SkyTracer: Shorted Active Capacitive Loaded Dipole for 160-6M

Listen to our SDRs

Included:

• SkyTracer 160-40M (50cm dipole legs with 15cm capacitive disks at the ends)
• Stainless Steel (RVS316) Mounting Bracket
• Bias-T 13.8V F-Type to SMA
• Short SMA to BNC Cable
• 10M INTSAT-170-ELITE 75Ω coax cable with 2 F-Type Connectors

Optional:

• RVS Ground Peg (including F connector bulkhead) and RX RF Line Isolator
• Maxi version: Wider design with 1m dipole legs, loses capacitive loading for higher frequencies, 40-10M Band
  

Description

The SkyTracer is a precision-engineered active shorted dipole with two capactive hats to enhance low band reception. It has deep nulls (like a loop antenne) and can be highly directional depending of the radiation angle of the received signals. 

Designed and refined by RF.Guru, it delivers outstanding performance from 500 kHz up to 150 MHz. Whether you're listening to amateur radio traffic, shortwave broadcasts, or experimenting with HF propagation, the SkyTracer offers unmatched sensitivity and signal clarity.

Key Features

• Wideband Coverage: 500 kHz to 150 MHz reception range
• Optimized Versions:
  • Standard SkyTracer: Covers 160M to 10M amateur bands
  • SkyTracer MAXI: Optimized for 40M to 10M bands
• High sensitivity with a whopping +46 dBm IOP3!
• High immunity to non-linear distortion
• Horizontally polarized
  
• Excellent common mode rejection
  
• Build in RF Limiter (can work with QRO antenna nearby (min 8m distance))
• Low Noise Amplification: Based on a carefully optimized amplifier topology
• Precision Manufacturing: Developed by RF.Guru with a strong focus on build quality and RF excellence

Deep Null

Standard Version (160M-10M)

• HF 1-10 MHz NVIS
• HF 14-30 MHz DX (Slightly less gain than the long version in the 20 MHz - 30 MHz region)
• VHF DX

Best height is 5-6 meters — for NVIS + mid-angle signals from 1–30 MHz, especially 1–14 MHz.

Long version (40M-10M)

• HF 7-10 MHZ NVIS
• 10-30 Mhz DX (Offers a bit more gain than the standard version.)

Best DX height is 6–8 meters — not too high, but enough to lower the main lobes away from the zenith and start catching DX angles effectively.

Applications

• Amateur radio reception (160M–10M)
• Shortwave broadcast monitoring
• HF propagation studies
• Field and portable radio setups
• University and educational experiments

Design Philosophy SkyTracer was developed from the ground up to meet the demands of hobbyists and professionals who require performance in the HF spectrum. Every component and stage of the signal chain has been carefully selected to minimize noise and distortion.

Installation & Use SkyTracer is designed for simplicity. Mount the active head on a  mast, connect the coaxial feedline, and power it using the included bias-T. The antenna is optimized for heights between 5 and 25 meters, depending on your frequency of interest. It works exceptionally well in both rural and urban environments.

RF.Guru Expertise Backed by the same minds who brought you the TerraBooster, EchoTracer, OctaLoop and VerticalVortex, the SkyTracer reflects RF.Guru's commitment to innovation in active antenna technology.