Hola, Patrons of WWRF!

We have talked about all kinds of antennas out here and other than Robalo, I don't know of many who are actually building and playing with them.

So I thought, why not have a little antenna building party right here on the WWRF during these next few winter months. Not only will you learn how to build your own beam, you'll learn the WHY behind the designs and WHY the elements are so long and WHY we use "x" amount of overlap, etc! I'm NOT going to spell out every little detail however; you will be required to THINK!

You can build a 3, 4 or 5 element yagi beam; I'll leave that up to you and include plans to build all three. If we do this right (and I usually do), you can start with a 3 element design (if that's all the money you have available for this project) and add directors later if you choose!

The plan will be to build this antenna with readily available parts and materials. Your antenna will NOT be some piece of crap and will most likely outperform your standard Maco. Chances are that you will have to spend a few dollars to do it right, too!

We will use the following materials and the quantity of tubes will be determined by the needs of your project.

(Boom = 6061-T6)
2" x .125"

(Elements = 6063-T832)
7/8" x .058" (for HD version)
3/4" x .058"
5/8" x .058"
1/2" x .058"

You can check with your local aluminum supplier for availability. This material is also available from Texas Towers and shipped via UPS (up to 6' lengths): http://www.texastowers.com/aluminum.htm

All aluminum will be 6' long and cut as needed. Local aluminum houses sell raw material in 12' lengths. You need to do the math if you buy lengths other than described.

We will also be buying hardware from DX Engineering and McMaster CARR. Again, if you have a local supplier, you are free to use them!

This antenna will handle an easy 5KW. Some will argue that you can buy a Maco for cheaper. They are probably right. However, you will not buy a BETTER antenna from Maco!

We'll get started shortly so start to think how many elements you want!

__________________
The BEST money you will EVER spend on a radio system is on the ANTENNA and FEEDLINE!
http://www.cbjunk.com/

A friends aluminum 5/8 blew down, so I recycled the aluminum ground plane into a 4-element beam for the 2-meter band. Works awesone. I used some 1.5 inch or so PVC for the boom and direct connect the dipole style driven element. I think I just need to add a 1:1 balun and it will be ToR...

I bought a friends Wilson Shooting Star for $35. I turned it into a 6 element beam for 6m. Fed it through a 4:1 coaxial balun with a hairpin match and it is a GREAT performer. Strong as hell too. Mother Nature won't be taking this one out. LOL

Thanks great ideal about time an online class I'm present and learning.

MC-

Good idea. Timing couldn't be better either, I'm getting ready to build a 4 element flatside to put up on my 2nd tower. Interested in seeing your construction techniques. Particularly how you're feeding it. As I recall, you're not a fan of gammas.

what boom length will you use?
i have a cushcraft 10-d4 that has 7/8 3/4 5/8 element taper,
the boom is cut down to about 14ft i think,
i will wait to see what boom and taper schedule your gonna use then decide if im cutting up the cushcraft

__________________
its all about the learning

MC will you be using some software as the bases for design? If so, have you tested such a design out in the real world?

I have tried such discussions using the Internet before, just one on one and trying to stay with only one issue or design at a time. I found such discussions were not as easy to communicate as it might appear without being able to see the demeanor and/or being able to respond interactively and without time delays.

The process has to be very well thought out and some form of discipline, control, and the ability to have consensus needs to be considered, or I see a bunch of individual ideas being presented and argued all at once and confusion following. Just something to consider in planning for such an effort! I don't mean to curtail the thinking process by individuals, but in a classroom setting the instructor can at least keep the current focus on one topic or change directions with everyone present at one point in time and maintain a little continuity of effort.

I don't mean to be rushing you or make light of the idea, but have you really considered the flow of communications in this process?

How will you start off this process?

I just got another Cushcraft antenna today. I also have a number of Mosley beams.

My plan is to build a OWA antenna (no matching device required......50 ohm DIRECT FEED......5KW plus easy!)

The boom will be 2", length dependent on number of elements.

Boom to element clamps will be DX Engineering BEB-2:
http://www.dxengineering.com/Product...D=61&DeptID=33
The BEB-2 accepts 7/8" elements Bob!

This antenna will be modeled by me and people smarter than me, and tested by everyone who makes one. This is a building project and not an open debate. People will get their shopping lists and free instruction how to build their own antenna. Then it will be up to them construct and experiment as they choose. The process will be simple and people will learn a LOT!

Sorry for the delay in answering and thanks for the comments Marconi!

__________________
The BEST money you will EVER spend on a radio system is on the ANTENNA and FEEDLINE!
http://www.cbjunk.com/

nice clamps, im keeping my eyes on this project.

__________________
its all about the learning

we are we with this?

__________________

If you run, you'll only die tired.
CDX-251,2SF251,AE926,