[amsat-bb] antenna for 1.2 Ghz

[Mac A. Cody]

I'll also add in my recommendation to build.  For 2018 Field Day, I built
a Kent Britain WA5JVB 1296 MHz Cheap Yagi.  The plans can be found in the
PDF document https://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf.  It was easy
to construct, if you are careful.  Without tuning, I was able to get a
1.25 SWR on transmit frequency for AO-92 in L/v mode.  I was able to make
two successful QSOs during the one decent pass, for my location on Field
Day that AO-92 was in L/v mode.  Unfortunately, that pass occurred before
Field Day officially started.  Anyway, I felt validated that the antenna
worked!  Give it a try!

73,

Mac Cody / AE5PH



On 08/27/2018 05:19 PM, Greg D wrote:
> Add in my recommendation for building your own.  I made one with some
> old aluminum Radio Shack "ground wire" that I had laying around.  Follow
> the calculator for radius and spacing as best you can, but don't sweat
> over the super fine detail.  Helix antennas are inherently forgiving in
> construction, and are nice that they are circularly polarized which
> helps when working a spinning satellite.  Both traits are in contrast to
> building a Yagi beam.
>
> Anything inside the helix is invisible to the antenna; I used an
> aluminum rod, and heavy zip ties out to the wire turns.  Tie one end
> around the central support, then use another (smaller one) to attach the
> wire to the "tail" of the first.  Don't need to support every turn; just
> use enough to keep things kind of in place.
>
> Greg  KO6TH
>
>
> Zach Metzinger wrote:
>> On 8/27/18 2:28 PM, Philip Jenkins wrote:
>>> Does anyone have recommendations for another brand, or have an
>>> appropriate
>>> one for sale? (I wish I had bought some of those loop yagis which were
>>> prominently displayed in Ball Arena at Hamvention in the early 90s...)
>> You might also try this home-brew model:
>>
>> https://www.mictronics.de/2011/07/1240mhz1280mhz-diy-helix-antenna/
>>
>> --- Zach
>> N0ZGO
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
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