Don's 2 Meter Extreme Dream Beam Antenna
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- Building the ultimate 2 meter ham radio beam antenna with local parts. Estimated at (12.5 dbd ) this video shows how to build it and the parts you will need, and analyzer performance stats for frequency and swr. UPDATED VIDEO ON OUR CHANNEL NOW.
SEVEN ELEMENT 14.5 dbd* MODEL. CHECK OUR CHANNEL.
Much has changed in the last 3 years on the materials and plans
so visit our webpage at extremedreambea... for the very latest measurements and material lists. The stuff in this video is a bit outdated. Read this thoroughly before building. Be sure to set youtube to play in HD format for any screen grabs and to view the plans and parts list at the end of the video. Because there is a certain amount of parallax involved in construction and bending and attachments of the wires and coax and with later modifications we removed the antenna and redefined the measurements further after making the video in an effort to be more clear.
From the bend to bend of each piece of copper, this is the measurements of the elements. Using any other screws can effect the frequency. From U to U or to the bends where you attach the screws are listed. The distance between the bends.
Please understand you must cut the wire longer to achieve this and your bending needs to be like the video shows. It is not super critical except for the driven element, but we wanted to be clear.
Distance inside the bends is shown below.
QRZ MEMBERS ONLY- SEE A DETAILED DESIGN WITH ALL THE LATEST FEATURES OF THIS PERFECTED DESIGN.
www.qrz.com/db/...
U----------------82 1/2"-----------------U Reflector
U------------78 5/8"-----------U DE
U------------74"-----------U Dir 1
U---------72"-------U Dir 2
U------70"------U Dir 3
2" of exposed unshielded rg8 or 213, 50 ohm coax to attach.- This is critical. Using smaller coax is unwise on 2 meter and will change the length needed of the unshielded coax for a perfect match. If you did use smaller coax you would peal back more shield, but it will exceed the coax guard and performance is lost in the feed line.
If you can test frequency resonance that is recommended but if the distance inside the bends matches, you will be very close to perfect resonance for 2 meters.
I just finished this antenna a couple of days ago. It was very easy to build. When I first transmitted I thought my SWR meter was broken because the needle didn't move from 1:1. BUT, the antenna was just RIGHT on 1:1 at 146mhz!!! Thanks guys. 73
Got to tell you guys that this was one of the most enjoyable home brew antenna videos I have watched. You guys made me feel like I was right there with you building it. Great job guys and a bad ass antenna. Thanks N2QKK Dave.
Your license expires soon buddy, might want to renew that. I'm also from the Rochester area btw.
Best 2m design out there. I use the 5L version, my buddy uses a 7L version. We talk simplex (over 17 miles) regularly at half a watt. My antenna is at 33 feet. His is at 24 feet. He can use his VX-8DR to talk to me on 50 milliwatts! Unfortunately half a watt is as low as I can go. The only downside to this antenna is weight. This things are absolute pigs lol. We have redesigned them using fiberglass booms and spreaders with aluminum directors and reflector. 4lbs for the 7L version. Right around 3lbs for the 5L. I can hit repeaters at 80 miles day or night. There is a fairly tall repeater at over 100 miles that I get into on a regular basis. LOVE this antenna. The only people that say that this design isn't worth the effort are the people who haven't used one. Great job, fellas!
Nice antenna. And describing lengths and showing method used.
Nice to see y’all experimenting
To me, that’s Ham Radio!
-Bob. KQ2Q
Just found this channel. Great work guys. 👍
Don, you and you friend had make a great job with that antenna, I will try to biuld it one day.
Greatings from the CE zone.
73´s
XQ6WBM
Wow... I was thinking, "What are they doing, making a pvc horizontal dipole beam?" Nooooo, its a loop beam! That's pretty slick. :-)
I really enjoyed this video guys. With regards to the UPVC end caps, if you ask for those over here in the UK they look at you as though you’re stupid. That’s usually followed with, “why would you want to cap the end of a pipe?” We can order them from overseas via eBay but there are so many UPVC hacks that could be made if we could get end caps. Take care guy. I’m going to search for that seven element beam you mentioned within the description. 73’s and kind regards, Karl. MW6TBI.
I never see something like that.
Perfect! Congratulation!
Excellent! It's always awesome to get a good contact on a home built antenna. I need to make another 2 meter yagi. It's pretty amazing what you can do with a few watts and a good antenna.
That is exactly right! 73
Thanks for the fun video. I am from North-East Arkansas and just got my ticket. Please make more ham videos.
+Cameron Wilson where are you at in NE Ark. I'm in SEMO and gonna start my antenna build this weekend, will be going up 50ft will try contact when finished. drop your call sign so I can map you out. 73's. KEOBUN
Great job….EXCELLENT….your video style should be mimicked by other UA-camrs.
Thanks for the diagram and parts list. walt K2CXP north of NYC 75 miles
Thanks. We had a lot of fun for sure. 73
amazing well done lads
To WX9DX Don was using the same setup. The receive sure beats the 38 foot jpole. It is highly directional for sure. It has a small tight width lobe from each side that has considerable distance also. 73
why not bolt the directors ends together with a short screw and enclose connection with in the tubing.????
i want one now :) hello from searcy county!
You have to remember to adjust the element lengths because the PVC pipe changes the velocity factor, that's why you were off first try.
Interesting project, gosh them $50 HTs are getting popular.
Wish I could buy solid copper wire like that.
Down to $30 now
That is basically the same antenna that is in The ARRL Antenna Handbook 21st Edition starting on page 18 - 41. This one has one more director and the elements are round rather than square. They are a great antenna and with one extra director will just make it that much tighter and a better front to back ratio. I built one of these about 20 years ago but I didn't glue the parts together so I could break it down if need be.
The barbell @13:43 is thinking, _"The last time you used me to exercise was when you bought me, picked me up, and drove me to your basement. Now I'm an anvil?!"_
Awesome and inexpensive build
Also enjoyed all the music ! Could you send a list of the music ?
Nice Video,, My next Project will be great for my first directional antenna thanks guys..and thanks to Don for sharing the extreme dream beam with the world.
KG5BUW
73
Hurry up. get it going.
enjoyed your video guys...thanks
Michael Clarke ii
Awesome I will have to make one some day.....looks easy to do just a few fittings and
screws a good sable pole and the wire looks good give me a shout some time on 940
KG5CUO
Uncle Tommy Vk3ut well done boys enjoyable watching your construction . Keep up the good work . Cheers Mates . Greg Vk3ut .
Will do. 73s sir thanks.
Wow, thanks for sharing!!!
You are most welcome. 73
hey guys that was one of the most interesting antenna builds iv seen in a long time, and one heck of a good job too. it gave me a few good ideas as well im still stuck on that damn ol 11 meter band, and I am studying for my technician test so I can get off that 11 meter hell channel, and get my Icom hooked up, and talking with some good folks who enjoy the radio like we all do. good job guys hope to be a licensed hammer here real soon. thank you for the video guys that was really neat. "god bless" all. ben.. "unit928"
Thanks! Get that license! You will love it.
You most likely have 3 of the 4 watts lost in the cable. LOL And what happens on TX happens on RX also. So yeah 22 miles on simplex with a HandHeld and antenna just around 25 feet, yeah it seems to be ok! What antenna was the other station using?
73
Jimmy, ARRL TC, WX9DX
Great job Guys
You've got to love the 1 foot RG8 jumper from the HT to the SWR meter because we all know that .001 DB of loss you would get using an rg316 jumper instead would be to much. If you are worried about loss then get rid of those garbage PL259's and replace them with N connectors.
That was awesome guys
Great project but what kind magic dust did thy use to come up with 12.5 dbd on what looks like maybe a 5ft boom? I don't think so guys. The KF1O design from Directive Systems Engineering 12ele yagi is 12.6dbd on a 2.5 wavelength boom.17.4ft Case closed...
I built it fantastic antenna made so very nice contacts on it in 🏴scotland🏴 cheers guys de 2M0KIE
Also added the build video on my youtube ch
Nice video, looks like a good resonate antenna. 73 KF5VTQ
Hands on the steering wheel, mate!
Kalau main di 144 panjan detailnya mulai revlekto sampai direx berapa bos, Indonesia hadirrrrr🙏🙏🙏
thanks so much guys.Love home brewin' antennas.You made me want to try this one!
KA3RVF
If a person were to use 1/4" tubing for the loops what modifications would be necessary? I assume they would all need to be shortened a small amount.
My own testing shows a poor performance with larger wire. I can't explain it but gains of bandwidth are mythical.
no call sign yet but i think this is a great antina just a small tip heat shrink tubing then you will not need so much silocone (spelling is not my strong point)
Do you have a detailed list of materials I would need for construction?
Man, you fellas got it good down there! It's hard to scare up anyone on 2 meters here in the Chicago area. 222 is a lot better, more of a gentlemens' band. I'm going to have to try to build one of these, with horizontal polarization, for working across Lake Michigan on 2 meter sideband. Friendly folks in your neck of the woods, though. 73 de ka0pmd
Have you upped the power to 50 watts yet? Sure you will see a huge difference for sure!!! Great job guys...
Oh yea..lol it rocks. ERP is Awesome.
What about soldering the ends of the loops rather than attaching with a bolt?
New Technician License in hand. . Very interesting antenna. The element lengths were different what was said in the video to the lengths listed above. Is the one above after it was built and "adjusted". Also the dowel rod ( diameter color coded, black ). Didn't show it being inserted where. Through the length of the boom? How is it secured. Length of the machine screws increased to allow the diameter of the wire? Good, simple video. Tnx. 73's KK4ZMT
I love home made antennae. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to get my Tech. license. What is your QTH?
Very cool!
Thanks brother!
hey great video guys,..i'm just wondering if this can handle 160w of power.
PS I've subscribed and liked video thanks 73..
Our pleasure. 73
Please, note that the Center of Gravity (CG) and the Center of Pressure (CP) are seldom coïncident; it would make a lot more sense to mount the boom to the mast at the CP rather than the CG because dynamic (wind) forces can be considerably stronger than static gravity. On the other hand, it probably doesn't make a lot of difference with a low-element-count VHF (or UHF) Yagi.
Also, it would be instructive if you published a table of element spacing.
OOPS! Just saw the end of the video.
EdWatts (-:
Enjoyed video, good design and look like a good performer too video has been shared in Facebook and email. You can't been homebrew antennas, I'm hoping to build a loop antenna for 20m - I need to get to the hardware store for some pvc piping and wooden dowels etc, it's getting round to it at the moment - I've got a few projects that I've been overdue to do now the weather is great time to get the tool box out 73 Rob Swansea UK 2W0BJR 163MPT065..
I have used it for a long time. Never fails to impress me how much gain and directionality it has. thanks. 73
Good Construction do you test it on 2m SSB for horizontal use ? How it works or is it only for Vertical use?
you had it set perfect for murs before you added length to it. how much difference can you tell from a ground plane. I got a 6db tram 1400 up 61 ft and can talk simplex to mobiles up to 30 miles. so if I went with the 14element hygain that is 15.? dB gain how much farther could I talk to a mobile simplex ? I THINK ABOUT MAYBE TWICE AS FAR OR 50 MILES DO YOU GUYS HAVE ANY IDEA? thanks rough rider from se oklahoma.
How do you connect those other wires together
I thought I read somewhere the 7 element was a 2m / 70 cm beam am I mistaken ??
Nice video! If I may ask, what HT were you using in the initial test? Looked like a Baofeng f8hp+ but could not quite make it out. Thanks!
question:
I can understand with how many watts and antenna is your friend transmiting at the minute 22:30 aprox. when he say he can ear you with 2 bars, also, how many bars did you have when you ear him?.
73´s
XQ6WBM
so how many feet of pvc pipe and how many feet of wirealso how long is the pieces holding the reflecters and driving elements
Is it 50 ohm feed or 75
Howdy from W5DMG. Just curious about your antenna analyzer for checking the SWR. I noticed it had a digital vfo on it with the meters above it, what brand and model is it.?
how can you mount a second antenna over the dream beam on a tower mast (hexbeam) above thanks 73
Do you have a high res version of the diagram I see on QRZ? This video is awesome. Really fun and brings some color to a rather dated hobby. "Conflict of interest" doesn't mean "conflict" as you use it in the video, by the way. Again, excellent video. DE W0XO
Use hd setting on youtube. Yes it is on qrz. KG5ABL Not sure if it is high rez...
ThePress Man Thank you.
Do you guys have a 2m/70cm dual band Dream Beam design?
Nearly discovery channel quality! You guys need to get this message out more, over. ... 73 de HL2ZII
turn it into a helical type. and be amazed
Hey guys, great video! can i sub stranded wire for the solid? only cause I have a bunch of stranded thanks
Solid only.
written dimensions?
I see you have a furry helper as-well. lol
I'd like to make one
How did you guys match this antenna?
The antenna is matched by length to perfect resonance to the 2 meter frequency, in full wave length.- We sweeped it using a frequency meter and cut it accordingly.
Ah, gotcha. Neat idea!
4:38 Cat interface. Not working....
where did you get the original plans. Can this be built as a vertical?
1973 qst mag. Not sure on the vertical.
Genius :)
Broke people have to be a bit smarter to keep up and in this case it is a leader in 2 meter beams. 73
Would it negatively impact the antenna to paint it?
Below 400 MHz no.
Just make sure there is no metal in the paint
Metallic paint won't cause an issue unless it wasn't a good conductor which most aren't. Rob is right with the fact that reflections from metallic paint are a problem from most metallic paints and it causes reflections.
Is your call KF5OD?
AF5OD
Nice.. N6ROC
Thanks very much sir. 73
How many db you think you got out of this antenna ?
14 dbd. Full wave elements and spacing are key to high gain on this design.
@@pressmantheshow Not even 14 dBi. Maybe 11 dBi ,so it is 9dBd. That boom is too short in this wavelength to be much gain, despite full wavelength element. 14dBd is an antenna of 8 metres boom al least.
Ooops. I looked again and thinks it might be a uv5r. Thx.
Rob Leatherwood uv5r is correct. 73s check out the updated video of the making of this beam and a super powerful 7 element version.