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Which antenna type is sometimes called a rubber duck because of its shape and appearance?
The rubber ducky antenna (or rubber duck aerial) is an electrically short monopole antenna that functions somewhat like a base-loaded whip antenna. Rubber ducky antenna is a form of normal-mode helical antenna.
What is the point of a rubber duck?
It may be made of rubber or rubber-like material such as vinyl plastic. Rubber ducks were invented in the late 1800s when it became possible to more easily shape rubber, and are believed to improve developmental skills in children during water play.
What kind of antenna is a rubber ducky?
The design of some Rubber Ducky Antennas is quite different from the original design. One type uses a spring only for support. The spring has an electrical short across it. The antenna is therefore electrically, a linear element antenna.
Which is better a quarter wave whip or a rubber ducky?
Like other electrically short antennas the rubber ducky has poorer performance (less gain) due to losses and thus considerably less gain than a quarter-wave whip. However it has somewhat better performance than an equal length base loaded antenna.
How to build a rubber ducky radio stack?
The enclosure is made from PLA plastic. Other then a ground place the diameter of the enclosure it will be in free space. There is a AC power cable running out of the top of the enclosure. The receiver circuit board is inside the volume. The direction of the signals will be horizontal.
Where does the term rubber duck come from?
The “rubber duck” comes from the fact that these helices are often sealed in rubbery stuff to keep the shape intact and the water out. Monopole, GP (ground plane), and quarter wave antenna all refer to the same basic idea of replacing the other hand of a dipole antenna with a ground plane.