BACKGROUND NVIS = Near Vertical Incidence Sky wave propagation - - PDF document

BACKGROUND

NVIS = Near Vertical Incidence Sky wave propagation provides local & regional coverage

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the lower HF Bands. NVIS is not a specially designed antenna but adapting existing antennas to a NVIS configuration. In essence, it's how you mount a standard antenna. Key issue is: High take-off angle for the antenna's

• signal. High take-off

angles

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antenna means the

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skip distance will be a shorter horizontal distance. "NVIS gained recognition during the Vietnam War and later in the Balkans, when soldiers started to use it for communicating in challenging terrain." From QST Dec. 2005, page 38 Dean Straw N6BV.

The standard strategy for mounting antennas is for the longest distance (DX) and so NVIS is out of the ordinary thinking.

WHY USE NVIS?

To connect with localized stations from about 1 mile to 300 miles out.

Note: Ground waves are typically good for less than 25 miles

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depending

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what is in between the two stations. Area Hunters and Fishermen have a difficult time calling home.

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It is too far from home for 2 meters and too short for HF . Or, there is a mountain between the two antennas (camp & Home)

NVIS nearly vertical propagation means its penetration

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high absorption D - layer is a millimal distance and therefore minjrnallosses. This is as apposed to a 30 degree penetration

• r long

diagonal penetration.

NVIS antenna configurations, horizontally polarized and mounted low to the ground, has less noise (SNR).

NVIS ANTENNA CONFIGURATIONS

Horizontally polarized dipoles, long wires, etc. are the easiest to mount low to the ground and therefore have high take-off angles. Screw Driver/Ham Sticks/Typical Verticals must be mounted in some kind

• f a horizontal

configuration

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are a poor NVIS antenna because

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their low take-off angle. Mount inverted "V" dipoles (80/40M) about 20 feet above the ground with the ends about 8 feet above the ground for safety*. Mount flat top dipoles (80/40M) about 10- 5 feet above

the ground*.

Horizontal antennas mounted lower than 10 feet above the ground* will work but the earth starts absorbing part

• f your signal. Antenna

efficiency starts to diminish. SNR isn't reduced enough to offset the loss in efficiencies. NEC software plots showed that at ten feet, the radiation pattern closely resembled a round ball sliced in half. Typically use 80 meters at night. Typically use 40 meters during daylight hours, * Protect

people from low mounted antennas from RF bums durin~ transmittin~.

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NVIS REFERENCE MATERIALS

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www.co.missoula.mt.us/acs/acs/prop.htm www.wOipl.com/ecom/nvis/nvis.htm ARRL 's web page and search NVIS Antennas Google Search "NVIS Antennas Etc., Etc.

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