Axial mode helical antennas

The radiation characteristics of helical antennas operating in the axial mode are evaluated on the basis of the theoretical current distributions and are verified by experimental work. A comparison between monofilar helix and bifilar helix antennas is made, and a helical antenna with a parasitic helix (HAP) is proposed in order to enhance the power gain. It is found that the gain of the HAP in which the parasitic helix is wound from a point diametrically opposite to that of one and one-half turns of the driven helix is about 1 dB higher than that of the monofilar helix. The ratio of the frequency band in which the HAP radiates a circularly polarized wave within an axial ratio of 3 dB is calculated to be 1:1.8.