Easy antenna projects
These are basic antennas that are easy to build and suitable for the beginner, but useful to anyone.
These are projects intended for an individual to complete and take the result home. Some of these are completed designs for which we have parts and can build at any meeting. IF you want to build one of these, please notify us ahead of time (in discord or in previous meeting) so we can make sure we have enough parts for everyone who wants to build one.
If you would like to build one of the antennas that we don't have a selected complete design, bring it up at the meeting and we can discuss options and refine the selection.
Special antennas[edit]
We may have some parts for these, research to select or model a specific design is needed.
- quadrafiliar helical for 136Mhz weather sattelites
- antenna built, working on software setup
- flat patch antennas
- pick a design; we have some FR4 that can be milled
- cylindrical patch antenna
- needs research, fabricate (we have papers on this, needs to be modeled)
- magnetically shielded small loop
- can build for any frequency, use a section of coax and a connector. Used for direction finding
HF antennas[edit]
We have some parts for these.
| type | parts | availability |
|---|---|---|
| windom | wire | yes |
| balun | no | |
| double bazooka | coax | some |
| wire | yes | |
| feed mount | fabricate | |
| small loop | pipe or coax | maybe |
| 10kv capacitor | fabricate | |
| end fed with loading coil or balun | wire | yes |
| 9:1 balun? | no, fabricate | |
| coil: wire + form | fabricate |
UHF/VHF[edit]
The number indicates how many antennas we have parts for.
| Antenna | 2m | 70cm |
|---|---|---|
| tape measure yagi | 3 | N/A |
| wire J-pole | 4-5 (dual band) | |
| copper pipe J-pole | 1-2 (partial) | |
| moxon | some | partial |
| small loop for receving | yes | |
| part | material | qty needed |
|---|---|---|
| 2m Tape measure yagi | ||
| tape measure | 3 elements | (length?) |
| boom | 3/4" pvc pipe | length? |
| director mount | T connector | 1 |
| driven, reflector mount | cross connector | 2 |
| driven attachment | #20 hose clamp | 2 |
| director, reflector attachment | short screws | 2-4 |
| hair pin match | 12g wire | 5" |
| feed and termination | coax+connector | 1 |
| wire J-pole | ||
| radiator | RG75 | ~1m |
| matching section | ladder line | ~ 1/4 wl (calculate) |
| feed line | rg58? + connector | 1 |
| optional structural support | heat shrink | 1" |
| 70cm wire moxon | ||
| elements | wire | length? |
| spacers | 3d print | 2 |
| feed mount | 3d print | 1 |
| feed line | rg58?+connector | 1 |
| 70cm tape moxon | ||
| mounting board | coardboard | (size?) |
| elements | foil tape | (length) |
| feed point | panel mount bnc? | 1 |
| 2m wire moxon | ||
| elements | 6G or 8G wire | (length?) |
| spacers | 3d print | 2 |
| feed mount | 3d print | 1 |
| feed line | rg58?+connector | 1 |
| 2m pipe moxon | ||
| elements | copper pipe | (length?) |
| connectors | elbows | 4 |
| feed spacer | pvc? | short length? |
| feed mount | bottle cap? | 1 |
| feed pont | BNC through mount? | - |
| 2m pipe J-pole | ||
| base (optional) | copper pipe | any |
| elements | copper pipe | (length?) |
| connectors | copper elbow | 1 |
| copper T | 1 | |
| insulating mount plate | fabricate | 1 |
| feed point | BNC or so239 panel mount | 1 |
| feed attachment | short wires | ~2" |
| folding connectors (optional) | copper coupler | 2 |
| folding attachment (optional) | bungee cord | 1.5m |
| bungee attachment (optional) | endcap | 2 |
| eye hook | 2 | |
inventory[edit]
Parts available (inventory incomplete)
| part | qty available |
|---|---|
| tape measure | 3 spools |
| 3/4" pvc pipe | ends |
| 3/4 T connector | 0 |
| 3/4 cross connector | 0 |
| 1/2" self piercing screws | box of 100 |
| #20 hose clamp | 1 |
| 12 gauge zip cord | loose (length?) |
| RG58 coax with bnc-M termination | 0 |
| RG58 bmc-M crimp ends | 3? |
| RG58 | loose length? |
| RG75 | spool |
| wide flat short scrap wire | box |
| left over precut J-pole and moxon copper pipe | misc |
| mil spec WD1A phone zipline for HF antennas | 0.5km spool |
| copper or aluminum foil adhesive tape | roll |
| 4.13mm solid copper wire | |
| 3.3mm solid copper wire |