SESKStuff Everyone Should Know
SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/hamg-g9b03

What best describes the radiation pattern of a quarter-wave ground-plane vertical antenna?

Omnidirectional in azimuth.

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  1. Bi-directional in azimuth
  2. Isotropic
  3. Omnidirectional in azimuth ✔

Why: A quarter-wave ground-plane vertical radiates equally in every compass direction, which is omnidirectional in azimuth. A dipole in free space, in contrast, has a figure-eight pattern.

Huh, didn't know that: The radial wires of a ground-mounted vertical go on the surface or buried a few inches below the ground.

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You know you're a ham when you rototill the back yard and remember you forgot to remove the radials.
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References

Answer: Omnidirectional in azimuth. A quarter-wave ground-plane vertical radiates equally in every compass direction, which is omnidirectional in azimuth. A dipole in free space, in contrast, has a figure-eight pattern.

  1. NCVEC 2023-2027 General Class Pool and Syllabus (6th Errata, Feb 4 2026) ncvec.org/downloads/General%20Class%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%202023-2027%20Public%20Release%20with%206th%20Errata%20Feb%204%202026.pdf
    D. Omnidirectional in azimuth
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. NCVEC 2023-2027 General Class Pool and Syllabus (6th Errata, Feb 4 2026) ncvec.org/downloads/General%20Class%20Pool%20and%20Syllabus%202023-2027%20Public%20Release%20with%206th%20Errata%20Feb%204%202026.pdf
    On the surface or buried a few inches below the ground
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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