compact ANTENNAS
small Powerful Antennas for
Ham Radio LMR – Land Mobile Radio (coverage includes GMRS) Scanner
Patented Technology – Quality Machining & Skillfully Hand-Crafted
Each Antenna manufactured is Precisely Tested/Tuned before shipment.
MADE IN THE USA
Generally, best performance of a mobile antenna is achieved with location at the top of the vehicle.
Long antennas can be unsightly and often do not allow travel into garages, beneath underpasses,
and standard technology short antennas have significantly decreased performance and bandwidth.
The short yet powerful COMPACtenna is designed for best results (SWR, Performance) at an upper corner of a vehicle.
QST (ARRL) August, 2022: 
“This COMPACtenna Invention by Dr. Jack Nilsson is the first real new development in antenna communication design since Marconi/Tesla,
a paradigm shift in thinking that works amazingly well.”
Dr. Marcus Durham, PhD Electronics Engineering, Life Fellow IEEE
NMOD, Amateur Extra
Product Listing follows some beneficial information
“…consistently strong signal …while he drove all the way to Rancho Santa Margarita, through areas that would otherwise produce marginal signals with a more common antenna. …
Resulting diverse effective electromagnetic fields are claimed to mitigate signal drops, reduce flutter, and increase reliable range, which Randy has confirmed.”
Newsletter Article – COMPACtenna Study – County of Orange, CA Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
Appreciation: County of Orange, CA Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service – Ken Bourne, W6HK, OCRACES Chief Radio Officer, Randy Benicky, N6PRL
COMPACtenna Reduces Flutter Even in Underground Tunnels – a 1 minute YouTube Shorts
The 2018 Dayton International Hamvention – New product Showcase 5 minute Presentation, YouTube Link
COMPACtenna Quanta – Near & Far Fields – 1 Hr. Talk, then 20 minute Q&A – Conejo Valley (CA) Amateur Radio Club 1.20.22 – YouTube Link
Patented COMPACtenna Revolutionary Design – small yet Powerful
With a special design construct of spiraled and cylindrical metal sheeting including ‘extended flat monofilar spiral Tesla-like coils’,
all resistance, inductance and capacitance (matching) is efficiently done by the physical metallic geometric form of the antenna itself,
as opposed to internal or external (lossy) components of other designs.
“Magnetic Field Resonator”: This built-in resonating matching system is an effectual component of the electromagnetic E & H fields
production, resulting in better performance than expected for such a small antenna.
With a particularly strong magnetic near field, proximity noise is reduced.
And resulting diverse effective electromagnetic fields (elliptical polarization and phase diversity) as well as broad elevation coordinate
signal pattern provides stabilized signals in our common Non-Line of Sight environments, with temperature and humidity inversion
pathways & tropospheric propagation, and satellite communications, further enhancing performance
in our world of (dynamic) obstructions, mitigating signal drops, reducing flutter, and increasing reliable range.
And the 9″ Models of COMPACtenna Dominate long standard technology antennas even in Line-Of-Sight Long Range Communications.
KK4SBS
7.5″ model 2M/220/440
Not sure what sort of … magic wizardry you’ve pulled off here but the performance of the 70cm/1.25m/2m tri-band
COMPACtenna is absolutely phenomenal!
The performance on all three bands, right out of the box, has been nothing short of incredible.
I had been running a B-10NMO (70cm/2m & 12″ tall).
Since switching to the COMPACtenna, I am now receiving reports of full quieting on repeaters that I previously struggled to even Rx at ~S5.
I’m now able to Rx those same machines at S8-S9+ with no issues and to my shock with no trouble on Rx/Tx in the areas I used to struggle.
So thank you for engineering such an awesome product. …
N3JHU – VHF/UHF Long Range Enthusiast
[below from QRZ.com public info.]
124 MILES !
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
RF noise (EMI) that can be generated by increasingly popular electric vehicles can lead to problems (EMC) with receivers and transceivers.
The COMPACtenna with its beneficial balance of substantial electric and magnetic components in the Near Field
(and field-photon synergistic harmonious summation resulting in a powerful EM Far Field)
has the potential to mitigate such interference.
Danny Harber, KI5EXY, active in the Montgomery County, Texas area FEMA, Search & Rescue, and ARES communications found this
to be another important benefit of COMPACtenna:
On my Tesla vehicle, I have been testing various antennas including long high gain VHF/UHF ones.
There is a noise problem when driving as well as when parked in the ‘On’ mode,
even with the repeater only 8 miles from my location.
The COMPACtenna does not have that issue.
LAND MOBILE RADIO – Government & Commercial Communications
COMPACtenna: model LMR-I
[below from eHam.net]
AF1UD reports on the LMR-I:
I really like it.
I get the same performance that I got out of the Comet CA-2X4SR in 1/4 of the size!
The big thing is that in my area I would always lose VHF reception going down this main road… I no longer lose reception!
BASE STATION
I have been having great success with the COMPACtenna 2M/440+.
Combined with the COMPACtenna Counterpoise, it is the best dual-band antenna I’ve used in a base configuration.
I live in New York City where line of sight is non-existent. I am now hitting repeaters far off into other parts of the city and beyond
at 30 feet elevation with 5-10 watts of power maximum. …
SWR’s on the 2m band barely move the meter, and 70cm SWR’s are less than 1.5:1.
I’ve never been able to achieve those levels with any other dual band antenna I’ve used.
It was also the easiest antenna setup I’ve been through over the last 20 years.
[See model 2M/440+ and CompacCounterpoise information below.]
John & Eileen Whitesell of Oklahoma were using a J-Pole antenna on their porch, but had a high noise floor.
They switched to the COMPACtenna model 2M/440+ on CompacCounterpoise Ground Plane Radial Kit.
The unwanted RF noise went away, and they had much better desired signal even with forest penetration.
COMPACtenna – NO tuning (of antenna structure)
Vehicle
Often allowing passage into garages, drive-thru and below overhangs and branches
Home
For HOA’s, condo’s, apartments, homes
Examples: 7.5″, 9″ models on CompacCounterpoise for attic; inconspicuous (“stealth”) roof installation; on backyard mast/pole
Parks (POTA), Camp Grounds, Field Emergency Deployment
[Follow local building codes including NEC grounding/lightning/etc. and NFPA guidelines.]
[Follow applicable RF-Exposure Regulations.]
[Professional Installation recommended.]
PRODUCTS
Click on model of interest, or scroll down to view all models and valuable information.
Land Mobile Radio
Also covers GMRS, MURS
LMR-I (9″)
Scanner Radio
SCAN-III (9″)
“Ultimate” VHF/UHF Ground Plane Radial Kit
For NMO Mobile Antennas
CompacCounterpoise — CompacCounterpoise-N
Model SCAN-III
Scanner Radio Antenna for NMO mounts
Broad elevation coordinate signal pattern and elliptical polarization of COMPACtenna provides stabilized signals in our common Non Line of Sight environments,
with temperature and humidity inversion pathways as well as tropospheric propagation, and satellite communications.
By Bob Grove, W8JHD “The prediction of signal flutter reduction was true as well;
when annoying flutter interrupted reception of weak signals on the whip,
reception was much smoother with the COMPACtenna.”
Increased Reliable Range in the dynamically obstructed NLOS (Non Line Of Sight) Environment we live in.
***
Mobile: For best performance, mount your COMPACtenna
at/near an upper corner of your vehicle.
See top of this Home Page and ‘INSTALLS’ page.
***
Available at:
Link to COMPACtenna model SCAN-III at DX Engineering
Link to COMPACtenna model SCAN-III at Ham Radio Outlet
Link to COMPACtenna model SCAN-III at Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate
Model 2M/220/440 Tri-Band
Ham Radio 2-Meter + 220 + 440 Bands for NMO mounts
Broad elevation coordinate signal pattern and elliptical polarization of COMPACtenna provides stabilized signals in our common Non Line of Sight environments,
with temperature and humidity inversion pathways as well as tropospheric propagation, and satellite communications.
Scott Roberts, KB3CBC submitted a very well written report:
For one specific case: there is a venerable major manufacturer whose antennas are used by first responders and amateur radio operators (me) for decades. The particular antenna by this manufacturer is used on 2/70 and gave me a benchmark to compare the CompacTenna side by side. In urban, NLOS environments, the CompacTenna beat the 2/70 antenna in every case.
With regards to the magnetic vs electric fields: a fast but inaccurate translation would be to say that this antenna functions as an omnidirectional circularly polarized antenna, and if you didn’t know any better, that’s what you would hear on the radio and see from your reception and transmission reports. It’s a lot more complicated than that and would recommend you review the various YouTube videos Dr. Jack put together to address this topic. Antenna analyzers and plots only give you part of the story, primarily based upon the E-field. It doesn’t show you, directly, what’s happening from the H-field side. Use a spectrum analyzer to compare received signals, though, and you’ll see the difference. The noise floor was reduced by approximately 3db and the signals were more evenly distributed. Signals that were close to the noise floor were observed to have increased by 3-6db, and stronger signals were slightly attenuated. The result is that there was minimal fading and the capability to hear signals that I could not using other manufacturer’s antennas.
Digital Communications – DMR Radio with COMPACtenna Science & Technology (eHam.net):
Thank you, Carlos.
6 Minute Video of Tom Medlin of W5KUB.com Interviewing
Dr. Jack Nilsson Regarding 7″ COMPACtenna Model 2M/220/440 :
– – –
Testimonial:
Our company “Ham and HiFi” purchased a Compactenna 2M/220/440 antenna from HRO recently!
We use the antenna for testing radios we acquire from ” ham radio collections” we purchase from all over the US !
The construction of our shop / warehouse is with foil backed insulation, steel doors and steel roof
which have made using inside antennas a problem …..
But when using the Compactenna I’m now able to connect to repeaters through out the Reno / Sparks area!
Easy to install, easy to use ( no tuning ), wide banded and will handle 85 watts on 2, 50 watts on 220 / 440 !
Best of all a small footprint and it works ! I ordered another for my truck !
Regards, Don W7SSB
HAMandHiFi.com
COMPACtenna Science & Technology – Superior Earth Communications (Land Mobile), Satellite, etc.:
Satellite Communication with COMPACtenna Science & Technology
Summary of comments on Groups.io by Brad Smith, KC9UQR:
Brad Smith, KC9UQR
I use the COMPACtenna model 2M/440.
It is elliptically polarized and a very good satellite antenna.
It does work better than a vertical.
I have tried many antennas, including 1/4, 1/2, and 5/8 wave verticals and an eggbeater.
Dr. Nilsson explained the elliptical polarization.
I am very impressed by this little antenna.
The website is COMPACtenna.com .
There is a lot of info there, including videos by Dr. Nilsson that are informing.
The COMPACtenna is also very good at high elevations/working directly overhead. …there is no “doughnut hole”.
The proof is when you get out into the field and make a contact and I am doing that every day.
By Bob Grove, W8JHD “The prediction of signal flutter reduction was true as well;
when annoying flutter interrupted reception of weak signals on the whip,
reception was much smoother with the COMPACtenna.”
Increased Reliable Range in the dynamically obstructed NLOS (Non Line Of Sight) Environment we live in.
***
Mobile: For best SWR and performance, mount your COMPACtenna
at/near an upper corner of your vehicle.
See top of this Home Page and ‘INSTALLS’ page.
***
Available at:
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/220/440 at DX Engineering
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/220/440 at Ham Radio Outlet
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/220/440 at Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate
Model 2M/440 Dual-Band
Ham Radio 2-Meter + 440 Bands for NMO mounts
Broad elevation coordinate signal pattern and elliptical polarization of COMPACtenna provides stabilized signals in our common Non Line of Sight environments,
with temperature and humidity inversion pathways as well as tropospheric propagation, and satellite communications.
Brad Leeser, KEØLDS North Dakota
Report on COMPACtenna 7” model 2M/440
Dodge Durango
2 meter & 70 cm Bands tested
Analog & Digital
Yaesu – System Fusion – C4FM 4-level FSK
I had been using a ‘tall’ 2 meter/440 Ham Radio antenna on the center of the roof of my Dodge Durango.
But I moved and the new garage has a low clearance that will not allow standard antennas/technology.
It works great around town in Fargo, North Dakota.
I put the antenna on the rear left side of my car as recommended.
I’ve used it on the 2 meter and 70 cm bands
and have done both analog and digital System Fusion transmissions.
So far…two thumbs up.
And I have a four-inch clearance getting into my garage!
[So a ¼ wave 2 meter antenna wouldn’t even fit.]
BTW it was -21 degrees this morning in Fargo. and the antenna worked great!
As a follow up, I completed my 300 mile trip last week
from Fargo, North Dakota to Rochester, Minnesota.
I knew roughly how far the repeaters reached as I traveled along I-94 with my old tall antenna.
I am happy to report that my new 7” COMPACtenna had the same reach to those repeaters
as my old tall antenna.
I was picking up and reaching the repeater as far as 30 and more miles away,
which in hilly Minnesota country is not bad at all.
So, overall, I give the antenna a “two thumbs up”.
I think I made a really good buy.
Brad Leeser
KEØLDS
Non-Line-Of- Sight – Success with COMPACtenna
Simplex – Vehicle to Vehicle
I purchased one of your dual band COMPACtenna’s for my wife’s van.
She has 12 inches of clearance into our garage,
so we had to use a low profile antenna.
This evening, she and I talked on my drive home from work on 2 meter simplex.
We live in north western Michigan in a hilly region.
My wife was parked below the
level of the street that runs past our house.
As you can see in the attached Google Earth map, the hills
are over 200 feet higher in elevation than where my wife was parked.
We were both surprised on
How clear the signal came through.
In the past, we had a difficult time maintaining contact…
Thank you for making the COMPACtenna.
David Bolduc – N8ATP
By Bob Grove, W8JHD “The prediction of signal flutter reduction was true as well;
when annoying flutter interrupted reception of weak signals on the whip,
reception was much smoother with the COMPACtenna.”
Increased Reliable Range in the dynamically obstructed NLOS (Non Line Of Sight) Environment we live in.
***
Mobile: For best SWR and performance, mount your COMPACtenna
at/near an upper corner of your vehicle.
See top of this Home Page and ‘INSTALLS’ page.
***
Available at:
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/440 at DX Engineering
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/440 at Ham Radio Outlet
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/440 at Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate
Model LMR-I Land Mobile Radio
Government and Commercial Communications for NMO mounts
Broad elevation coordinate signal pattern and elliptical polarization of COMPACtenna provides stabilized signals in our common Non Line of Sight environments,
with temperature and humidity inversion pathways as well as tropospheric propagation, and satellite communications.
[below from eHam.net]
‘Motorola Jim’ shares his findings on the Land Mobile Radio -Government Communications- LMR-I (24 minutes)
***
Mobile: For best SWR and performance, mount your COMPACtenna
at/near an upper corner of your vehicle.
See top of this Home Page and ‘INSTALLS’ page.
***
Available at:
Link to COMPACtenna model LMR-I at DX Engineering
Link to COMPACtenna model LMR-I at Ham Radio Outlet
Link to COMPACtenna model LMR-I at Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate
CompacCounterpoise
Sturdy, Optimized Signal (Gain & Elevation Coordinate Pattern)/SWR VHF/UHF Base Station Ground Plane Radial Kit
model: CompacCounterpoise ..for PL-259 terminated coaxial feedline (144-512MHz)
model: CompacCounterpoise-N ..for N-Male terminated coaxial feedline (144-1,000MHz)
For COMPACtenna models (above) 2M/440, 2M/220/440, SCAN-III, LMR-I
also works well with many other NMO VHF/UHF antennas
Broad elevation coordinate signal pattern and elliptical polarization of COMPACtenna
provides stabilized signals in our common Non Line of Sight multi-path environments,
with temperature and humidity inversion pathways as well as tropospheric propagation,
and with satellite communications.
– – –
QST (ARRL) August, 2022: COMPACtenna Model 2M/440+, mobile and on CompacCounterpoise
Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate customer comments on 9″ model 2M/440+ along with the CompacCounterpoise:
I have been having great success with the COMPACtenna 2M/440+. Combined with the COMPACtenna Counterpoise,
it is the best dual-band antenna I’ve used in a base configuration.
I live in New York City where line of sight is non-existent.
I am now hitting repeaters far off into other parts of the city and beyond at 30 feet elevation with 5-10 watts of power maximum. …
SWR’s on the 2m band barely move the meter, and 70cm SWR’s are less than 1.5:1.
I’ve never been able to achieve those levels with any other dual band antenna I’ve used.
It was also the easiest antenna setup I’ve been through over the last 20 years.
***
See ‘INSTALLS’ page.
***
Available at:
Link to model CompacCounterpoise at DX Engineering
Link to model CompacCounterpoise-N at DX Engineering
Link to model CompacCounterpoise at Ham Radio Outlet
Link to model CompacCounterpoise-N at Ham Radio Outlet
Link to model CompacCounterpoise at Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate
Link to model CompacCounterpoise-N at Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate
Model 2M/440+
All the high performance of the 7.5” model 2M/440, PLUS an additional 1.5dB of gain,
and greater power handling capacity.
It is for those where 9″ is allowable/desirable and the operator wants that extra ‘edge’.
Ham Radio 2-Meter + 440 Bands for NMO mounts
Broad elevation coordinate signal pattern and elliptical polarization of COMPACtenna provides stabilized signals in our common Non Line of Sight environments,
with temperature and humidity inversion pathways as well as tropospheric propagation, and satellite communications.
Reduced Flutter and Increased Reliable Range in the Dynamic Obstructed Multi-Path NLOS (Non Line Of Sight) Environment we live in is made possible
by the Diverse Electromagnetic Fields of The Magnetic Field Resonator constructed of ‘extended flat monofilar spiral Tesla-like coils’ + geometric components.
This New Science & Technology 9″ Model can ALSO Dominate Performance of much longer standard antenna technology in Long Range LOS – Line of Sight Communications!
eHam.net:
Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate customer comments on 9″ model 2M/440+ along with the CompacCounterpoise:
I have been having great success with the COMPACtenna 2M/440+. Combined with the COMPACtenna Counterpoise,
it is the best dual-band antenna I’ve used in a base configuration.
I live in New York City where line of sight is non-existent.
I am now hitting repeaters far off into other parts of the city and beyond at 30 feet elevation with 5-10 watts of power maximum. …
SWR’s on the 2m band barely move the meter, and 70cm SWR’s are less than 1.5:1.
I’ve never been able to achieve those levels with any other dual band antenna I’ve used.
It was also the easiest antenna setup I’ve been through over the last 20 years.
Talking THROUGH DIRT – by Dr. Marc (NM0D), Rosemary (KE5CMS) & Brett (KI5TAX)
***
Mobile: For best SWR and performance, mount your COMPACtenna
at/near an upper corner of your vehicle.
See top of this Home Page and ‘INSTALLS’ page.
***
Available at:
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/440+ at DX Engineering
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/440+ at Ham Radio Outlet
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/440+ at Heartland Radio eBay Affiliate
Model 2M/440 microBEAM
A powerful tiny beam directional dual-band antenna that mitigates multipath problems in pervasive obstructed
environments, reducing flutter and increasing multi-station signal stability with elliptical polarization, phase diversity,
and broad spatial signal capture.
A stunning looking antenna – a blend of art & science
that is simple to install, no tuning needed, easy to use.
If buildings, trees, topography are diminishing signals, “Bewilder the Blockage” with this high-tech beam!
Available at:
Link to COMPACtenna model 2M/440 microBEAM at DX Engineering
COMPACtenna 