[NLRS] Starter station help

[David Palm]

Hi Bill,

I'm a huge fan of WA5VJB's "cheap yagi" designs:
http://www.wa5vjb.com/yagi-pdf/cheapyagi.pdf

They are very cheap, super-easy to build, repeatable, and perform great.
Unlike so many antenna designs out there, these have been not only modeled
using software, but have been extensively tested on antenna ranges as well.
The same goes for the N6NB "quagi", which is also cheap, easy to build,
packs a lot more punch than the "cheap yagis" (albeit on a longer boom), and
also has lots of range testing to back up its claims:
http://commfaculty.fullerton.edu/woverbeck/quagi.htm

As for six meters, I have on my roof now a 2-element shortened yagi with
coaxial cable for the elements from this design:
http://www.hamuniverse.com/K4mmg2and6meter.html

Although I'm planning on upgrading at some point, I certainly have had great
success with this.  Obviously there's not a lot of forward gain, but the f/b
rejection is nice.  A 6 meter moxon would be even better in that
department.  I thought that this design looked robust, but there are
others:  http://www.n3ox.net/projects/sixmoxon/

Based on correspondence with WA5VJB I have modeled a 3-element, 6 meter
"cheap yagi" which looks promising which I plan to build "soon", but
obviously that doesn't help now.

Rig-wise, I love my FT-897 for a starter radio on 2 and 6, with bonus play
on 432 MHz.  It has made a great IF for a 222 transverter as well, with the
ability to turn its output down to 5 watts just on 28 MHz, while still doing
full output on 50, 144, and 432 (nothing to remember).  My IC-746 is also a
great performer on 2 and 6 meters with the full 100 watt punch on 2 meters.

Hope this is helpful, from one VHF-UHF newbie to others.

73,

David  W9HQ



On 7/30/10, Bill Davis Jr <cqbilld at msn.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
> GA guys
>
>   I have agreed to assist Jim K0MHC with some suggestions for "starter
> stations" for 6 and or 2m. ( For the Weak Signal Recruiting Tool) The idea
> is that we had a active ham who is interested in weak sig ops on those
> bands. Perhaps he is already active on FM and may even have a "brick" usable
> on SSB.
>
>   Do you have a favorite (inexpensive/simple) antenna or rig that you would
> recommend to someone for a starting station? I am looking at stations built
> around a TS700 or FT290R, cheap yagi and a brick for 2m. Just one example.
>
>   6m antennas that outperform a dipole and are simple/cheap would be of
> interest. Have you ever built a moxon, small yagi or small quad?? Got one
> that you would recommend?
>
>   Going with a transverter, anything else out there like the TenTec 1210
> for 2m or the TenTec 1208 for 6m .... they would drive that brick nicely if
> the newbie can keep drive power under control. I'm a bit nervous about that.
>
>   I'm looking for your experience ... I bet some of the rovers starting out
> had some approaches that would be similar to what a newbie would have a
> chance with.
>
>   THANKS ... 73  Bill  K0AWU  EN37ed
>
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