My preference is to build something

Hi Jeremy !

Yesterday I finished constructing my new antenna for 70cm, a 16 elements DK7ZB.

My Requirements: - Needs to work for EME at 432 MHz (15.5 dBd / 16 elements has been used successfully by others) - Needs to work for satellite communication (needs to elevate up to 90 degrees: can not be longer as 4 meter) - Avoid complex circular polarization this time (linear polarization had proven to work fine for Cubesats)

Selected design: - 16 elements DK7ZB - 15.5 dBd - length 3.86 meter

Results: - Fantastic ! - Compared to the 12 elements beam I can decode Cubesats (FO-69, O/OREOS) now much earlier - Decoding (not hearing!) FO-69 improved from 5..7 degrees elevation to 2..3 degrees - Have not done any EME tests yet

Here are the photo's: http://www.pa3guo.com/dk7zb_70cm.html

Btw: not sure if building is actually cheaper as buying: this antenna costed me ~90$ (but it is more fun !)

-- Henk, PA3GUO