ELPA 302A

Eyring Low Profile Antenna (ELPA) is a unique HF antenna designed for the military, specifically for reliable communications without visually disclosing the radio position. Considered an excellent antenna for amateur radio and tactical/emergency HF communications. It is a "Ground Cooperative", broadband, HF, Traveling wave antenna requiring no tuner, tower or support structure for operation.

Whether on the battlefield or in your own backyard, the ELPA won't give away your position. Regardless of whether the enemy shoots bullets or cities local covenant restrictions, you can stay on the air with the ELPA. As a matter of fact you can prevent a war by using the ELPA. Since the ELPA does not require any supporting structure you will not be in violation of covenants restricting the "erection" of antennas. Mybe your neighbor will even let you run an antenna element into his flower garden. If you live in an apartment or RV park, you can temporarily deploy the ELPA (rol it on the ground), make your contact, and then retrieve it. Typical setup time is 5 minutes for the on the ground "H" configuration.

With its vertical, 160 degree, "fan" beam elevation pattern, the ELPA handles both DX and local NVIS communications. The ELPA is consistent in its vertical beam elevation pattern versus frequency accepting skywave signals over a large angle. This helps to minimize long path fading.

The technology deployed by the Eyring Communications division of Eyring Inc for a nuclear blast survivable, underground antenna. Over $800,000 were spent on this antenna program. When it became evident that this technology would meet the need for a low profile antenna for tactical military operations. Eyring developed the model 302A ELPA. During operation Desert Storm. the 302A was the HF antenna of choice by Long Range Surveillance Detatchements positioned in the barren desert inside Iraq. Any other type of antenna would have given away their position. Although the antenna is not designed to be buried, the dry desert samd allowed the antenna to be buried several inches without significantly degrading its performance. Normally the antenna is deployed on top of the ground or 2 feet above the ground.

Related Files

Operations Manual

Operations Manual for the

302A

Eyring Low Profile Antenna

September 1990