antenna basics

[heffer]

I am looking into building a 3-4 element beam antenna. I was wondering if people had some good basic links and materials to use etc. I have some understanding...... but at the moment I would be unsure about building one properly at this point.

 

[zz0468]

Go to the ARRL and order the ARRL Antenna Book. It will take you from nowhere to a solid understanding about antennas, along with providing some practical construction projects.

 

[heffer]

I have looked at some books, still a bit confusing. Does anyone have some pics of a beam they made in series of how it was put together. This would help a lot.

 

[acyddrop]

The DX Engineering Yagi designer is sort of useful. But in all honesty they're not super confusing, talking heads just make them sound confusing... If you want some help or whatever send me a PM and I can give you my Skype info if you like.

 

[ab5r]

Try this URL: Amateur Radio Antenna Projects

73,
Jerry

 

[LtDoc]

I've never made a beam antenna so you have to take this in the way it's offered. There are quite a few variables in making any kind of directional antenna. Speaking about a 'yagi' type beam, the length of each element, the separation between elements, and the @#$ thing's height above ground all play a part in how the son'ova ****** works. Oh lordy, it can get confusing real fast! Very, very basically, the driven element has to be of the 'right' length. Then the spacing between elements has to be 'right'. And then the height above ground get's to stick it's ugly head into the equation (higher is better to a ridiculous extent). Throw all of that into a blender and punch the button and you get a bean antenna. An antenna that uses the distance between elements to 'focus' all that radiation in the 'right' direction. How much it's 'focused' and how much is moved from the backside of the antenna to the front side of the antenna is almost infinitely variable. (Having fun yet?) don't feel bad, everybody is confused to a degree based on what the 'aim' is to start with. Want the 'best' beam possible? Get ready for a lot of changes, tweaking, adjusting those variables till it's what you wanted to start with. The 'average' in those variables is what you will end up with, depending on your patience and "stick to it'ness", if that makes sense. This Sh_ _ is SO much FUN! So, have fun at it.
- 'Doc

Pick a particular design. Make adjustment to it. When it fullfils your requirements... QUIT!

 

[SpectreOZ]

Building an antenna is a learning process in and of itself (and a lot of fun), what band are you intending to use the beam for?

I've built 2 element beams for 27Mhz and 11~15 element (Yagi-Uda) beams for VHF & UHF and use the same basic formula as you can find in most any online tutorial OR calculator, having said that you can alter/tweak the overall design to suit your personal needs for example better front to back ratio means your elements will be spaced slightly closer together albeit at the expense of a little forward gain and vice versa.

 

[heffer]

i am looking to build on the 11 meter band, i run mostly 27.385-27.775 freq. I was just looking to see if there was a plan out there that i could basically duplicate just to try one and see that i can do it, and fiddle with it. I dont see to much out there showing plans on exact materials to use, placement (insulate or not).... etc. I want to play maybe building a 3 or 4 element yagi, or a pdl2 type quad antenna. I see the calculators on how to do this, spacing etc......but this is not my exact fault at the moment. Like is say, materials, sizing of pipe, when and where to insulate elements on the boom.... and gamma match questions (how to make it, size of pipe). I know i sound dumb perhaps, but i am a rookie at this building and need help. I run an antron 99; and i just want to be able to either try something new, perhaps a homebrew antenna that will have better gain and to experience how differently a beam antenna is. I have reasearched a bit on the dipole wire antenna.......... maybe this is a way to go first for me perhaps............ Any concerns on such an antenna out there?? How would it compare to one such as the antron 99... When i see videos of the antronn 99 exposed online, it looks like a very basic wire antenna which makes me wonder; why cant i do this or make a larger omni antenna which is full wave at whatever height it is.....

 

[AgentCOPP1]

Contrary to what a few of the hams said here, tuning an antenna is not always the most pleasurable experience if you know what I'm talking about haha. Sure it's fun to overcome a challenge and I do enjoy it myself, but I've had my share of headaches and various swear words trying to tune my stupid and unruly vertical. I still haven't been able to tune it the way I want to, and the damn thing is "supposed" to be designed for 4 different bands but I have come to the ultimate conclusion that there is no way it could possibly be. The manual is also completely wrong about all of the lengths for the antenna segments.

AAAAHHHH frustration. But yes, it's definitely fun especially the first time you get a trans-oceanic contact.