70cm 18el Yagi construction details

Added on 2005-06-14                   

The 70cm yagi design was based on the famous design that appear in the ARRL antenna handbook. But the element lengths were modified slightly in order to obtain the feed point impedance that I wanted.

The computer modeling using YO software shows that the feed point is around 18 + 20j. But it is possible to raise the impedance to about 24 + 10j by shortening the first director of this design by 3mm. That is exactly what I did. Because my initial try was to go for the gamma match as the 2m yagi. But then I found that the SWR bandwidth is too low with the gamma matching and wanted to try the T match as described in the ARRL handbook. The exact dimensions were used but the only exception was that I used RG213 cable for the impedance transformer instead of the RG141 mentioned in the book. This yields a slightly shorter cable length corresponding to the velocity factor change.

For all the detailed construction details, please refer to the ARRL Antenna handbook.

 

The T Match

I have used a T-match in place of the much simpler gamma match . The gamma match was tried but the SWR bandwidth was very narrow. The T-match SWR bandwidth for <1:1.7 is about 1.8 times that of the gamma match. Also a flat SWR response was obtained in the 433.5 - 438.0 MHz range with the T match.

Many hams think that the T match is difficult to construct. There is a truth in that. But once you get hold of the design, it is just a little extension from the gamma match.

I have used RG 213 for the 180°  phasing network. The inner conductors are attached to the T match bars (3mm brass welding rods) using copper solder lugs and connected using self tapping screws to the 3/8" aluminum pipes. See the above picture.

 

 

The Measured SWR across the frequency band.

Frequency

430.000
430.250
430.500
430.750
431.000
431.250
431.500
431.750
432.000
432.250
432.500
432.750
433.000
433.250
433.500
433.750
434.000
434.250
434.500
434.750
435.000
435.250
435.500
435.750
436.000
436.250
436.500
436.750
437.000
437.250
437.500
437.750
438.000
438.250
438.500
438.750
439.000
 

SWR

2
1.8
1.7
1.5
1.25
1.2
1.6
1.8
2
2.2
2.4
2.4
2.45
2.4
2.4
2.3
2.1
2
1.5
1.6
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.5
1.5
1.9
1.9
2
2.1
2.1
2.1
2.1
2
1.9
1.7
1.6
1.6
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So far the antenna is working fine for satellite up linking and down linking. The main feeder is 1/2" Heliax . The plan is to improve this antenna further for satellite work and maybe for moon bounce at a later stage.

This antenna delivers a sharp beam as stated in the original design. Therefore critical adjustment is required in LEO satellite work.

-4S7AB Kamal