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antenna boom question

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arkieguide

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For my 3 element aluminum CB antenna. - Must the boom be aluminum ? Are at least is it the best ?
Also what is the best wire to connect 1 to 1 balun to the elements ? Thanks to all the help you expert guys, are giving me.
 

JayMojave

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Hello A+9: Aluminum Tubing such as 6061 T6 will work very well for a Boom on a small short antenna as a 3 element Yagi Beam Antenna. I would use 1 1/2 inch to 2 inch diameter with a .058 inch wall thickness or heavier.

https://www.dxengineering.com/

The wiring from the Balun to the elements I would use part number 544 or 545, FLEXWEAVE™ 14 AWG with Black, Army Green, or Clear ultra violet resistant, very flexible PVC jacket. Break strength 143 lbs.

https://thewireman.com/antennap.html

Click the description under "Antenna Materials".

Good Luck.

Jay in the Great Mojave Desert
 

arkieguide

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PRC guy - It is an antenna I am building. 3 elements of aluminum, 10' boom, 40' mast of galv. pipe,
JayMojave - thanks
 

prcguy

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Ok, aluminum as mentioned is typical and DX Engineering is one of the better places to get it if you don't have a local supplier. Boom material also depends on how you are making the Yagi and if the elements will be insulated from the boom, grounded to it, etc. For a short boom you can use a length of Unistrut or whatever you want but if the elements ground or pass through a metal boom or are insulated from the boom, the element lengths will be a little different for each type.

10ft is a pretty short boom for a 3 element Yagi at 27MHz. The gain of a Yagi is not how many elements it has but how long the boom is with the right amount and properly spaced elements for that particular boom length. Are you copying another antenna design or using a Yagi calculator program?



PRC guy - It is an antenna I am building. 3 elements of aluminum, 10' boom, 40' mast of galv. pipe,
JayMojave - thanks
 

arkieguide

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It is a design I found on the web - however it is very close to what the yagi calculator comes up with.
R = 18.333 - DE = 16' - D + 15' and boom = 10'
calculator has R= 18.888 - DE = 17.40 - D= 15.74

Thanks for your help/
 

prcguy

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Is that for all elements attached and grounded to the boom or insulated? How are you going to match the driven element? I find one of the best and easier ways to match the driven element is insulate it into two halves then feed it with a 1:1 choke balun and use a hairpin match across the feedpoint. Its quick easy and will handle almost unlimited power.

It is a design I found on the web - however it is very close to what the yagi calculator comes up with.
R = 18.333 - DE = 16' - D + 15' and boom = 10'
calculator has R= 18.888 - DE = 17.40 - D= 15.74

Thanks for your help/
 

arkieguide

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Aug 19, 2017
Messages
63
Location
Arkansas
. prcguy
elements attached to the boom - DE split with a 2" space between them using a fiberglass rod - connected to co-ax with a 1-1 balun - bought.on line.
Question ? should the DE both ends be attached to the boom ? are would that do away with the 2 " separation? I had planned to attached the DE by UBOLT at the fiberglass separation. Thanks.
 
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