Do wideband yagi antennas exist?

[KPMDWhistler]

I just got interested in radio again after a long break, so bare with my little radio knowledge.

I'm looking for a directional antenna like a yagi that will allow me to listen to a broad range of VHF and UHF frequencies, somewhere between 108-902mHz.
The reason I need such a huge range is because I live near an air force base with a very wide variety of frequencies, and when I travel to Vandenberg I want to be able to hear the repeaters there very easily. Vandenberg SpaceX launch controll is around 850-880mHz, and the bands I listen to at the base range from 112-470.

Also I know that I may be asking for the impossible so please feel free to educate me.

 

[mmckenna]

Not a Yagi, but a Log Periodic antenna can be designed to cover that range. Not quite as much gain as a similar sized Yagi, but will absolutely do what you want.

 

[nd5y]

Look for a LPDA (log periodic dipole array). There are several manufacturers that make them that cover approx. 100-1000 MHz. Good ones can be expensive.

 

[mmckenna]

One example:

Create CLP-5130-1N Create CLP-5130-1N VHF/UHF Log-Periodic Antennas | DX Engineering

Free Shipping - Create CLP-5130-1N VHF/UHF Log-Periodic Antennas with qualifying orders of $99. Shop VHF/UHF Beam Antennas at DX Engineering.

www.dxengineering.com

Do some searching on the term "log periodic" and you'll find others, as well as plans to build your own.

 

[KPMDWhistler]

Thanks for the help guys!

 

[dave3825]

Also search log periodic pcb, wideband pcb antenna and pcb yagi.

 

[ladn]

I'm looking for a directional antenna like a yagi that will allow me to listen to a broad range of VHF and UHF frequencies, somewhere between 108-902mHz.

Some folks have had success using repurposed VHF/UHF log periodic TV antennas.

 

[majoco]

I know I'm nitpicking, but the proper name is "log aperiodic" - aperiodic means "untuned".

 

[prcguy]

I know I'm nitpicking, but the proper name is "log aperiodic" - aperiodic means "untuned".

Oh you guys down there like adding more letters and complicating things. Not quite as bad as the Brits, but……

 

[G7RUX]

I just got interested in radio again after a long break, so bare with my little radio knowledge.

I'm looking for a directional antenna like a yagi that will allow me to listen to a broad range of VHF and UHF frequencies, somewhere between 108-902mHz.
The reason I need such a huge range is because I live near an air force base with a very wide variety of frequencies, and when I travel to Vandenberg I want to be able to hear the repeaters there very easily. Vandenberg SpaceX launch controll is around 850-880mHz, and the bands I listen to at the base range from 112-470.

Also I know that I may be asking for the impossible so please feel free to educate me.

Are you looking for an antenna to install at home or one you can take with you to sites?

if you are looking for a home antenna then a log-periodic antenna will likely be the way to go but be aware that to cover that range with appreciable gain across the range it will be a reasonably large antenna. You will need to install it high and clear, vertically polarised and with a rotator. If you are fairly near the sites of interest then you could well get away with either a discone or one of the range of available wideband active VHF/UHF antennas to give omnidirectional coverage. This would likely be a much cheaper and more robust installation without the need for any moving parts.

For use around Vandenberg you probably wouldn’t need a directional antenna if close by and using a portable receiver.

Personally, if money were no object in this scenario I would go for the rotatable log-periodic mounted VP on a mast at home and supplemented with a second, co-mounted omni antenna I can switch to if needed, preferably with separate feeder. For the portable setup I would opt for a couple of whip type antennas for the main bands I was interested in receiving.

 

[buddrousa]

Hope you got plenty of money.

CLP-3100N Log Periodic Antenna | Scanner Master

CLP-3100N Log Periodic Antenna

www.scannermaster.com

 

[dlwtrunked]

I know I'm nitpicking, but the proper name is "log aperiodic" - aperiodic means "untuned".

Well more precisely, it is about impedance.

periodic antenna

Encyclopedia article about periodic antenna by The Free Dictionary

encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com

aperiodic antenna

Encyclopedia article about aperiodic antenna by The Free Dictionary

encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com

And the antenna in the replies are probably periodic.

 

[dlwtrunked]

Also search log periodic pcb, wideband pcb antenna and pcb yagi.

Also look for Vivaldi antennas (generally also on circuit boards). RFSpace also sells them. But generally, though wide frequency coverage will not get what you want .

RFSPACE Antenna Products

 

[G7RUX]

Also look for Vivaldi antennas (generally also on circuit boards). RFSpace also sells them. But generally, though wide frequency coverage will not get what you want .

RFSPACE Antenna Products

Indeed, although available the Vivaldi at 100 MHz is quite large!

 

[hazrat8990]

Hope you got plenty of money.

CLP-3100N Log Periodic Antenna | Scanner Master

CLP-3100N Log Periodic Antenna

www.scannermaster.com

Yikes!! For that kind of price you'd think it would at least be in color!

 

[Ubbe]

I know I'm nitpicking, but the proper name is "log aperiodic" - aperiodic means "untuned".

I've never seen that name being used. But it is a tuned antenna, there's always at least one pair of elements that are tuned to the frequency within the covered frequency range. The distance between elements are increasing in a logarithmic fashion along the boom. So logically it should be called a log periodic design.

/Ubbe