealth or HOA-restricted properties (can be built with wire in an attic or on a frame)
• Portable/field operations (lightweight, easy to rotate)
• Rural stations where a large beam isn’t feasible

Hence the phrase “for all locations” — from crowded urban homes to remote summits.

6. Performance Comparisons

• Moxon vs. dipole: +25 dB F/B, similar gain.
• Moxon vs. small loop or vertical: less noise, directional.
• Moxon vs. hex beam: simpler build, lower wind load.

Part 4: Multi-Band Moxon Systems – Covering 10-40m

The most common question: “Can a Moxon cover all HF bands?”

The direct answer: No single Moxon can cover 80m through 10m due to the physics of element lengths. However, a fanned Moxon or switchable Moxon array comes close.