General exam question G9B09
Subelement G9, ANTENNAS AND FEED LINES· Group G9B
Which of the following is an advantage of using a horizontally polarized as compared to a vertically polarized HF antenna?
- A.Lower ground losses (correct answer)
- B.Lower feed point impedance
- C.Shorter radials
- D.Lower radiation resistance
WhyAn advantage of a horizontally polarized HF antenna over a vertically polarized one is lower ground losses. A horizontally polarized antenna's radiation and nearby ground currents interact with the earth differently than a vertical's do, generally suffering lower ground-loss penalties than a vertical antenna, which depends on a good ground or radial system to perform well, answer A. Horizontal polarization doesn't inherently lower feed point impedance, doesn't shorten radial requirements (radials are primarily a vertical-antenna concern), and doesn't lower radiation resistance, so B, C, and D are wrong.
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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