The VHF (Very High Frequency) range is 30 MHz to 300 MHz. Use this calculator to find the dimensions of a Dipole antenna designed to operate at this frequency range.
A half-wave dipole antenna is comprised of two quarter-wavelength conductors placed end to end [1].
This calculator gives the length of a half wave dipole antenna. Enter the Frequency and the tool will compute the antenna length (L).
Example Calculation
At a frequency of operation 200 MHz. The dipole length (L) is 28.1 inches or 0.71 meters.
Formula
The total length (L) of the dipole antenna is calculated as:
L = 468 / f
where f is the frequency in MHz.
f is calculated from the wavelength.
The length of each arm of the dipole
l = L/2
Background Information
Frequency Range
The VHF (Very High Frequency) communications band extends from 30 MHz to 300 MHz. It sits between the HF and UHF frequency ranges.
The wavelength varies between 1 meter and 10 meters. (using the frequency to wavelength calculator).
Applications
The VHF band is primarily used for voice communications, but can also be used for low data rate communications. It is widely used for various applications, including local and regional communication, emergency services, and even satellite communication. Many handheld radios and mobile transceivers are designed to operate at VHF frequencies, making it accessible and versatile for amateur radio enthusiasts.
Range
Depending on the mode of propagation a VHF transmission can reach thousands of kilometers.
Modulation Formats
The most common mode of communication at VHF is FM (Frequency Modulation), which is used for voice transmissions. However, other modes such as SSB (Single Sideband) and CW (Continuous Wave) are also utilized by operators.