I built mine from a 1 inch square aluminum tube and aluminum rods, from a local hardware. I'm 73 years old not in the best of health, so I mounted it as high as I could reach on 10 feet of pipe, @ 6 feet. I was using my icom 208H, but since it broke I have been using my Yaesu HT to check into the ARES net repeater about 17 miles away and another in the next county about 20 miles away, I'm happy with it. Thanks for showing how easy it is to build your own, that after all is the art of radio.🖐🏻73's🎙🎧 KD9OAM 📻
I built that antenna back then and then made it into a 7 element and it worked for many years. I still have it but it's not in use anymore. Definitely worth building
Take a strip of paper and wrap it around the pvc. Tape it to itself then slide it off the pipe. Flatten out the paper ring you just made and mark each end. Put the ring back on the pvc. The marks should be exactly halfway on either side.
built one many years ago... went and find it on the antenna pile, metric sizes. refl 1016 mm, driven ele 507mm each side, dir= 886 mm spacing 440 mm and 440 mm yes both the same spacing, works like a charm , draws repeater 140km away with 1 watt. boom 25.4mm plastic pipe, elements wrapped at boom with thin copper wire to prevent element movement. cheers zs2cx
Good stuff. I just made a tape measure yagi. While it works great, this design is a lot cleaner and I really like the way it can be broken down to store in a single tube. Thanks for sharing an old article with a new ham.
Cool build Chuck. It's amazing what stuff lying around the house will work for an antenna. Even the few parts you have to buy for this - still super cheap.
Mine was only a 4 element because I wanted to see if I could make it portable. My elements fold so I can, the other eliments will be used for 70cm. Lay it out to see how many elements are useable. Other than that as you pointed out, the isolators are the only real consideration. GL with your build
Nice build Chuck, I did something simular out of an old tv antenna and it works great. I use it in the backyard on the weekends while I have my coffee and chase SOTA. One note on that PVC tee you cut, it works great but I found that a simple ty-rap really helps while rotating and if there is any wind. Keep up the great work/content. 73
Either keep those wooden booms dry, or seal them well. Also, if you've carefully gotten anon-conductive mast for that vertical polarization installation, and you run the COAX down that mast from where it attaches to the boom, the outside of the shield is a conductor being put right back where you don't want it. Much better to run the COAX off the back end of the boom to keep it beyond the reflector. Keeping it from dancing in the wind is a separate problem. Though when hand holding it from the back, having the COAX comer out thee back is what you'll want anyway.
I'm an older Ham, and not as portable as I used to be. But I have made 2 and 6 meter beams before and I have the carcasses left over from two hurricanes that destroyed both beams so I have the booms left over from both. 6 meter beam will be three elements, but I want the 2 m beam to be seven elements for additional gain. I will figure Dbd gain instead of Dbi gain as Dbd gain is more accurate. Your construction looks good to me! I advise others to have no fears constructing this project, just go for it! 73's de W4FJF.
I love this antenna, built one a few years back for fox hunting, It really does the job. Thanks for the videos! I really appreciate your time and effort. 73 de KM4KAQ
Eric, it really does work very well. I made a contact on 2m SSB about 100 miles checking into the Bozo net, but the net control has really good antennas and I was at a good location. Thanks for the comment!
That's cool, Chuck... Now, nothing against the tape measure yagi but I like your design much better. Looks professional. If I'm hunting rfi in my neighborhood my neighbors wouldn't think Im completely nuts with this..
Hi Chuck! Thanks for the video! May you tell me the size and threaded of the arrows/nylon rod? And what size is the reflector and director aluminum rod? Thanks in advance!
Making a UHF handheld Yagi for my HT. I'm considering using 300 Ohm twin lead so that the tuning will not be dependent on the connection point. Gamma tuners are PITA to make and change. The Delta has worked for me, but I'm curious if twin lead will fix this. Then I'll have to make a small toroid 4:1 transformer to connect to a short piece of coax to the HT.
What kind of SWR are people getting with this antenna? I've built it two different ways and the SWR has been awful (the first attempt was adjustable like the original build in the article and I think I barely got it under 3:1 at best. Making it a fixed length like the video suggests leaves me over 5:1 and confused as to how to even try and fix my second build and I used much more expensive materials this time because all the links to the materials in the video are dead.
@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures I can try to rig something to get it in the air (before I give up on this completely and buy a pre made one for barely more than I've got in this project now 😂) but it didn't seem that relevant to me. The SWR is awful, 3 or 4:1 at the top and bottom of the band and a bell curve up to nearly 8:1 right in the middle of the band. I built it of 2x2 and copper pipe so it's kinda heavy and would require some thought and effort to elevate it correctly.
D'oh, I tried a different handheld as the power source and it was around 2-2.5 across the band. Think my other HT may be kaput. Still would love to get it closer to your numbers but I can work with this I believe.
@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures a meter commonly purchased on Amazon that probably needs to be replaced with a Nano VNA Edit: I hadn't grounded the shield of the coax, that made all the difference. 🤦♂️ This should have been obvious to me, but it did give me the excuse to order a NanoVNA before I realized it.
hi from Poland , this is Jack SP6KE , I hope you well . I both a cheapest dosen arrow shafts (30inch) for a 25 euro and I trying to make VHF and UHF yagi ... for a satellites
I enjoyed the video about the two meter yagi . What I would love to see you do is a video how to make the hex beam antennas for six meters. That would be a huge help for me and others . Thanks 73 AE4OY William Peacock EM-81UF SOUTH EAST GEORGIA USA
Bob , I don't understand your question, I think if you look at arrow antennas that might answer this for you. arrowantennas.com/arrowii/146-437.html or Elk antennas, elkantennas.com/product/dual-band-2m440l5-log-periodic-antenna/
@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures Sorry for the confusion, i see that people rotate thier Yagie from the horizontal plane to the vertical. Just curious why no one has made one with elements for both plains for one freg. So you dont need to rotate it from horz to vert for diffrent stations. Im sure there is a reason because there are people WAY smarter than me 😉 Thanks Bob
@@bobdefield7842 Oh got ya yea they do make them that way I did a video on one 1 elements, but Mike the owner of M2 antennas says to set at a 45 degree angle and it will do pretty good with just a little loss each way
A little pro tip, if you ever want a perfect straight line on a round pipe, just lay it in a piece of angle iron. Also 2 pieces of angle iron and a couple of c-clamps work well to hold pipe steady while you are drilling.
Neat project! I'm going to give something like this a shot. I think your third "Threaded Rod" link in the description might be truncated (it doesn't work and appears to be missing a couple characters at the end, perhaps).
I built mine from a 1 inch square aluminum tube and aluminum rods, from a local hardware.
I'm 73 years old not in the best of health, so I mounted it as high as I could reach on 10 feet of pipe, @ 6 feet.
I was using my icom 208H, but since it broke I have been using my Yaesu HT to check into the ARES net repeater about 17 miles away and another in the next county about 20 miles away, I'm happy with it. Thanks for showing how easy it is to build your own, that after all is the art of radio.🖐🏻73's🎙🎧 KD9OAM 📻
You're welcome, just trying to pass on good info for everyone! Thanks for watching and the great comment!
17 miles with an HT? Very impressive!
@@ScottPlude Thank you.
Don't need to be a new ham to enjoy good content. Thank you sir!
I built that antenna back then and then made it into a 7 element and it worked for many years. I still have it but it's not in use anymore. Definitely worth building
I made mine into a 4 element and it just works!
Take a strip of paper and wrap it around the pvc. Tape it to itself then slide it off the pipe. Flatten out the paper ring you just made and mark each end. Put the ring back on the pvc. The marks should be exactly halfway on either side.
Just built mine and ironically the pvc parts cost $7. (the rest I had in my junk box).
built one many years ago... went and find it on the antenna pile, metric sizes. refl 1016 mm, driven ele 507mm each side, dir= 886 mm spacing 440 mm and 440 mm yes both the same spacing, works like a charm , draws repeater 140km away with 1 watt.
boom 25.4mm plastic pipe, elements wrapped at boom with thin copper wire to prevent element movement.
cheers zs2cx
Thanks for the links, Chuck! I'll be building the arrow antenna.
Nicely done. Getting the elements all in a row on the PVC is not always easy. You really did a nice clean job.
Barry, KU3X
Good stuff. I just made a tape measure yagi. While it works great, this design is a lot cleaner and I really like the way it can be broken down to store in a single tube. Thanks for sharing an old article with a new ham.
Cool build Chuck. It's amazing what stuff lying around the house will work for an antenna. Even the few parts you have to buy for this - still super cheap.
Mine was only a 4 element because I wanted to see if I could make it portable. My elements fold so I can, the other eliments will be used for 70cm. Lay it out to see how many elements are useable. Other than that as you pointed out, the isolators are the only real consideration. GL with your build
I actually am thinking about getting a 2M Yagi to point out of the 1 window in my apt that doesn't look out on a building. Might give this a try.
Great build Chuck! Nice work mate
Thanks Hayden!
You can cut 40 inches from a roll of Aluminum clothesline cable for the reflector
Nice build Chuck, I did something simular out of an old tv antenna and it works great. I use it in the backyard on the weekends while I have my coffee and chase SOTA.
One note on that PVC tee you cut, it works great but I found that a simple ty-rap really helps while rotating and if there is any wind.
Keep up the great work/content. 73
That's a good Idea especially in the wind.
Either keep those wooden booms dry, or seal them well.
Also, if you've carefully gotten anon-conductive mast for that vertical polarization installation, and you run the COAX down that mast from where it attaches to the boom, the outside of the shield is a conductor being put right back where you don't want it. Much better to run the COAX off the back end of the boom to keep it beyond the reflector. Keeping it from dancing in the wind is a separate problem. Though when hand holding it from the back, having the COAX comer out thee back is what you'll want anyway.
Great video !! Thank You !!
I'm an older Ham, and not as portable as I used to be. But I have made 2 and 6 meter beams before and I have the carcasses left over from two hurricanes that destroyed both beams so I have the booms left over from both. 6 meter beam will be three elements, but I want the 2 m beam to be seven elements for additional gain. I will figure Dbd gain instead of Dbi gain as Dbd gain is more accurate. Your construction looks good to me! I advise others to have no fears constructing this project, just go for it! 73's de W4FJF.
I did add a 4th to mine with the same spacing, thanks for watching!
I love this antenna, built one a few years back for fox hunting, It really does the job. Thanks for the videos! I really appreciate your time and effort. 73 de KM4KAQ
Eric, it really does work very well. I made a contact on 2m SSB about 100 miles checking into the Bozo net, but the net control has really good antennas and I was at a good location. Thanks for the comment!
nice video! thx for making it
I find making my own antennas are far better than store-bought.
That's cool, Chuck... Now, nothing against the tape measure yagi but I like your design much better. Looks professional. If I'm hunting rfi in my neighborhood my neighbors wouldn't think Im completely nuts with this..
Hi Chuck! Thanks for the video! May you tell me the size and threaded of the arrows/nylon rod? And what size is the reflector and director aluminum rod? Thanks in advance!
8-32 is the thread size and 2.5-3" depending on your boom, I think the rods are 1/8" even a wire coat hanger will work lol, thanks for watching!
Making a UHF handheld Yagi for my HT. I'm considering using 300 Ohm twin lead so that the tuning will not be dependent on the connection point. Gamma tuners are PITA to make and change. The Delta has worked for me, but I'm curious if twin lead will fix this. Then I'll have to make a small toroid 4:1 transformer to connect to a short piece of coax to the HT.
Did i miss something, or did you explain what materials (rods/tubes) for the pvc version?
What kind of SWR are people getting with this antenna? I've built it two different ways and the SWR has been awful (the first attempt was adjustable like the original build in the article and I think I barely got it under 3:1 at best. Making it a fixed length like the video suggests leaves me over 5:1 and confused as to how to even try and fix my second build and I used much more expensive materials this time because all the links to the materials in the video are dead.
My swr was under 1.5:1 , are you getting it in the air?
@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures I can try to rig something to get it in the air (before I give up on this completely and buy a pre made one for barely more than I've got in this project now 😂) but it didn't seem that relevant to me. The SWR is awful, 3 or 4:1 at the top and bottom of the band and a bell curve up to nearly 8:1 right in the middle of the band. I built it of 2x2 and copper pipe so it's kinda heavy and would require some thought and effort to elevate it correctly.
D'oh, I tried a different handheld as the power source and it was around 2-2.5 across the band. Think my other HT may be kaput. Still would love to get it closer to your numbers but I can work with this I believe.
@@jopshua4703 What are you using to check the swr?
@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures a meter commonly purchased on Amazon that probably needs to be replaced with a Nano VNA
Edit: I hadn't grounded the shield of the coax, that made all the difference. 🤦♂️ This should have been obvious to me, but it did give me the excuse to order a NanoVNA before I realized it.
are your measurements of the elements center to center or the distance between the elements?
center to center
Always doing some cool stuff. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. KO4HPC 73
Chuck what was easier you
5 element or this one.
Thanks for sharing
de KQ4CD
Would copper founding wire work?
hi from Poland , this is Jack SP6KE , I hope you well . I both a cheapest dosen arrow shafts (30inch) for a 25 euro and I trying to make VHF and UHF yagi ... for a satellites
I enjoyed the video about the two meter yagi . What I would love to see you do is a video how to make the hex beam antennas for six meters. That would be a huge help for me and others . Thanks 73 AE4OY William Peacock EM-81UF SOUTH EAST GEORGIA USA
Workin on a technical license, have a question why can you build
A horizontal and vertical plane and use a duplex like a 70cm/2m
Thanks
Bob , I don't understand your question, I think if you look at arrow antennas that might answer this for you. arrowantennas.com/arrowii/146-437.html or Elk antennas, elkantennas.com/product/dual-band-2m440l5-log-periodic-antenna/
@@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures
Sorry for the confusion, i see that people rotate thier Yagie from the horizontal plane to the vertical.
Just curious why no one has made one with elements for both plains for one freg. So you dont need to rotate it from horz to vert for diffrent stations.
Im sure there is a reason because there are people WAY smarter than me 😉
Thanks Bob
@@bobdefield7842 Oh got ya yea they do make them that way I did a video on one 1 elements, but Mike the owner of M2 antennas says to set at a 45 degree angle and it will do pretty good with just a little loss each way
A little pro tip, if you ever want a perfect straight line on a round pipe, just lay it in a piece of angle iron. Also 2 pieces of angle iron and a couple of c-clamps work well to hold pipe steady while you are drilling.
Tape measure elements
I wish it were easy to make one for 10 meters
You and me both lol , thanks for watching
@KK6USY Ham Radio Adventures I found a video with 2 wires 8.5 ft each and a balun so trying that tonight.
Always good stuff. Good antenna build ideas. Thanks. KJ6DQ
He's an easy read. Needs a new wife.
Good video but definitely not a follow along or step by step type instruction missing measurements
Neat project! I'm going to give something like this a shot.
I think your third "Threaded Rod" link in the description might be truncated (it doesn't work and appears to be missing a couple characters at the end, perhaps).
Also doesn't tell us which one to order. 8-32? 10-24?
KK6USY R O C K S . . . 🎸💯
🇺🇸
Too many commercials
Kd2yww love the videos