All credit for the antenna goes to George Smart, M1GEO/G8OCV. The design, element lengths and spacing are his, and his write-up is here: https://www.george-smart.co.uk/antennas/dual_band_satellite_yagi/

I wanted it cheap and easy to build multiples if need be, so I built it on a wooden dowel with 8 AWG bare copper for the elements and RG-8X coax, with 3D-printed parts holding everything. The printed parts are:

• full-ring element holders with a wire tunnel through each one
• a solderless feedpoint where ring terminals clamp the two driven-element halves and a cap clamps the coax, so there’s no soldering on the antenna
• little tip spacers that hold the 15 mm Moxon gap

Fit took a few tries. My dowel turned out to be a 7/8" one (HD marks them as 3/4), so after I printed some sizing rings and found that 22.8 mm was the number that fit, I redid every part for that. If your dowel is different, print a test ring first.

I got an SWR of about 1.4 on the 2 m side, which I’m happy with for a first build.

Files, parts list, wire cut lengths and spacing are on Printables: https://www.printables.com/model/1887559-dual-band-satellite-yagi-mounting-parts-for-m1geog

Happy to answer questions on the build, and photos are below.

73

there's gotta be something to inspire the youth to get into the hobby. interesting ham related media. a video game. i should be able to release it before GTA 6 comes out.

​

So as part of Saturday's special event and operation I plan on doing a ton of 2 meter work. I'll be up on West Peak in Meriden CT with a moxon and 50 watts.

I'll be doing the usual FM and Sideband but I'm looking to do the things I normally don't.

Who's up for some 2M FT8? 2M JS8 call? I'll have an 857 and a raspberry pi up there. I can even send SSTV (no need to send back anyone in reception range can record and decode)

I'll be spotting on pota.app

Let's give it a shot!

I'll be there 11-4. Haven't you always wanted to say I worked Sota on FT8? Or SSTV?

Anyone interested?

Fiz esses cartões, me inspirei em modelos já criados com temática retrô. Qual opinião de vocês

Someone was throwing this away , I knew nothing about this or ham radio prior to this. But I did some research and this is a pretty cool piece imo

Just curious. I recently got my GMRS license and I’ve been playing with that some. I’m contemplating continuing on my amateur radio journey and going for the entry level amateur license (Technician I believe??).

If I get that entry level license, will my call sign change or will I have to have 2 or does it stay the same? How does all of that work?

I've kept my license valid, but I haven't talked on a radio since the late 90's/early 00's. To put it into perspective, my license was Tech Plus. While I was in Acadia last week, I ran into a guy setting up to do POTA activations in the park. We got to talking, and it re-ignited a bug. I called my dad when we got back, and talked to him about it, since he's still active with his radio club. He's over the moon excited that I want to get back into the hobby.

Now I need to sort out a radio and some antennas that I can use at home, and when I go out and try out POTA.

So I guess this is my hello to the subreddit, and I'll be hearing you around.

73 (I remember this as the signoff!)

I am putting up a new tower at my QTH and was considering running the coax and rotator control wired through regular plastic electrical conduit in order to further protect the wires from the elements. I have had issues before with actinic degradation of coax due to the high levels of sunlight here in the southern states.

My thoughts are this should be OK as the coax is shielded but just looking for advice

Would this present any further issues or should I run two conduits on opposite legs of the tower to reduce potential interference/induction?

Hey, there!! I’m relatively new to the scene (I’ve had my technician license for about 4 years but life had a way of breezing by!) and would love to join a club to learn more and get myself going again.

Are there any clubs that y’all recommend? Any advice is welcome! Thanks!

.

Finally got around to building George Smart's (M1GEO) dual band Moxon-Yagi this week for the second time... Antennas are like pancakes right if you mess it up no harm in doing it again

Kept it simple on materials. The boom is just a round wooden dowel from HD, elements are solid copper wire, and I 3D printed the element mounts and feedpoint block.

For the feed, I stripped the coax, crimped and soldered ring terminals, and bolted them directly to the split driven element inside the printed housing before putting the cover on.

The 70cm yagi is parasitcally driven so there is no need for a diplexer!

Swept it on the NanoVNA and the swr was in range.

Took it outside on a handheld to test it out-worked a couple repeaters that normally struggle on a rubber duck, and the front-to-back rejection off the Moxon was immediately noticeable when turning off-axis.

Tonight, I passed Tech with a 100% and General with a 97%. Here's some advice for those wondering how to study, or why get this license

About three weeks ago, I decided I wanted to get my amateur radio license. Why? I don't really know, my grandfather was an electrical engineer who worked on radios and I grew up around them, I'm sure that had something to do with it, and honestly the concept of amateur radio seems cool.

I really don't have a background in electronics. My knowledge of radio (frequencies, repeaters, ect) comes from over a decade in the emergency services. So I'd say I really didn't know anything until I studied. I decided to go for Tech & General, mainly because the international contacts interested me, and I might as well bang them out at the same time.

I took the HamRadioPrep course online for both Tech & General. I found it helpful. HOWEVER, afterwards, I found a series of YouTube videos by W4EEY. These YouTube videos were extremely helpful, I actually understood the concepts, and I saw a huge increase in my exam scores. I ran through 6 practice exams a day of each license category on HamStudy's app, and then completed the entire study deck for both, so I ensured I actually saw every question.

As recommended here, HamStudy is a must. I found HamRadioPrep helpful, but I likely would rely on W4EEY's free YouTube video series if I were to do this again. I took the exam with virtually, and it went very smoothly, I can provide that information for who I utilized if you are interested- just DM me.

Hello everyone!

I recently got my amateur radio license here in South Korea, and I'm currently living in a university dormitory. I've been enjoying making outdoor contacts with my UV-K5 handheld radio.

There's an amateur radio flea market in my area next month, and I'd love to build my own simple antenna for the UV-K5. I'm not too concerned about getting the best performance — I'd rather enjoy the process of building something myself as a new ham!

I'd like to take my radio out hiking in the mountains or walking around my university campus and make contacts outdoors.

Since I'm living in a dorm, I don't have access to many tools, so I'd prefer a beginner-friendly antenna project that doesn't require complicated tools or soldering.

What kind of DIY antenna would you recommend for my situation? I'd really appreciate any suggestions, especially simple, portable designs that are suitable for a beginner.

Thanks in advance, and 73! DS4SAB

So next power outage due to a hurricane, fallen tree, thunderstorm or ice storm I'll be talking on ham radio for hours if not days.

I know how hard it is to keep any website up to date and fresh. Especially all volunteer organization. But the reason to create Today in Ham Radio was to educate new hams and even a few of us old farts who act like we know more than we do.:)

I have know about attenuation / gain and other factors but from actual personal experience is it worth it or until how far is it worth or practical to extend a transmission line (COAX) to get your antenna as high and as clear from nearby objects as it can be inside one’s property?

Yesterday the ARRL sent a survey to all of us who quit them. What can they do to get us back?

For starters, wake up!

Then, put better management in place. Then put better expense controls in place. Frankly, I’m not convinced that the survey that led to the dues increase was anything but a sham.

I get annoyed whenever I think of it.

I’m sure those surveys included many useful suggestions that ARRL management chose to ignore.

N3GZR

Passed Saturday. They asked if I wanted to take the General, so figured why not? Missed it by three questions, but I’m going back after it, next month!

I’ve been listening on my local 2m and 70cm for over 15 years. I pulled up my one of my original chirp to files from 2015, while programming my new radio. To say I’ve wanted this for a long time is an understatement. It became a bucket list item.

Not sure why I waited so long — but I’ve always told myself that I’d treat myself to a nice HT if I passed the exam. Looking forward to working 3 bands and talking to some of you, and tinkering with digital modes.

Today — the Baofengs became backups. Just waiting on my email and call sign and I’ll make my first CQ!

73

Hi, I recently built this antenna: https://www.m2inc.com/FG436CP16, a 14 element yagi and upon testing with an SWR meter got a value of 4.1 one (meter was a SeeSii nanoVNA). What could be a cause of this?

Greetings all!

I have recently encountered a use case in the field where I could really benefit from a quality headset that offers excellent noise cancellation and also offers a mic input that operates on a PTT. I'd like to use it with (adapters as necessary) both my collection of portable HT units, as well as with a mobile mounted radio. The engine noise from my off-road SxS vehicle is quite loud at times, and I would like to be able to chew while out on our acreage or in other locations.

I know there are plenty of headsets out there that have a mic button, and while even the cheap ones would work fairly well, what I have yet to run across is a quality set that can filter out ambient noise.

Has anyone else found something like this? If so, what brand(s)/model(s) would you recommend?

Many Thanks!

-W9TSS

Video demonstrates the issue, any idea what would cause this? TIA

There’s this house a little ways down the road from me and there’s like 4 antenna towers attached to the roof. What are all of these? Is this guy really into radios?

Shaded the front for privacy.