Amateur Radio Radome Shell Antennas

YES OR NO

One of the adverse effects of Radome antennas is performance degradation when a Radome antenna operates in the presence of water, ice, or snow. The presence of water, ice, or snow on the skin of the Radome shell will result in adverse affects on antenna performance (i.e. SWR/Impedance issues/RF Radiation).There have been numerous lengthy papers written on this subject.

Personally I never liked Radome antennas, especially the way they are constructed in Japan or China. Crimped element joints and using foam to maintain center of the radiating elements really sucks and can, and usually results in degradation of antenna performance over time. The crimp joints loosen from repeated antenna movement in the wind and corrosion develops at loose joints, the joints are not silver soldered, the sponge used to maintain center of the radiating elements absorbs moisture all of which contributes to degradation of antenna performance over time.

The Radome itself presents problematic issues resulting in performance degradation in the presence of water, ice, or snow on the skin of the Radome.

It’s a reasonably decent antenna as long as it’s used in a “DRY CLIMATE” like the southwest desert country, but definitely not suitable for any climate where it can be subjected to water, ice, or snow. Even in desert country temperature differentials can swing as much as 50 degrees or more between day and night, moisture can develop both on the inside and outside of the antenna Radome shell, including moisture to accumulate in the element centering foam spacers, this can all lead to antenna degradation issues.

When Hustler switched their 70cm vertical antennas from aluminum to a Radome shell and opted to have their Radome antennas constructed in Japan or China, performance issues started to surface. Over my 43 years of experience I have learned that antennas utilizing a Radome shell are a poor investment and I always recommend avoiding them for any antenna installation.

One method to prevent moisture from developing inside the Radome shell is to pressurize it with dry nitrogen, this is however a costly investment and does nothing for water, ice, or snow developing on the outside skin of the Radome shell.

The antenna that is most immune to any adverse affect is the "verticle folded dipole". I recommend the all aluminum constructed folded dipole antenna (VHF/UHF, yes they are somewhat costly, but if you add up all the antennas you install over many years it all works out about the same, plus instead of repeated antenna change outs, do it right the first time , it will save you time, work, and money.