An omni-directional antenna includes an electrically conductive ground
plane, an electrically conductive parasitic disc spaced upwardly apart
from the ground plane and parallel thereto, and an electrically
conductive vertical antenna element extending up through the center of
the ground plane and parasitic disc, The vertical element terminates in a
tip defining a length above the parasitic disc that is matched to a
frequency of interest. The parasitic disc and ground plane are preferably
both circular. To prevent electrical connection, the vertical element
preferably extends through separate insulators in the parasitic disc and
ground plane. The length of the vertical element is matched to a
microwave frequency; in particular, the length of the vertical element is
proportioned to one-quarter wavelength of the frequency of interest. The
invention is particularly suited to microwave frequencies.