monoband

Monoband refers to a type of amateur radio antenna designed to operate efficiently on a single frequency band. Unlike multiband antennas, which are designed to work on multiple amateur radio bands, a monoband antenna is specifically tuned for optimal performance within a narrow frequency range. This specialization often leads to higher efficiency and better gain on that particular band compared to a multiband antenna operating on the same frequency.

The construction of monoband antennas varies greatly depending on the band and desired radiation pattern. Common examples include simple dipoles, Yagi-Uda antennas, and vertical antennas. For instance, a monoband dipole for the 20-meter band will have a specific length that resonates with the 14 MHz frequency. The trade-off for this optimized performance is the inability to operate on other amateur radio bands without changing antennas. Many amateur radio operators choose monoband antennas when a particular band is of primary interest, or when maximizing performance on a specific band is crucial for their operating goals, such as contesting or DXing.