General exam question G4E02
Subelement G4, AMATEUR RADIO PRACTICES· Group G4E
What is the purpose of a corona ball on an HF mobile antenna?
- A.To narrow the operating bandwidth of the antenna
- B.To increase the “Q” of the antenna
- C.To reduce the chance of damage if the antenna should strike an object
- D.To reduce RF voltage discharge from the tip of the antenna while transmitting (correct answer)
WhyA corona ball on an HF mobile antenna reduces RF voltage discharge from the tip of the antenna while transmitting. A corona ball is a smooth, rounded metal ball placed at the tip of an HF mobile antenna to spread out the intense electric field that would otherwise concentrate at a sharp point during transmit, reducing RF voltage discharge (corona) from the tip, answer D. It doesn't narrow bandwidth, doesn't raise the antenna's Q, and while a rounded tip is somewhat safer on impact, that isn't its electrical purpose.
Published 2026-08-28 · Last updated 2026-08-28 · Question text is verbatim from the 2023-2027 NCVEC Element 3 pool (public domain); the explanation above is original writing, see our methodology.
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