Suggestion for 2 meter yagi needed

I have been licensed for almost 30 years now and I had not been introduced to the world above 50 MHz until a few years ago. Unfortunately when I first got into 2 meter SSB/CW I moved into an apartment in South Florida and was QRT for 16 months. I moved from NJ to FL in May 2005 and returned to NJ in Oct 2006 and now live in a house where I can put up some antennas. I am disabled from my previous Job (Corrections Lieutenant @ Rahway State Prison) and live on my pension and I'm applying for SSD so I have to buy things a little at a time. This month I'm going to pick up the rotor and possibly some LMR400. Next month if I can decide on an antenna I will get it then.

Any Suggestions ?

Tnx,
Dave

[kf0rt]

Hiya Dave and welcome to MH...

I've got a dual band Cushcraft A270-10S beam for 2 meters and 70cm. It's 5 elements for 2 meters and another 5 elements for 70 cm on the same boom. Two driven elements - one for each band - and it came with a power splitter harness (so only one cable back to the rig). HRO gets about $140 for one these days (total rip-off), but these high-band beams are really easy to make. I've seen people make them by drilling holes in a broomstick and making the elements out of wire coathanger wire or thicker gauge copper wire (works just as well as the expensive commercial beams). The boom on my Cushcraft is only about 6' long.

If making an antenna is in the mix, let me know. I am in the process of making antennas this spring. The problem I have with building these Yagi's is the driven element. How to come up with one that will be a good match into 50 ohms is a real trick. Probably the Gamma match with the telescoping capacitive leg is the best option because it is adjustable. But it can be difficult to make if you don't find the right heat shrinking and the right sized metal tubes. Anyway, I had an old 6 element beam that I had up on the house, and the gamma match is now rusted apart and I need to replace this mess.

I have EZNEC that I can simulate antennas with. It is a lot of fun to play with and it seems to work pretty well. Accurately.

Let me know if you want to look at building your own.

It's funny you should mention that antenna because I was considering one because of it being dual band. Right now I only have room for one yagi but I also want to get on either 6 meters or 432 along with 2 meters. My main concern is getting something up for 2 meters as I have grown fond of the band lately. Right now I am using a small Halo which allows me to get on and at least talk to some of the locals within 50 miles. With the HF bands being what they are I started looking up, I also enjoy contesting on VHF. Unfortunately I have not been doing very well contesting on 2 meters because I'm using a Cushcraft ARX2B which is vertical.

What can you tell me from your experience with this antenna ? How is the forward gain ? Do you think the F/B ratio is descent ?

Being this antenna has such a short boom I could probably put up a 3 element yagi for 6 meters so that I can at least work some other bands in the VHF/UHF contests and continue being able to ragchew with the locals.

My rig is a Kenwood TS2000 (I'm a big Kenwood fan) which replaced the 570 I still have. One of the things I liked about the 2K was that it puts out 100 watts on 2 meters as opposed to most other rigs of the same kind only put out 50 watts. I was using the 2K sub band to operate APRS but I recently purchased a TM-D700 which I am using in my house until I decide if it is worth putting in my truck. Because of injuries I sustained on the job I had I still take strong pain meds which effect my abilities to drive, especially at night.

Anyway, thank you for your input and I would really appreciate if you could let me know your impressions of how well it performs.

73's
Dave

If making an antenna is in the mix, let me know. I am in the process of making antennas this spring. The problem I have with building these Yagi's is the driven element. How to come up with one that will be a good match into 50 ohms is a real trick. Probably the Gamma match with the telescoping capacitive leg is the best option because it is adjustable. But it can be difficult to make if you don't find the right heat shrinking and the right sized metal tubes. Anyway, I had an old 6 element beam that I had up on the house, and the gamma match is now rusted apart and I need to replace this mess.

I have EZNEC that I can simulate antennas with. It is a lot of fun to play with and it seems to work pretty well. Accurately.

Let me know if you want to look at building your own.

Years ago I was really into building antennas, in fact I built a monoband 3 element junker for 15 meters. To be perfectly honest I do not think I have the patience anymore to build anything except wire antennas for HF. I have a few HF antenna projects I'm considering for 40 meters right now, 40 CW being my all time favorite band/mode.

Right now about all my patience will allow is to put together an antenna but at some point in the future when I'm feeling a bit better I may consider building a yagi for something above 6 meters.

[wd0ct]

Hi Dave. Glad to see you here.

Check out Create Design antennas. I think they are a Japanese co. HRO might carry their stuff.

They have really cool log periodic beams. One is about 105-1300Mhz. The other is 6 meters to ?

I had the smaller one years ago. It was very well built and easlily changed from horizontal to vertical when assembling.

The pluses are obvious. The negative is receiving trash frequencies equally well.

[N2NH]

Here's something quick and durable that I came across during a search, the Tape Measure Yagi (2M):

http://home.att.net/~jleggio/projects/rdf/tape_bm.htm

[kf0rt]

Here's a picture of the setup here, Dave:
http://tatanka03.home.comcast.net/ant.jpg

The antenna on the bottom is a 3 element Cushcraft A503 for 6 meters -- it's about 20 feet above ground.

Performance? I don't have any complaints, but can't say that I've given it much of a test. It appears to work as advertised. I live close line-of-sight to some of the highest repeaters in the U.S. and most of them come in S9 here; I can drop that down to about S5 on the side of the beam (of course, I'm horizontally polarized, which explains the low signal strength off the repeaters). I bought it with my IC-7000 just to have something for 144/432. In the few contests I've run, there hasn't been any propagation on those two bands, so it hasn't been a lot of fun. Works fine for local FM work, and I imagine it'd be fine for 2/70 also, just haven't caught an opening to really try it out. It's been up less than a year and the SWR is good on both bands.

The 3 element 6M Cushcraft works well, too. I've got 41 states confirmed with that antenna (up about 2 years now). I switch it between the IC-7000 and a TS-570S. Quite often, I'll put the IC-7000 on 50.125 and turn the spectrum analyzer on and the volume off and look for an opening that way. Haven't caught a 6 meter opening this season yet, but it gets out great. I don't do a lot of ragchewing with the locals; mostly fiddle in the contests and "chase paper." I'm using a Channel Master TV rotor ($100 at Lowe's) and the mast is common fence pipe. We get some hellacious winds here and the antennas are holding up better than the roof, so far.

Hope that helps some...

That is the antenna set up I have in mind if I get the dual band, I was going to get the 3 ele Cushcraft to put near the bottom.

What kind of rotor are you using ?

[ad4mg]

I'm using a Channel Master TV rotor ($100 at Lowe's) and the mast is common fence pipe. We get some hellacious winds here and the antennas are holding up better than the roof, so far.

What kind of rotor are you using ?

My, my... :lol:

I couldn't resist!

I'm using a Channel Master TV rotor ($100 at Lowe's) and the mast is common fence pipe. We get some hellacious winds here and the antennas are holding up better than the roof, so far.

What kind of rotor are you using ?

My, my... :lol:

I couldn't resist!

See I told you my memory is shot, if I didn't have to take all this damn pain medication I might think more clearly and have something of a short term memory. 8)

I was thinking of picking up the Rat Shack rotor which I have used in the past to turn a TA-33JR that worked out fine. I figure if I go with the same 2 antennas which I had considered in the past at least I have spoken to someone who is currently using that set-up.

[ad4mg]

That's what I use to turn my 10 meter rotatable vee dipole, fashioned from 3/4" EMT conduit. It's held up nicely for 9 years!

I know about drug-induced disorientation. My doc had me on atenilol (sp?) after my heart attack a few years ago, even though my blood pressure isn't high at all. I quit taking it because of the "spacey", disconnected feeling it gave me.

73,
Luke

That's what I use to turn my 10 meter rotatable vee dipole, fashioned from 3/4" EMT conduit. It's held up nicely for 9 years!

I know about drug-induced disorientation. My doc had me on atenilol (sp?) after my heart attack a few years ago, even though my blood pressure isn't high at all. I quit taking it because of the "spacey", disconnected feeling it gave me.

73,
Luke

I have a number of herniated discs, a healing fracture of a vertabrae and degeniterive disc disease and am in constant pain. Here are my meds....Fentanyl Patch (50mcg) change it every 3 days, also Oxycontin 40mg 3 times a day.

I have voluntarily decided to stop driving unless it is local, these meds are strong alone but them combined they are even stronger

The antenna on the bottom is a 3 element Cushcraft A503 for 6 meters -- it's about 20 feet above ground.

Performance? I don't have any complaints, but can't say that I've given it much of a test. It appears to work as advertised. I live close line-of-sight to some of the highest repeaters in the U.S. and most of them come in S9 here; I can drop that down to about S5 on the side of the beam (of course, I'm horizontally polarized, which explains the low signal strength off the repeaters). I bought it with my IC-7000 just to have something for 144/432. In the few contests I've run, there hasn't been any propagation on those two bands, so it hasn't been a lot of fun. Works fine for local FM work, and I imagine it'd be fine for 2/70 also, just haven't caught an opening to really try it out. It's been up less than a year and the SWR is good on both bands.

The 3 element 6M Cushcraft works well, too. I've got 41 states confirmed with that antenna (up about 2 years now). I switch it between the IC-7000 and a TS-570S. Quite often, I'll put the IC-7000 on 50.125 and turn the spectrum analyzer on and the volume off and look for an opening that way. Haven't caught a 6 meter opening this season yet, but it gets out great. I don't do a lot of ragchewing with the locals; mostly fiddle in the contests and "chase paper." I'm using a Channel Master TV rotor ($100 at Lowe's) and the mast is common fence pipe. We get some hellacious winds here and the antennas are holding up better than the roof, so far.

Hope that helps some...

Like I said since getting the dual band may work out well for me having 2 antennas in one would allow me to put a small 6 meter antenna. I mostly enjoy the contesting and I'm considering VUCC in the future but want to get the antennas up before June.

The way you have your antenna is set up very similar to what I was planning except that it would be on the roof. The only other antenna I want to put up is a full wave dipole for 40 meters and when the upper bands start to get some life back will consider other options.

Thanks for your input on this, I'm glad I found someone who has the antenna system I was considering with the exception of it only being 2 & 6 meters.

I'm using a Channel Master TV rotor ($100 at Lowe's) and the mast is common fence pipe. We get some hellacious winds here and the antennas are holding up better than the roof, so far.

What kind of rotor are you using ?

My, my... :lol:

I couldn't resist!

See I told you my memory is shot, if I didn't have to take all this damn pain medication I might think more clearly and have something of a short term memory. 8)

I was thinking of picking up the Rat Shack rotor which I have used in the past to turn a TA-33JR that worked out fine. I figure if I go with the same 2 antennas which I had considered in the past at least I have spoken to someone who is currently using that set-up.

Who's memory is shot?

Heeey!

[kf0rt]

The antenna on the bottom is a 3 element Cushcraft A503 for 6 meters -- it's about 20 feet above ground.

Performance? I don't have any complaints, but can't say that I've given it much of a test. It appears to work as advertised. I live close line-of-sight to some of the highest repeaters in the U.S. and most of them come in S9 here; I can drop that down to about S5 on the side of the beam (of course, I'm horizontally polarized, which explains the low signal strength off the repeaters). I bought it with my IC-7000 just to have something for 144/432. In the few contests I've run, there hasn't been any propagation on those two bands, so it hasn't been a lot of fun. Works fine for local FM work, and I imagine it'd be fine for 2/70 also, just haven't caught an opening to really try it out. It's been up less than a year and the SWR is good on both bands.

The 3 element 6M Cushcraft works well, too. I've got 41 states confirmed with that antenna (up about 2 years now). I switch it between the IC-7000 and a TS-570S. Quite often, I'll put the IC-7000 on 50.125 and turn the spectrum analyzer on and the volume off and look for an opening that way. Haven't caught a 6 meter opening this season yet, but it gets out great. I don't do a lot of ragchewing with the locals; mostly fiddle in the contests and "chase paper." I'm using a Channel Master TV rotor ($100 at Lowe's) and the mast is common fence pipe. We get some hellacious winds here and the antennas are holding up better than the roof, so far.

Hope that helps some...

Like I said since getting the dual band may work out well for me having 2 antennas in one would allow me to put a small 6 meter antenna. I mostly enjoy the contesting and I'm considering VUCC in the future but want to get the antennas up before June.

The way you have your antenna is set up very similar to what I was planning except that it would be on the roof. The only other antenna I want to put up is a full wave dipole for 40 meters and when the upper bands start to get some life back will consider other options.

Thanks for your input on this, I'm glad I found someone who has the antenna system I was considering with the exception of it only being 2 & 6 meters.

I'm thinking of doing the roof thing for HF -- maybe a small tribander or something. Of course, I've been "thinking about" that for a couple years now. Nothing like getting back into amateur radio to make a guy regret the house he bought 20 years ago...

I'm thinking of doing the roof thing for HF -- maybe a small tribander or something. Of course, I've been "thinking about" that for a couple years now. Nothing like getting back into amateur radio to make a guy regret the house he bought 20 years ago...
Depends on what HF bands you are talking about. To get a good low angle of radiation with a horizontal antenna, a 40M Yagi needs to be up about 70 feet. You can get fairly good low angle radiation on 40 on the ground with a well-designed 2-element vertical phased array.

Here's a picture of the setup here, Dave:
http://tatanka03.home.comcast.net/ant.jpg

The antenna on the bottom is a 3 element Cushcraft A503 for 6 meters -- it's about 20 feet above ground.

Performance? I don't have any complaints, but can't say that I've given it much of a test. It appears to work as advertised. I live close line-of-sight to some of the highest repeaters in the U.S. and most of them come in S9 here; I can drop that down to about S5 on the side of the beam (of course, I'm horizontally polarized, which explains the low signal strength off the repeaters). I bought it with my IC-7000 just to have something for 144/432. In the few contests I've run, there hasn't been any propagation on those two bands, so it hasn't been a lot of fun. Works fine for local FM work, and I imagine it'd be fine for 2/70 also, just haven't caught an opening to really try it out. It's been up less than a year and the SWR is good on both bands.

The 3 element 6M Cushcraft works well, too. I've got 41 states confirmed with that antenna (up about 2 years now). I switch it between the IC-7000 and a TS-570S. Quite often, I'll put the IC-7000 on 50.125 and turn the spectrum analyzer on and the volume off and look for an opening that way. Haven't caught a 6 meter opening this season yet, but it gets out great. I don't do a lot of ragchewing with the locals; mostly fiddle in the contests and "chase paper." I'm using a Channel Master TV rotor ($100 at Lowe's) and the mast is common fence pipe. We get some hellacious winds here and the antennas are holding up better than the roof, so far.

Hope that helps some...

I have pretty much decided to give this a try. I talked to an antenna guru friend of mine and he seems to think as it won't be the best it is certainly an excellent direction to go in. At first I didn't think I could solve the 3 bands on one mount but this is definately going to work.

[N2NH]

That's what I use to turn my 10 meter rotatable vee dipole, fashioned from 3/4" EMT conduit. It's held up nicely for 9 years!

I know about drug-induced disorientation. My doc had me on atenilol (sp?) after my heart attack a few years ago, even though my blood pressure isn't high at all. I quit taking it because of the "spacey", disconnected feeling it gave me.

73,
Luke

I have a number of herniated discs, a healing fracture of a vertabrae and degeniterive disc disease and am in constant pain. Here are my meds....Fentanyl Patch (50mcg) change it every 3 days, also Oxycontin 40mg 3 times a day.

I have voluntarily decided to stop driving unless it is local, these meds are strong alone but them combined they are even stronger

Wow, that's a lot of meds. I had chronic head pain for almost 2 years and nothing worked. Coedine, Naproxen, Acetominophen & Coedine, Vicodin. Finally either something worked or it ran it's course. I hope it gets managable for you. That seems to be the first step in dealing with it - but IMHO, it's like finding a door handle in a pitch black room.

[kf0rt]

I have pretty much decoded to give this a try. I talked to an antenna guru friend of mine and he seems to think as it won't be the best it is certainly an excellent direction to go in. At first I didn't think I could solve the 3 bands on one mount but this is definately going to work.

I think you'll be reasonably pleased, Dave. I'd like to get mine up a little higher -- originally set this up "just to try it" and it worked well enough, I haven't touched it. Cushcraft also does all this in one antenna -- 6, 2 and 70cm all on one boom, but it costs $20 more than the separate antennas I have, and the boom is 6' longer. You might also consider going with 5 elements on 6 if you have the room.

Now... if 6 meters would just open. I've still got 9 states I'm looking for.

[kf0rt]

I'm thinking of doing the roof thing for HF -- maybe a small tribander or something. Of course, I've been "thinking about" that for a couple years now. Nothing like getting back into amateur radio to make a guy regret the house he bought 20 years ago...
Depends on what HF bands you are talking about. To get a good low angle of radiation with a horizontal antenna, a 40M Yagi needs to be up about 70 feet. You can get fairly good low angle radiation on 40 on the ground with a well-designed 2-element vertical phased array.

I'm just thinking 20-10. No room here to turn anything on 40, but a roof tower might make a good anchor for one end of some wire. I just have a 6BTV on HF now. It's better than nothing, but not by much!

I think you'll be reasonably pleased, Dave. I'd like to get mine up a little higher -- originally set this up "just to try it" and it worked well enough, I haven't touched it. Cushcraft also does all this in one antenna -- 6, 2 and 70cm all on one boom, but it costs $20 more than the separate antennas I have, and the boom is 6' longer. You might also consider going with 5 elements on 6 if you have the room.

Now... if 6 meters would just open. I've still got 9 states I'm looking for.

I saw the description for that antenna in the HRO catalog but was not very impressed with it. I have the room for the set up you have even though I can't get it up us high as I would like to.


Wow, that's a lot of meds. I had chronic head pain for almost 2 years and nothing worked. Coedine, Naproxen, Acetominophen & Coedine, Vicodin. Finally either something worked or it ran it's course. I hope it gets managable for you. That seems to be the first step in dealing with it - but IMHO, it's like finding a door handle in a pitch black room.

Yes it is a lot of meds but I'm able to function fairly well with them. The one thing I have chosen to stop doing is driving unless it is local, just don't want to take the chance of hurting anyone. I have tried some other meds, Vicodin is like candy to me I would have to take a whole lot for it to do any good. The one thing about the Oxycontin is that it is a 12 hour medication slow releasy but after 6-8 hours I start having pain issues. Doctor decided to change it to 3 times a day but the insurance company won't pay for it for 3 times a day since it is a 12 hour med. Worked around it by getting two prescriptions, one for two 40mg a day and two 20mg a day, just every 8 hours. I am going for these cold laser treatments that seem to be helping my neck out but only time will tell if/what kind of relief I'm looking at. My ultimate goal is to get off all these meds, I'm only 43 years old but feel like I'm 80.