Hi.
What is the proper sequence of thought to design, build, install and test/evaluate a receiving antenna ?

 

For what frequency are you aiming?

 

6MHz, 16MHz, 122MHz, 175MHz, 445MHz, 600MHz.

 

Use a long wire for the first two
Use a quarter wave whip and a decent ground plane for the other four.
Receiving antennas don't need to be that precise because they are not handling power or dealing with reflections.

 

Receiving antennas don't need to be that precise because they are not handling power or dealing with reflections.

True, but if the kit is available it doesn't hurt to plug in a signal generator and a VNA and check the matching to ensure maximum sensitivity.

I found this site useful.

 

If maximum Signal-Strength is your goal,
you must think in terms of a resonant Transmitting-Antenna, tuned to a specific frequency.
Otherwise, a coat-hanger might work.

The problem with a "Broad-Band" Antenna
is that the Receiver must be able to filter-out everything else,
and there will be a ton of trash to filter-out,
some of which may overload the Front-End of the Receiver,
masking, or even obliterating, the signal that you want to hear.

A tuned-Antenna will not be as sensitive to ~99% of that unwanted Noise.
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