? yagi element construction?

[AF4XK]

Hello guys.

I'd like to build my own 2 meter and 70 cm yagis for sats and make a few contacts before purchasing any additional antennas.

I've seen some antenna plans that suggest #8 AWG bare aluminum wire for the elements (pvc for boom). I can't find that gauge of bare aluminum wire locally and I have checked at Home Depot, Lowes, and Radio Shack. Can't even find anything close.

So what do you use for experimental homebrew yagi elements and where do you purchase it?

thanks.
chuck
AF4XK

[N9SOX]

If you're looking for a small Handheld Antenna...

I've used 1/8" Brass Rod available at most Hobby Stores for my two WA5VJB Antennas. Works just fine.

1/8" = 0.125"
I believe #8 Solid Wire is approximately 0.1285" O.D.

[N9SOX]

If PVC for the Boom is not to you're liking you can use 3/4"x3/4" or 1"x1" square wood stock sold at Home Depot. I believe it comes in 36" or 48" lengths. Costs a couple bucks and works really well for holding the small Elements in place.

A wood Broom Handle works as well if you happen to have one of those laying around and it's fairly straight.

HomeMadeAntenna.jpg

[WA4OTD]

This is a very easy antenna to make. I made one and it worked!

[AF4XK]

Thanks for the suggestions guys.

I'm really looking for multifunctional materials/ideas; all the way from hand-held combo, to individual sat antennas for up/down link. I'd like to even try constructing a long 144 yagi for EME JT65 operations. My homebrews would serve as a temporary (a number of months), experimental operation with plans to upgrade to quality antennas at some point.

[W5PFG]

#10 AWG household wire works wonders. I have made several demo antennas in a pinch.

Brazing rod from Lowe's or Home Depot also works very well. Coupled with a broomhandle, you can make a very functional yagi.

[KC8VWM]

Last time I checked Lowes and Home Depot sells sections of 10mm aluminum tubing.

Forget about broom handles, they also sell square aluminum "boom material"

Looking to build a long yagi? Try joining the square boom sections together using round tubing inside them like this:



Looking for a way to isolate the antenna elements above the boom?

Try these:




They are actually UV resistant electric fence insulators. They last for years and years in the outdoors. (perfect material for antenna building) Get them at any farm supply store. A bag of 25 are around 5 bucks.

Here's one I am using to secure an antenna element on the boom:



Hope that helps.

[VE1PEW]

Have you thought to check your local auto salvage yard? Radio antennas from a lot of cars are just stainless steel whips that last forever. And, you can get them dirt cheap. You can cut them with a small pair of bolt cutters very easily. Drill them through the boom or mount with insulators of your own design.

73,Paul
VE1PEW

[WA9SVD]

You can also get brass "brazing" rod from a local welding supply store. The elements may have to be slightly longer than with 10 AWG wire, but it works, and is less likely to bend. 1 lb. costs about $13.00 for 3/32" material. (Hint: 1 lb. of the same material will be enough to make emergency 144 and 222 MHz ground plane antennas.)

[KH2G]

1/8 brass brazing rod is plentiful and cheap at any welding supply. Nice thing about playing with the UHF VHF region is that things are small and easy to configure and reconfigure.
If you really want to play, make a boom of PVC and get some PVC "T" fittings and sand them out to just fit around the boom, fit some brass rod through them to make antenna elements You can then make one a driven element and a number of reflectors and directors so you will soon be able to discover the point of diminishing returns when more of either is not worth the time and trouble.
Enjoy
Dick