Amateur Radio

Stretched WA5VJB Cheap Yagi for 70cm

Design rationalization proceeded much the same as for the 2 meter 10 element Yagi. The boom in this case was a length of 1x1 trim,primed and painted to protect it from the weather. The driven element was cut and formed from 1/8" brass rod; the other elements were cut from aluminum fence wire.

The antenna had its first acid test during the January 2009 VHF Sweepstakes. I did nearly as well on 70cm as I did on 6 meters,and that's with just 10W on 70cm vs. 100W on 6 meters. I netted one guy clear down around Fort Pierce,right on about 100 miles away. I can't wait for the June and September contests,where VHF/UHF propagation is generally much better.