This photo shows myself and RC, KE6BGN, attempting contacts during Field Day 2011.
It is not easy to get a good photo of this antenna, since it is painted a subdued beige, and tends to blend in with everything.
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I started out a while ago to build an antenna for FM satellites based on
"Cheap Yagi Antennas" designed by Kent Britain, WA5VJB.
My previous article on "Cheap Yagi" antennas show my earlier efforts.
My first attempt at a Yagi for FM Sat use was actually a pair of yagi antennas, one a four element 2Meter antenna and the other an eight element version cut for 435. Each was on a 1x2 five feet long, and I would ty-rap them together at a 90 degree angle. this was very unweildy and not at all easy to aim by hand for a 10 to 12 minute pass. No one ever told me ham radio required so much upper-body strength!
My current bash at it is a three element 2 meter and 4 element 435 antenna on a common 1x2. This is much lighter an easier to hold an aim than the larger one I started with. This version has plenty of gain for a decent pass, say 30 degrees or higher. For construction details, check my article on 220 and 440 Cheap Yagis on the Ham Project page.
I use separate HTs to transmit and receive. This gives two advantages: you can hear your returned signal from the satellite and tell if you are readable, and it makes it easy for two people to operate as a team. I prefer to operate with two people. One steers the antenna and listens, and the other logs and transmits if there is an opening for a contact. I tried it the other way around, and found that steering and talking at the same time is a bit too much for me to keep track of. Steering while listening to signal quality and adjusting to changes seems much more natural. Using an audio recorder and logging later makes thing much easier. Of course this means you need two people, but my wife is a ham, and I have a friend (maybe two).
The only issue I have now with working FM Sats is that I live in southern California. When a satellite is in view for me, it is view for about 15% of the hams in the US. You need a shoehorn to get in. I guess it is a matter of getting more comfortable with the operating practices, but I will be mostly listening for a while yet. Actually, that is always a good way to operate...