NVIStar™ HF/NVIS Vehicular Antenna

STAR-H has developed a patent-pending unique high-efficiency, low-profile HF communications antenna suitable for use on tactical operations shelters or large ground vehicles such as the HMMWV or Stryker combat vehicles.  The antenna can also be mounted on ships, fixed equipment shelters or other locations. This antenna is unique in that it's radiation pattern is switchable between NVIS short-range and low-angle long-range communications.  It is intended to provide on the move, zero setup time communications to Army units in combat operations, replacing the 32-foot whip and deployable mast-mounted NVIS dipole antennas which are currently used and which do not function while in motion or require significant setup and tear-down time. 

The antenna is available in two versions, one for radios such as the AN/VRC-100 equipped with internal antenna tuners, and one for radios without.  The antenna has been tested in NVIS and long-range operation and is ready for integration onto vehicles for military and civilian operations.  Mounted on heavy duty spring bases conforming to the standard military antenna mounting pattern, the antenna consists of two heavy gauge aluminum tubular loops.  In the patent-pending design, the antenna responds to contact with overhead obstacles by folding inward, allowing it to safely pass under obstructions without damage to the antenna or the vehicle.

For ALE operation, a rapid-tune version is available that can be controlled by radios with RS-232 band data outputs, or via a signal sampling circuit.

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