[amsat-bb] NASA Helical Antenna Question

[Robert Bruninga]

>> Looks like a standard 8 turn, axial mode, helix to me.
>> see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helical_antenna#Axial-mode_helical
>
> Looks like about 8 dBi gain.

>> Looks like a good candidate as a functional lawn ornament that is not
>> I would like to author a construction and theory article...
.
Thats an awful lot of hardware just for 8 dBi gain!
You can get that with a 4 element yagii.

I dont think the helix makes any sense for ham bands because the main
advantage of the helix is broadband, meaning one design can operate with
low SWR over about 20% or say from 130 to 160 Mhz.  A yagii can always do
much better four our narrow bands.

my opinion anyway...

bob
WB4APR