Have you checked out WA5VJB's cheap yagi antenna designs for AMSAT? If you have a soldering iron, you can get some 1/8" brass or bronze 36" brazing rods for the driven element and/or directors at a local welding shop for like $20 for 10 of them. The 3/4" square dowel is also a couple of dollars for 3'. I actually cut all of the elements for a 6 element 435 MHz yagi earlier today to test out a filter and LNA and I already have two identical 2 meter 3 element yagis made out of the same stuff for some phasing experiments (eventually) with the dual receiver on the LimeSDR. Best regards, Jordan KF5COQ

On Sun, Oct 22, 2017, 15:27 David Taylor [email protected] wrote:

I am just getting interested in Satellite work and I don't really have any money at all for antennas.

What is the easiest/chepest way to get into this part of the hobby as far as an antenna goes?

I have a Wouxun UV8D for a HT radio that I will use so I only plan to do FM work at the moment.

Thanks and 73

David N4DCT _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

The Arrow with the integrated diplexer is your best bet if you only have a single HT radio.

You can build a simple 3 element 2M and 5 element 70cm antenna for almost nothing. Google the term "tape measure antenna" and you'll find plans to build an antenna using a metal flexible tape measure.

You can use wood or PVC pipe for the boom. I've seen one of these work nicely with the SO-50 FM satellite.

I would recommend buying a second HT radio so you can operate full duplex and hear your voice on the downlink.

The 2nd radio is more important than buying a commercial made antenna.

I worked SO-50 with a long wipp antenna on a 5W HT. It doesn't take much when the satellite is directly overhead.

Good luck.

73 - Paul - W2HRO

On Oct 22, 2017 16:29, "David Taylor" [email protected] wrote:

I am just getting interested in Satellite work and I don't really have any money at all for antennas.

What is the easiest/chepest way to get into this part of the hobby as far as an antenna goes?

I have a Wouxun UV8D for a HT radio that I will use so I only plan to do FM work at the moment.

Thanks and 73

David N4DCT _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

On 10/22/17, David Taylor [email protected] wrote:

I am just getting interested in Satellite work and I don't really have any money at all for antennas.

What is the easiest/chepest way to get into this part of the hobby as far as an antenna goes?

<snip>

If you want to consider second-hand equipment, one good website to try is:

http://www.kwarc.org/swapshop/

I bought both my Yaesu FT-847 and ICOM IC-910 from that site. For the latter, I placed an ad for it and, within 2 days, I had 3 people offering to sell me their rigs.

Ham flea markets are another good source of second-hand gear, though that can be hit and miss, depending on what's being offered for sale. One year, at a flea market that's held annually in my city, I came home with a 2 m Yagi and a 6 m loop. Other times, I wondered why I bothered going.

Also, check if there are any swap-and-shop nets in your area where hams advertise items for sale or are looking for something in particular.

73s

Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL