POTA PERformer
About
The POTA PERformer (Portable, Elevated, Resonant), designed by Greg Mihran KJ6ER, features an elevated quarter-wave design with two raised radials.
With raised linked radials is a refined portable vertical antenna system designed to improve efficiency and simplify band changes during POTA activations or field operations. Instead of laying radials directly on the ground, the raised radial system elevates them slightly above ground level, which can reduce ground losses and improve radiation efficiency. The “linked” design allows operators to quickly change bands by clipping or unclipping sections of the radial wires, effectively adjusting their electrical length without needing an antenna tuner in some configurations. Paired with a telescoping whip and matching transformer, this setup offers fast deployment, cleaner tuning, and stronger signal performance—making it especially attractive for activators who want reliable multiband operation with minimal setup time in the field.
Specifications
The POTA PERformer antenna provides a maximum gain of approximately 0.3–0.5 dBi with radials arranged at 90° or 180°.
- 90° Radials: Provide 3–4 dB (up to 8 dB in some reports) front-to-back ratio for mild directionality.
- 180° Radials: Provide a more omnidirectional pattern.
- Efficiency: The elevated, resonant design ensures >90% efficiency.
Key Performance Factors:
- Radiation Angle: Features a low radiation angle (approx. 12°–15°) ideal for DX.
- Directionality: The 90-degree configuration offers roughly
-12 dB or up to 2 S-units of directivity. - Mounting: The elevated, resonant, and tuned nature of the radials reduces near-field ground losses.
Build Your Own
You can find the design and how to on several websites: