I recently made my very first antenna, a ground-plane from the On the Air magazine. I used my NanoVNA to test the SWR. This was my first time using a NanoVNA or testing SWR for that matter. I tested my antenna and it had a pretty good SWR ratio, about 2:1. Just to tinker I also hooked the NanoVNA up to my handheld's rubber duck antenna. Its SWR reading was really odd, 17:1! Then I tested my other HT antenna to it, one that is a bit better than a rubber duck. Its SWR was 7:1. Can someone explain why these antennas work if the SWR is so off? Or maybe I'm not understanding the reading. I did calibrate the NanoVNA before starting. Any insight is appreciated. 

Handheld antennas rely on the handheld chassis itself for a groundplane.  If you're just connecting the handheld antenna to the end of a piece of coax or onto the analyzer itself it's going to be a different size and shape groundplane than the antenna was designed to work with on a radio.  Even mounted on a handheld, the groundplane is a bit "dynamic", meaning just holding the radio and the proximity of it to other conductors (along with your head while you talk into it) will drastically change the operating environment of the antenna.  So take SWR readings of handheld antennas with a grain of salt, you're never going to get a "pretty" reading from them unless you use a consistent test platform to verify them with.  I use a small magnetic base on top of a steel filing cabinet to test mine with, and while that's not "typical" it does provide a repeatable test that easily and quickly reveals the resonant points of the antenna (single or multiband) and from there I can decide if it's working or not.  After that, when it's on the radio you get what you get.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

Anne,  Great job!  Antennas are a neat speciality.

Hi Anne,

You raise some interesting points. First- let me congratulate you for increasing your skills by project building. I learn best, as many adults do, by a “hands on” approach.

I noticed early on that the “rubber ducky”* antenna was wanting in the efficiency department. By pure happenstance I had an HT, tuned to our club repeater, sitting next to my base (which was on the same channel). I heard traffic on my base, and yet the HT squelch never broke. 

My Elmer suggested I add a piece of wire as a counterpoise. It did help, but it was awkward just dangling there, and the radio still didn’t receive as well as a mobile or base. 

Perhaps if you remain interested in the topic you may be the person who creates a new HT antenna that will usher in an improved, and exciting era for “Walkie Talkies!”

(*)- The short HT rubber antenna was named the “Rubber Ducky” by then President John F. Kennedy’s daughter when the observed a secret service agent using one.