A cheap yagi is probably the best thing to get started with an HT.
http://www.wa5vjb.com/references/Cheap%20Antennas-LEOs.pdf
The most effective omni antennas are probably parasitic lindenblads, but omnis are always a compromise, especially if you are not in a very low noise area.
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/70ParaLindy.pdf
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/An-EZ-Lindenblad-...
Some other options include CJUs and IOios.
https://www.amsat.org/station-and-operating-hints/
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Fri, May 3, 2019 at 4:59 PM Zach Metzinger via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
On 5/3/19 3:19 PM, Devin L. Ganger via AMSAT-BB wrote:
I'm looking to work with my son (who will be studying to get his
Technician license later this month) on building a UHF/VHF pair of eggbeater antennas. I've found a few papers online, but does anyone have a good reference to a detailed design?
Does the ARRL Antenna book latest edition have any significant coverage
of eggbeaters at all? I have an older version that has nothing.
Also, most of the designs I see are for a single band. If you're
deploying a pair for satellite operations, do you simply attach them through a duplexer? I have a Diamond MX-72N that I picked up a while ago for using with dual Baofengs, but it's been sitting in my drawer since I picked up my TH-D72A. It has a 1.6~150MHz lead and a 350~460MHz lead.
Hello Devin,
Notwithstanding the unhelpful, verging on rude, comments from others on this list, here's a good video on the performance achieved by AA4KN with the Texas Potato Masher.
https://www.facebook.com/153679794647788/videos/texas-potato-masher-antenna-...
How to build:
http://wb5rmg.somenet.net/k5oe/Texas_Potato_Masher_2.html
Ideally, you'd benefit from a LNA _at the antenna_, to set the system noise figure early. This becomes very important if you have any length of coax between the antenna and the rig.
I'm glad you and your son are building parts of your station! That's something to be said in these times of buying your way into the hobby. See what can be done on a shoestring budget and learn while you experiment!
(and I love the Tron reference)
73,
--- Zach N0ZGO _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb