Good handheld directional antenna for ISS repeater use?

[Rt169Radio]

Hello all, I was researching handheld directional antennas to use to try to contact the ISS repeater as it goes by my house every night or every morning. I couldn't find anything except a brand called Arrow antennas, but I'm unsure of what antenna of theirs is the best to get?

I was looking at this one.

ARROW ANTENNA 146/437-10BP

Arrow Antenna Hand Held Portable dual band 146 437 440 arrowii Yagi Satellite

 

[vagrant]

I use the Elk Log Periodic antenna. Additionally, the Elk does not require a diplexer, or “duplexer” as Arrow calls it. Perhaps Patrick @wd9ewk will chime in as he works satellites infinitely more than I. Search via Google using his callsign WD9EWK to get an idea of what gear he uses and how often.

Elk Antennas 2M/440L5 Dual-Band Antenna – Elk Antennas

elkantennas.com

Elk Antennas ELK 2M/440L5

144 / 440 MHz Quick Deployment Log Periodic - 24 Inch Boom Antenna

www.hamradio.com

 

[paulears]

There have been many crossed yagis over the years, and these are typical, but they also introduce problems. The narrower vertical and horizontal beamwidth means tracking is harder as ideally you'll have to track vertically and horizontally and the price now of rotators is crazily high. Another one of these hobbies within hobbies that can go from using a discone cheaply to a beam and computers at thousands of investment.

 

[vagrant]

To the Op, paulears is commenting on the Arrow antenna, not the Elk. The beam width on the Elk is wider than the Arrow. This makes it easier to capture and hold the satellite.

 

[G7RUX]

For my £0.03 I have had decent success working through both the ISS FM repeater and the packet digipeater with a dual band J-pole antenna but it can get rather scratchy at points.

I have the Arrow antenna and like it a lot; the big one can be rather tight in beamwidth and if you are monitoring *only* then you might find it easier to use something like a HB9CV for 70 cm as the 2m side of the Arrow would likely not be much use. Incidentally I have a 2m and 70 cm HB9CV pair mounted coplanar on the same boom and they work well, with minimal coupling for cross-band use. I use these often for V/UHF satellites with no desense issues.

The Arrow uses a diplexer to present both 2m and 70cm on a single feeder, which might or might not be an issue for you but the Elk antenna covers 2 and 70 with a single set of elements and a single feeder since it is a log-periodic antenna. It is easier to transport assembled as it is flat; the Arrow is surprisingly big when assembled! You can obtain the Arrow antenna without the diplexer so you can use just the one set of elements if that's all you wanted for a particular day.

 

[wd9ewk]

I use the Elk Log Periodic antenna. Additionally, the Elk does not require a diplexer, or “duplexer” as Arrow calls it. Perhaps Patrick @wd9ewk will chime in as he works satellites infinitely more than I. Search via Google using his callsign WD9EWK to get an idea of what gear he uses and how often.

Elk Antennas 2M/440L5 Dual-Band Antenna – Elk Antennas

elkantennas.com

Elk Antennas ELK 2M/440L5

144 / 440 MHz Quick Deployment Log Periodic - 24 Inch Boom Antenna

www.hamradio.com

Yes, I have used Elk log periodics for my satellite work over many years, back to late 2008. I had desense issues with the Arrow antenna, even when using two radios and running coax from each feedpoint on an Arrow to those radios. With the Elk, and especially having a diplexer connecting two radios to that antenna, fixed my issues. Others use high- or low-pass filters to deal with harmonics, which a diplexer could be used in place of those filters. I still have an Arrow antenna, but normally use it for monoband stuff on 2m or 70cm instead of satellites.

73!

 

[AI7PM]

I use the Arrow and an HT. Always seem to hit it just fine.

 

[Rt169Radio]

Thanks for the replies, looks like the Elk antenna is more of the simpler choices.

 

[G7RUX]

Thanks for the replies, looks like the Elk antenna is more of the simpler choices.

That is likely the case, yes especially if you are Rx only. The Elk, being a single feeder antenna for both 2/70 can present issues with operating cross-band and desense.
For receiving you’ll find a log-periodic quite a useful unit.

 

[N4DJC]

I have both and like the Elk. I thought the Arrow might be better on the downlink but I can’t tell any practical difference and it’s much easier to flip the polarity when needed. It’s totally flat SWR wise across both bands….