Anyone Here Build Their Own Yagi?

[KG4CGC]

I've drawn up plans for a 17m Yagi. Originally it was going to be 3 elements but I decided to go to 2 because it would be too unwieldy at 3.
What I'm asking is your experiences and any other details including element diameters.
I plan to enclose mine in PVC or at least the boom in PVC if I can find aluminum tubing to use for elements.

[ac0h]

If you want to start building your own antennas you need to get the ARRL antenna book.
Why a PVC boom? Not nearly as stong as 2" aluminum tubing and UV will kill it in short order. A PVC boom for a 17m beam will flap in the breeze like laundry hanging on the line.
If you want it to last you need to use stepped element diameters. For a 17m beam I'd start out with 1 1/4" diameter and work down to 3/4 or 5/8 at the tips. A 17m beam is going to have elements in the neigborhood of 27.5 feet in length and a boom length, depending on 2 or 3 elements of .15 to .35 wavelength, 8.5 to 19.5 ft.

[KG4CGC]

I understand what you mean about flapping like laundry. I was thinking about using nylon support lines with a center support to make an arch.
The original idea is to use #8 gauge wire enclosed in PVC. Each leg of the DE = 154 1/16th".
The reflector would = 325 1/16th". Distance from the DE to reflector is 105 1/4th".
I have a couple of spools of #8 ga. wire and PVC is cheap.
I'd use 1/2" PVC for the elements and 1-1/2" PVC for the boom.
Aluminum tubing would be great but I haven't found any at the hardware store.
So, that's where I stand right now.

[N2RJ]

http://www.texastowers.com sells Aluminum tubing.

Be prepared to open and empty out your wallet though.

[KG4CGC]

Thanks Ryan.
I'll try scouring the junkyards. Now that I think about it, there is a Sanford and Son type place down the road a few miles. Guy probably doesn't even know what all he has.

I'm not sure what the budget is since this is an experiment and I'm not sure what the costs of metals are these days except that they are high. I do want to keep the bottom line low. More money for other things yes? Now if the old rotor only needs oil, all will be well.

[WV6Z]

Get with Dale, the former KG4ZMC (now K4RXI, I hope I got that right). I think you would enjoy meeting a spending a little time with him. He is running a very impressive home brew 17m yagi and has just decided to build a 20m one to replace the 17m one. We need to talk about this, seriously, before someone steers you in the direction of buying up a bunch of shyte.

[N2RJ]

I'm actually still looking for aluminum tubing to build my 4 square.

[kf5kwo]

I've downloaded a few plans for homebrew yagi antennas from the net. Lemme dig around and find them. I'm looking to build inexpensively and with ease an easy set-up and take-down yagi due to HOA restrictions. So far though, the 3 antennas I have up are quite stealthy (vertical, mag loop, wire loop). Wanna expand my DX horizons so to speak.

FYI, I'm new to the Island here. Name is Jeff, I live in Helotes, TX, and I'm active 99.9% HF with my homebrew 40-10m stealth wire vertical, my MFJ Magnetic loop, and homebrew 80m wire loop under the eaves of our one-story house (10 feet off the ground). Told you I had restrictions! :angry:

73 de Jeff, KF5KWO
Helotes, TX

[N3ATS]

I built one for UHF GMRS several years ago. It's sitting in my garage collecting dust.

I used 1/4" tubing for the elements and square "u" channel for the boom. Made a gamma match from the same 1/4" tubing and some stainless steel strap.

I fasted the elements through the boom with spring steel push on thingies. The type of thing the wheels on a kids toy would be held on with.

It tuned up and was resonant with the analyzer, never used it though.

[W5GA]

I'm actually still looking for aluminum tubing to build my 4 square.

Ryan, had you seen this? http://www.dxengineering.com/Parts.asp?ID=2550&PLID=280&SecID=137&DeptID=43&PartNo=DXE%2DATK65

Another option, depending on how tall your tower is and whether or not it's guyed. Look in ON4UN's book, he did it buy suspending 4 vertical wires from the tower guys.

[N2RJ]

I've seen the DXE tubing and it's actually not that bad. I just might order a 64 footer to try it out.

[KC8TCQ]

I know of hams who drive around looking for old aluminum TV and CB antennas, ig they spot onw that looks likeit might not be in use, they'll ask the home owner if they can take it down. They then use the tubing to homebrew antennas for themselves or to sell at some of the local hamfests.

[WV6Z]

I know of hams who drive around looking for old aluminum TV and CB antennas.......

Guilty as charged

[KC8TCQ]

I know of hams who drive around looking for old aluminum TV and CB antennas.......

Guilty as charged


Someday I'll have to take some pictures of my home brew 2m "super" J-pole. since I currently do not have it up. It is made with recycled aluminum tubing

[N8YX]

The DX Engineering "headquarters" is right down the road (so to speak) from my place. One of the hams I elmered - Brian, N8OQQ - works there.

I'm going to have a go at homebrewing a 10-17M Quagi next year. The quad 'element' will be the director, rather than the reflector, as is usually done with this sort of antenna. It'll utilize open-sleeve coupling so only one feedline will be required. The reflectors for 10-12 and 15-17 will be trapped, and the overall boom length (not counting the quad arms) will be in the neighborhood of 12 ft.

[KG4CGC]

For the time being, I'm going to put up an inverted-V for 17 meters.
On 75m right now, a C shaped off center fed sloping dipole is doing the job.

Last Winter it reached 15 degrees for nearly a week and I believed that is what caused my coax to shrink and separate. Center conductor outdoors.
Simple replacement and I'm off and running. :)

However, today, the YL needs a new computer and don't think it can't come without an LCD display!
Long story ... would probably fit in the "General Chat" section.

[n0eq]

I know of hams who drive around looking for old aluminum TV and CB antennas.......

Guilty as charged

As am I.

Here's a 2m Yagi I built entirely from recycled
neighborhood throw-aways.

http://www.n0eq.com/trashbeam.htm


Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke

http://www.n0eq.com

[M0GLO]

I also, just finished my 10 element for 70cm.

Pictures as soon as I get it mounted to the wall (repeater use).

[N9FE]

You have to have a friend thats either a G-Man or works at the dump to watch for all antennas, rotors, and tower sections. But now with digital, folks are going back to antennas. Things could dry up. Not like when the little satt dishs got popular..

[N8WWM]

I know of hams who drive around looking for old aluminum TV and CB antennas.......

Guilty as charged


Someday I'll have to take some pictures of my home brew 2m "super" J-pole. since I currently do not have it up. It is made with recycled aluminum tubing

That super J I built you is one of about 12 identical ones I turned out from scrap parts...as far as I know most of the local guys still have 'em up.

[KC8TCQ]

I know of hams who drive around looking for old aluminum TV and CB antennas.......




Someday I'll have to take some pictures of my home brew 2m "super" J-pole. since I currently do not have it up. It is made with recycled aluminum tubing

That super J I built you is one of about 12 identical ones I turned out from scrap parts...as far as I know most of the local guys still have 'em up.


Yeah you built it, and you were one of the hams I was thinking of that looked for old antennats.

[W9PDS]

FYI, I'm new to the Island here. Name is Jeff, I live in Helotes, TX, and I'm active 99.9% HF with my homebrew 40-10m stealth wire vertical, my MFJ Magnetic loop, and homebrew 80m wire loop under the eaves of our one-story house (10 feet off the ground). Told you I had restrictions! :angry:

73 de Jeff, KF5KWO
Helotes, TX

Welcome Jeff. Glad to meet ya.

[kk7ue]

Back in my 11 meter days. I traded some junk for a 5 element beam on a long boom. It has gathered dust in a box for 15 years now, but I have a plan to resize it for 10 or 6 someday. Someday :mrgreen:

[KG4CGC]

After much consideration and a tightening budget, I've decided to go with a sloping dipole on 17m. Tactically it will be perfect and won't require a center mast. I just need to get a line up in a tree at about 70 or 80 feet. The rest will be child's play. I'm also considering making it resonant on 20m as well since the location I'm considering is perfect for that too. Perhaps a fan style? A coil on the end?
It will be fed with coax and strain relief will be an objective as well.

[n0eq]

After much consideration and a tightening budget, I've decided to go with a sloping dipole on 17m. Tactically it will be perfect and won't require a center mast. I just need to get a line up in a tree at about 70 or 80 feet. The rest will be child's play. I'm also considering making it resonant on 20m as well since the location I'm considering is perfect for that too. Perhaps a fan style? A coil on the end?
It will be fed with coax and strain relief will be an objective as well.

I simply use my 20m inverted V on 17m through a tuner.
There's surely some loss. It's fed simply with coax.
But it works well enough on 5w to hit Japan from Phoenix.

I also use my 40m wire on 60m through the same tuner.
It too seems to work just fine.

Craig 'Lumpy' Lemke

www.n0eq.com (http://www.n0eq.com)

[PA5COR]

Running an Fritzel FD-4 OCF with added coil and 10 feet extra wire on the short end rsonant for 160, wich enables me to work from 160 - 10 meters with it, up at 45 feet above ground.

Just made a 33 foot tall vertical, all for 10 Euro's, helically wound, works from 160 up to 20 meters just fine.
For 15 - 10 a reworked Imax 2000 with 17 foot long ground radials on the roof.
Got that one free from an CB station that quit.

:mrgreen: