I am preachin' to the choir here with this post, I am sure. But since Southern California was under STORMWATCH again last night (we're expecting at least 0.03" of precipitation), I decided to build one of those cheap "tape measure 2M Yagi" antennas from plans seen all over the Web.
I mean, I mention them during my satellite presentations as an affordable entry into high-gain ... I have a couple links on my Work-Sat Web site for plans ... I can see in theory where they should work - but I've never built one myself.
So I stuck the PVC pipes together ... soldered the matching element ... straightened it all out, and took it outside for a test.
OH MY GAWD.
This is something that EVERY ham should do. What a dramatic increase in a handheld's performance a couple dollars' worth of stuff can accomplish! I heard a NOAA WX station (technically, out of range for this 2M Yagi) in San Diego that I have never heard from the house before. Every repeater of the six I immediately hit were received more clearly than with even the best of HT antennas ... and as good or better than my Cushcraft A148-3S (retailing for sixty bucks).
Sorry - have to stop writing. I am way too old to get this excited about this hobby ...
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com
I've used the same tape-measure antenna with a dual-band HT for quite a few portable satellite contacts, as well.... it works amazingly well for being a "2-meter only" antenna! In fact, there's a picture of me working AO-27 with it on my QRZ listing....
George, KA3HSW
----- Original Message ----- From: "Clint Bradford" clintbradford@mac.com To: "AMSAT BB" amsat-bb@amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, December 22, 2009 12:13 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Another Bradford DUH! Moment
I am preachin' to the choir here with this post, I am sure. But since Southern California was under STORMWATCH again last night (we're expecting at least 0.03" of precipitation), I decided to build one of those cheap "tape measure 2M Yagi" antennas from plans seen all over the Web.
I mean, I mention them during my satellite presentations as an affordable entry into high-gain ... I have a couple links on my Work-Sat Web site for plans ... I can see in theory where they should work - but I've never built one myself.
So I stuck the PVC pipes together ... soldered the matching element ... straightened it all out, and took it outside for a test.
OH MY GAWD.
This is something that EVERY ham should do. What a dramatic increase in a handheld's performance a couple dollars' worth of stuff can accomplish! I heard a NOAA WX station (technically, out of range for this 2M Yagi) in San Diego that I have never heard from the house before. Every repeater of the six I immediately hit were received more clearly than with even the best of HT antennas ... and as good or better than my Cushcraft A148-3S (retailing for sixty bucks).
Sorry - have to stop writing. I am way too old to get this excited about this hobby ...
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com
On 22 Dec 2009 at 10:13, Clint Bradford wrote:
Date sent: Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:13:24 -0800 From: Clint Bradford clintbradford@mac.com Subject: [amsat-bb] Another Bradford DUH! Moment To: AMSAT BB amsat-bb@amsat.org
I am preachin' to the choir here with this post
and as good or better than my Cushcraft A148-3S (retailing for sixty bucks).
Sorry - have to stop writing. I am way too old to get this excited about this hobby ...
I don't want to be a trouble maker but did you ever think your A148-3S was developing some issues with the years? I will pay your S&H in full just shipped your A148-3S to me and i will even add 25$ to pay the hardware used to build your new tape measure antenna.
Plus a bonus donation of 10$ to AMSAT-NA. (no string attached)
"-"
Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe DSTAR urcall VE2DWE WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE
participants (3)
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Clint Bradford -
George Henry -
Luc Leblanc