Choosing the Right Greyline: A 12' to 28' Performance Guide

From 12' to 28', each of our antennas is a top performer. This guide breaks down the performance plots and ideal use-cases for each model to help you find the perfect fit for your station.

One of the most common questions we get is, "Which antenna height is best for me?" The answer depends on your state or HOA height restrictions, your goals, and primary bands of interest. This guide provides the data you need to choose with confidence. While taller is often better for low-band performance to a point, the higher bands can be lost to higher angles where the RF goes straight up the pole. That's not good. Our RF design and menu of height-selections are carefully selected to enhance the ham bands for most small lots and HOA environments. You'll see that even our most compact models are formidable DX antennas. 

Performance by Height: Radiation Plots 

Below are the modeled radiation patterns for our core antenna sizes. Pay close attention to the takeoff angle and gain (depth of signal penetration) on your favorite bands. With more height (to a point) the gain increases as the signal focuses more on the horizon - this is great for low angle DX!

          Upper Left: 20' VDA                                      Upper Right: 28' VDA          
          Lower Left: 16' VDA                                       Lower Right: 12' VDA

Notes: See the difference between the 28' and the 12' (right column). The signal lobe is lower and travels deeper into the horizon but 80M holds it's own and still radiates well with our 12' model. The differences are incrementally small so choose your preferred height with DX confidence.

Most folks will see little to no difference interchanging between a 20' and 24' VDA antenna, for example. That said, some seasoned radio operators have reported seeing a "night and day" difference. On paper, it doesn't add up but in real-world feedback, the extra 4' can make a difference. In any case, the added length is meant to make life easier for the ever-popular, lower-cost ATU matching networks on the lower bands, such as 80-160M. It helps.

At-a-Glance Comparison

| Model | Height | Key Strengths | Ideal For

| 12'      | 12 ft     | Ultimate stealth, solid 20-6M performance | Extreme HOA restrictions, POTA, small lots. Will radiate 160-6M coverage.

| 16'      | 16 ft     | Excellent DX on 40-6M | HOA lots, coastal areas, all-around DXing. 160-6M

| 20'      | 20 ft    | The "sweet spot," powerful on 80-6M | The most popular choice for performance & aesthetics. 160-6M coverage.

| 24'      | 24 ft    | Enhanced 30-40-60M performance, a DX powerhouse | Operators wanting an edge on low bands without a huge footprint. 160-6M coverage. 

| 28'      | 28 ft    | The ultimate low-band HOA Flagpole Antenna, coverage of 160-6M | Enhances the low bands without losing the magic 10M pattern.

*Bonus: Add our 9' Whip to any of these for 1 - 3.5 dBi gain! Stealth free-standing up to 37' is possible in this combo for the full-size 40M DX'ers.

 
Conclusion: Performance at Every Height 

You can be certain that our entire line up from 12-28' antennas do radiate on 160-6M. The lower bands desire longer antennas and the higher bands, shorter. Our curated menu of antenna heights take into account the popular desire for a true multi-band antenna system which maintains the integrity of the 10M pattern for DX. Choose the longest one you can and be happy with your selection. 

Whether you need maximum stealth or maximum signal, there is a Greyline antenna engineered for your QTH. Each model is built on the same efficient VDA core, ensuring you get a powerful signal on the air.