Ham Radio General Class Practice Test

Approximately how long is each side of a quad antenna driven element?

1. 1/4 wavelength

2. 1/2 wavelength

3. 3/4 wavelength

4. 1 wavelength

The correct answer is: 1/4 wavelength

The driven element of a quad antenna is generally designed to have a length of approximately 1/4 wavelength. This configuration is based on the antenna's efficiency and performance characteristics. By using a driven element that is a quarter wavelength long, the antenna achieves a resonance point at the desired frequency, resulting in a more effective radiation pattern and better impedance matching when connected to a transmission line. A quad antenna typically consists of four elements arranged in a loop, and the driven element acts as the primary element that is fed with the RF signal. The design inherently takes advantage of the properties of quarter-wavelength elements, making it less susceptible to reactance and ensuring optimal transmit and receive capabilities. Understanding how the length of the driven element corresponds to wavelength enables amateur radio operators to design and build effective antennas for their frequency of interest, ensuring maximum performance in their communications.