For decades, the gold standard has been the free utility by A.C. Legere (AC5EK) called the Moxon Antenna Project or online calculators like k7mem.com . You input your desired frequency (e.g., 14.150 MHz), wire diameter, and it outputs:
Pro Tip: When building from a PDF, ensure the document includes at least two of these three tuning aids:
You have the theory, but you need the blueprint. A simple Google search often returns broken links or outdated calculations. Here is where to find legitimate, tested PDF resources:
Warning: Avoid PDFs that require you to pay $19.99 for "secret blueprints." The Moxon is open-source hardware. The math is public. Anyone selling a single PDF is likely just repackaging Les Moxon's 1982 RSGB article.
| Parameter | Value (wire dia. ≈2 mm) | |---------------------|--------------------------| | Driven element A | 10.20 m (33.5 ft) | | Reflector element B | 10.65 m (34.9 ft) | | Element spacing | 2.38 m (7.8 ft) | | Wire gauge | 14 AWG (1.6 mm) copper | | Feedpoint Z | 50–65 Ω | | Boom length | 2.38 m (minimal) |
(Cut lengths are approximate — always trim for lowest SWR at your desired frequency.)
The Moxon rectangle is a two-element parasitic array that offers:
Because of these traits, it works well in:
Hence the phrase “for all locations” — from crowded urban homes to remote summits.
Even in a "good" location, a Moxon will be slightly detuned by nearby metal or wet wood. Here is the 30-minute tuning process from the PDF manuals:
By James Miller, K6JM – Amateur Radio Enthusiast & Antenna Designer
For decades, the dream of every amateur radio operator has been the same: to work the world on the HF bands from any location. Whether you live on a sprawling rural acreage, a suburban postage-stamp lot, or a high-rise apartment with a restrictive HOA, the laws of physics have always posed the same challenge—how do you fit a full-sized, high-gain, low-noise antenna into a tiny footprint?
Enter the unsung hero of compact directional antennas: the Moxon rectangle.
If you are searching for a single resource that combines theory, practical construction, and location-specific solutions, you’ve likely been looking for a comprehensive "HF Antennas for All Locations Moxon PDF" . In this article, we will explore why the Moxon design is the Swiss Army knife of HF antennas, how to adapt it to any QTH (from dense city centers to remote field operations), and where to find (or how to create) the definitive PDF guide that belongs in every shack.
The Moxon is a balanced antenna. If you feed it directly with 50-ohm coax and the antenna is perfectly symmetrical, you may get away without a balun. However, for all locations except perfectly free-space, use a 1:1 current balun (common mode choke) at the feedpoint to prevent the coax from becoming part of the antenna. A stack of 31 ferrite beads over RG-400 is your best friend.
Unlike a Yagi, which needs a long boom to achieve spacing for gain, the Moxon achieves phase shift through clever geometry. This compactness unlocks three universal benefits: