I have used a ELK for satellites and it works great. I generally use it on a tripod in my bedroom with the radio about 30 ft away. I point it west and I can hit a repeater at at 10 miles away, a 447MHz repeater at about 300 degrees (30 degrees N of W) at 30 miles, and a 2m repeater at 60 miles due east (the back side of the antenna!). I can make full quieting contacts on all three without moving the antenna using 25watts. It has wider lobes than the Yagi, and less back to front ratio. However it has a very good gain. I forget the specs, but it is quite good. It also performs very well on SSB and I have gotten a 100 mile contact with it. I checked on the analyzer and it is flat around 1.2 across the entire 2m band.
In regards to repeaters, I do that with a rubber ducky from my living room couch. You should try much further simplex, or a very distant repeater, over 100 miles should be no problem depending on whats in between. Ive talked from Vegas to Cedar City Utah with a Colinear and 50 watts.
I am lucky enough to inherit two of those Elk antennas. One is up in the air set at a fixed elevation, - a cheap rotor changes the azimuth, for working the sats.. and the 2nd Elk antenna is in a bag for portable ops. They work great. Good explanation on the difference between an Elk lp design and a traditional Yagi. "Be careful kid, you'll poke your eye out" lol.
I like all your videos, I'm alone in this hobby and have not been on the air yet been a long learning proses for me your videos helped me so much you are a great teacher, Thank You!
Thanks for your video, Eric! My Elk just arrived today; from my HRO (in Portland OR). I got it all setup and your video explained some features I had questions about. Catch you on the birds. Have a great one!
My elk has been my fave over my homebrew arrow. Even the elk is heavy in a long pass, I used mine up in Northern remote Ontario in rare grids. I bought the elk about 8 years ago in Vegas at AES and have never looked back on this antenna. I did freeze a few fingers up North working grids but made people happy....Fred VE3FAL
Unknown Username AES was a ham radio store. They sold everything and was one of my fave places to visit when I was there. I would visit Luke and the gang anytime I was there
Can't wait to see it in action. I live about 14 miles from a Ham Radio Outlet; it really forces you to discipline yourself. I'd go broke if I bought everything that I wanted. Thumbs up from me, 73 KI5HII
I've been following along with your tracker build, and I bit the bullet and bought the Elk. I am beyond happy and satisfied! I'm wondering why, it took me so long, with my General class licence, to explore all the things Techs, have access to.
I had an Arrow antenna which I liked it was just a pain to mount on a tripod and while customer service was very good. I also purchased the Elk antenna, after using the Elk and I was able to receive sats through the trees in my backyard where the Arrow couldn't. I sold the Arrow and kept the ELK antenna. Reception is outstanding, easy to assembly, is perfect on a tripod and you don't get tired holding it. I have used the ELK for repeaters uhf and vhf and I didn't have to lower the tower and rotate the antenna when changing from uhf to vhf. Also the ELK 1.1 SWR on UHF and VHF. So many pluses with the ELK.
Even though this comment involves a different "YZI" video, I bought the Comet 230 "stick" analyzer based on your review. Keep them coming and thank you!
Good video, thank you. You mentioned the very real danger to eyeballs posed by the ends of the antenna elements. What is your opinion of fitting a length of soft flexible vinyl tubing to the end of each element? The tubing would need to be a snug fit on the elements, and have sufficient overhang (say, 2 inches / 5 cm, +-) for the vinyl tubing to bend easily when it strikes one's face. Better to be poked by that than by a rigid aluminum tube. I know that vinyl absorbs RF energy but if the ends of the elements are current minima then perhaps the RF heating effect would be minimal. Your thoughts?
Nice overview of the Elk antenna Eric. I see, on your other videos,that you have used the Wouxun KG-UV8 series of full duplex HT for the FM satellites. I recently purchased a KG-UV9P model. I have a full sat ground station at my QTH with preamps, high gain antennas and computer tracking and tuning. But wanted a portable FM setup. There is very little available to guide anyone thru the programming for full duplex for mode V/U and U/V FM satellite operation. I know that the HT's from Wouxon suffer from desense in full duplex mode on the V/U mode sats. But still nice knowing how to get these HT's in full duplex. Maybe AO-91 and AO-92 will be back on soon and the ISS repeater for mode U/V. Since I have only had my UV9P for about a week I have been able to program it into full duplex mode. Not for the newbie. I adjust the squelch on the lower display band (Main)to a level high enough to mute that receiver. That VFO becomes the 2 meter uplink transmit VFO . Then the upper VFO (Main) I set the squelch full open to receive the 70 cm downlink from SO50/AO27. I am unable to save these SQL settings via the software in the separate VFO's. Have you used this setup approach or something different. Have you found a way to save SQL settings for each band or do you leave both bands full open? Maybe you could do a video on this subject as time permits. 73, Dave W2GDJ
suggest adding counterweight, so the antenna’s center-of-mass is directly over the gimbal. it’ll be easier on your servo-motors. (or wrist, if you holding it) 😊
Exactly why I chose the Elk. If you are hunting for something but don't know it's location, you want broadband. Only thing that would be better would be a sattelite antenna used by NASA or other space agencies but that would be a huge backyard project.
I have both the arrow antenna and the Elk antenna, I actually love the elk antenna better I use it with satellite communication and as a base station beam antenna works out great!
FYI - The SO239 adapter for my HT's SMA wasn't included in the antenna purchase... Is it supposed to be in the bag or with the antenna or did they send it to you because you are a reviewer?
You mentioned EME, how much length / weight do you think the servos and this tracker system would handle? Thinking at least a 9-12 element or more if you ran on 23cm? I am guessing it would be taxing on the setup you built.
the servos can push more mass than you might think, but not if the load isn’t level. Get the Antenna center-of-mass directly over the gimbal, and small motors can move it. The other thing is, “how fast can they move it?” to track a satellite. 😮 That’s where you may need bigger motors.
i am in senior housing and a use a ft857d this gets my attention as must take down store like buddy stick and repeaters a bit off in distance. handles 25 watts ssb/fm? No horizontal on current antenna so ssb not working.
Not related, but I was hoping someone here might be able to give me some advise. I just got an ID-4100 to put in my vehicle. However, I can't really mount it any way other than a roof rack bar. I was told to get a Diamond NR770H since it's half wave or greater, and therefore doesn't need to be mounted to the body to form a ground plane. The problem is, it's too long. An NR73B is quite a bit shorter, but is still half wave or greater on both bands. Would that still work for my purposes?
Austin, Why can't you mount it any other way than roof rack bar??The shorter antenna should be fine. Just remember, even though the antenna doesn't need a ground plane, the mount itself needs a good ground to the chassis of the vehicle. Check your SWR after it's mounted. Don't want to smoke the finals in your radio. 73 de KG5RQZ
I can't mount it any other way because I can't damage the vehicle. Also, I guess I'll be having to find a way to attach ground. Probably run a second wire out the bottom of the door and down to the frame.
@@AlphariusMemegon Sir, have the area of gutter mounting car-detailed before handing back. You could use rubber packing, make sure to earth to vehicle.
I own the hy gain antenna you have. Those are great little antennas for directional use. I dont understand exactly what your getting at because when you use a Yagi Uda antenna your using it more for reception more then transmitting. Its my personal belief that log periodics work just as well as a yagi and vice versa! Each to there own. Log 115 Hy Gain Yagi 80 dollars new.
Antenna gain helps both RX and TX equally well. A log periodic with the same number of elements as a Yagi will have lower gain, but higher bandwidth. Log periodic and Yagi antennas have different characteristics, so it's a stretch to say they work equally well. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log-periodic_antenna
He doesn't dwell on it. Just has to compensate and make it not affect his outlook on life. It takes a special person not to consider themselves 'disabled' but enabled.
Every time I check Gigaparts for something, "Item out of stock." I quit buying from them because they're too often out of stock on whatever.super annoying.
I have used a ELK for satellites and it works great. I generally use it on a tripod in my bedroom with the radio about 30 ft away. I point it west and I can hit a repeater at at 10 miles away, a 447MHz repeater at about 300 degrees (30 degrees N of W) at 30 miles, and a 2m repeater at 60 miles due east (the back side of the antenna!). I can make full quieting contacts on all three without moving the antenna using 25watts. It has wider lobes than the Yagi, and less back to front ratio. However it has a very good gain. I forget the specs, but it is quite good. It also performs very well on SSB and I have gotten a 100 mile contact with it. I checked on the analyzer and it is flat around 1.2 across the entire 2m band.
that's awsome 7 3
In regards to repeaters, I do that with a rubber ducky from my living room couch. You should try much further simplex, or a very distant repeater, over 100 miles should be no problem depending on whats in between. Ive talked from Vegas to Cedar City Utah with a Colinear and 50 watts.
@@Justin-bd2dg yeah I have gotten over 100miles simplex ssb. Satellites over 300 miles to the satellite with 5 watts.
You have sold me on an Elk antenna. I never thought there was a difference between a log periodic and a yagi. Thanks for the explanation.
I am lucky enough to inherit two of those Elk antennas. One is up in the air set at a fixed elevation, - a cheap rotor changes the azimuth, for working the sats.. and the 2nd Elk antenna is in a bag for portable ops. They work great. Good explanation on the difference between an Elk lp design and a traditional Yagi. "Be careful kid, you'll poke your eye out" lol.
I like all your videos, I'm alone in this hobby and have not been on the air yet been a long learning proses for me your videos helped me so much you are a great teacher, Thank You!
Great video! I have been using the same Elk Antenna for a number of years and think it is the best antenna for a multiple of uses.
Thanks for your video, Eric! My Elk just arrived today; from my HRO (in Portland OR). I got it all setup and your video explained some features I had questions about. Catch you on the birds. Have a great one!
My elk has been my fave over my homebrew arrow. Even the elk is heavy in a long pass, I used mine up in Northern remote Ontario in rare grids. I bought the elk about 8 years ago in Vegas at AES and have never looked back on this antenna. I did freeze a few fingers up North working grids but made people happy....Fred VE3FAL
What is aes? I am 100 miles from vegas
Unknown Username AES was a ham radio store. They sold everything and was one of my fave places to visit when I was there. I would visit Luke and the gang anytime I was there
Can't wait to see it in action. I live about 14 miles from a Ham Radio Outlet; it really forces you to discipline yourself. I'd go broke if I bought everything that I wanted. Thumbs up from me, 73 KI5HII
I just purchased the Elk from Gigaparts after watching the video - I hope you get some credit for it! Thanks for all your videos!
I've been following along with your tracker build, and I bit the bullet and bought the Elk. I am beyond happy and satisfied! I'm wondering why, it took me so long, with my General class licence, to explore all the things Techs, have access to.
I had an Arrow antenna which I liked it was just a pain to mount on a tripod and while customer service was very good. I also purchased the Elk antenna, after using the Elk and I was able to receive sats through the trees in my backyard where the Arrow couldn't. I sold the Arrow and kept the ELK antenna. Reception is outstanding, easy to assembly, is perfect on a tripod and you don't get tired holding it. I have used the ELK for repeaters uhf and vhf and I didn't have to lower the tower and rotate the antenna when changing from uhf to vhf. Also the ELK 1.1 SWR on UHF and VHF. So many pluses with the ELK.
Even though this comment involves a different "YZI" video, I bought the Comet 230 "stick" analyzer based on your review. Keep them coming and thank you!
Have the same antenna, works really well. Some really long range contacts on 2m simplex.
Great video. I have used this antenna with great results on sats as well as 2m SSB.
Great video Eric, looking at getting one myself. 73's ...KX4QV
Good video, thank you.
You mentioned the very real danger to eyeballs posed by the ends of the antenna elements. What is your opinion of fitting a length of soft flexible vinyl tubing to the end of each element? The tubing would need to be a snug fit on the elements, and have sufficient overhang (say, 2 inches / 5 cm, +-) for the vinyl tubing to bend easily when it strikes one's face. Better to be poked by that than by a rigid aluminum tube.
I know that vinyl absorbs RF energy but if the ends of the elements are current minima then perhaps the RF heating effect would be minimal.
Your thoughts?
Nice overview of the Elk antenna Eric. I see, on your other videos,that you have used the Wouxun KG-UV8 series of full duplex HT for the FM satellites. I recently purchased a KG-UV9P model. I have a full sat ground station at my QTH with preamps, high gain antennas and computer tracking and tuning. But wanted a portable FM setup. There is very little available to guide anyone thru the programming for full duplex for mode V/U and U/V FM satellite operation. I know that the HT's from Wouxon suffer from desense in full duplex mode on the V/U mode sats. But still nice knowing how to get these HT's in full duplex. Maybe AO-91 and AO-92 will be back on soon and the ISS repeater for mode U/V. Since I have only had my UV9P for about a week I have been able to program it into full duplex mode. Not for the newbie. I adjust the squelch on the lower display band (Main)to a level high enough to mute that receiver. That VFO becomes the 2 meter uplink transmit VFO . Then the upper VFO (Main) I set the squelch full open to receive the 70 cm downlink from SO50/AO27. I am unable to save these SQL settings via the software in the separate VFO's. Have you used this setup approach or something different. Have you found a way to save SQL settings for each band or do you leave both bands full open? Maybe you could do a video on this subject as time permits. 73, Dave W2GDJ
I have the same antenna also. It works really well when trying to work the birds. Another awesome video! 73’s Dave KA3ZJW
Nice to see someone under 60 playing radio!
The Elk is a fabulous antenna in many different ways!
suggest adding counterweight, so the antenna’s center-of-mass is directly over the gimbal. it’ll be easier on your servo-motors. (or wrist, if you holding it) 😊
Great idea, thank you
I live just over an hour from Huntsville. If I'm home next weekend, will try to see if I can make it up there. Nice antenna !
Make sure they have it, before you go.
@@rodneywhite4494 I was more interested I'm meeting Eric. Can always order online.
@@Ranchhand323 oops
Exactly why I chose the Elk. If you are hunting for something but don't know it's location, you want broadband. Only thing that would be better would be a sattelite antenna used by NASA or other space agencies but that would be a huge backyard project.
Looking forward to seeing your antenna mount when finished
I have both the arrow antenna and the Elk antenna, I actually love the elk antenna better I use it with satellite communication and as a base station beam antenna works out great!
So, do you use a metal mast to fit in the PVC mount?
Koi No poke your eyeballs out!
When I'm done studying for my upgrade to general, I'll set up my little Kenwood TH-F6A and work satellites hopefully.
Nice Deftones reference LOL
Can't help it when one of the raddest Elmer listens to Deftones. Excited to see what video you'll upload later on when you head over to Gigaparts.
You dont have to be a general to work satellites
Great video Eric! Hope you get some video of gigaparts! Thanks for the antenna details.
I never knew the advantages of a log periodic, thanks
Enjoyed the video...73's brother...god bless you and the FAMILY...KB8YBG JIM
Great info and demo! Thanks and 73 de KI1Y, Jim, Viera FL
Congratulations for all informations about ELK, FB OM.
Be sure your coax is 90 degrees from the antenna, I use a paint stick and just use electrical tape, and on to coax to hold it 90° from the antenna.
Dennis, do you mean 90 degrees from the boom or the elements?
@@BretChilcott
90 degrees from the antenna elements
Sevendust, right on!!
Y.E.S.
FYI - The SO239 adapter for my HT's SMA wasn't included in the antenna purchase... Is it supposed to be in the bag or with the antenna or did they send it to you because you are a reviewer?
You mentioned EME, how much length / weight do you think the servos and this tracker system would handle? Thinking at least a 9-12 element or more if you ran on 23cm? I am guessing it would be taxing on the setup you built.
the servos can push more mass than you might think, but not if the load isn’t level. Get the Antenna center-of-mass directly over the gimbal, and small motors can move it. The other thing is, “how fast can they move it?” to track a satellite. 😮 That’s where you may need bigger motors.
Nice looking antenna, thanks for sharing...Vic
Good video. Been wanting to do this.
Curious, how well do you think it would work in my attic?
Very well presented.. thanks for sharing.. Eric
yes, you got a point, yagi is a one specific antenna: 1 yagi/1 FRQ
tnx and best 73 de S57SI
Awesome video as always. Thanks for keeping us informed (and reminding me I need to do some satellite stuff!) KC1LUX
i am in senior housing and a use a ft857d this gets my attention as must take down store like buddy stick and repeaters a bit off in distance. handles 25 watts ssb/fm? No horizontal on current antenna so ssb not working.
WOOHOO Love it! Thank you Eric 73 KI5FRk
Good video. I hope to make a video soon on portable sat ops for my channel.
Gigaparts seems to have the best deal on this.
thanks for the video you have made my mind up for me
regards
Allan UK
G6TMO
Usually a log-periodic references a multi "band" antenna, but I see the same idea covers the entire 2m band
Great explanation, been eyeing this antenna for a while! Great video keep it up! 73 KE0VNG
Nice 👍
what type of tripod are you using
Not related, but I was hoping someone here might be able to give me some advise. I just got an ID-4100 to put in my vehicle. However, I can't really mount it any way other than a roof rack bar. I was told to get a Diamond NR770H since it's half wave or greater, and therefore doesn't need to be mounted to the body to form a ground plane. The problem is, it's too long. An NR73B is quite a bit shorter, but is still half wave or greater on both bands. Would that still work for my purposes?
Austin,
Why can't you mount it any other way than roof rack bar??The shorter antenna should be fine. Just remember, even though the antenna doesn't need a ground plane, the mount itself needs a good ground to the chassis of the vehicle. Check your SWR after it's mounted. Don't want to smoke the finals in your radio. 73 de KG5RQZ
I can't mount it any other way because I can't damage the vehicle. Also, I guess I'll be having to find a way to attach ground. Probably run a second wire out the bottom of the door and down to the frame.
@@AlphariusMemegon ok, must be a lease? You could also use a lip mount on top of one of the rear doors.
@@AlphariusMemegon Sir, have the area of gutter mounting car-detailed before handing back.
You could use rubber packing, make sure to earth to vehicle.
So I can mount one of these vertical on my 45 ' mast and rotor ?
Why coated elements?
Do Elk ship to the UK
You didn't show the SWR curves or lobe pattern with a live test
I own the hy gain antenna you have. Those are great little antennas for directional use. I dont understand exactly what your getting at because when you use a Yagi Uda antenna your using it more for reception more then transmitting. Its my personal belief that log periodics work just as well as a yagi and vice versa! Each to there own. Log 115 Hy Gain Yagi 80 dollars new.
Antenna gain helps both RX and TX equally well. A log periodic with the same number of elements as a Yagi will have lower gain, but higher bandwidth. Log periodic and Yagi antennas have different characteristics, so it's a stretch to say they work equally well. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Log-periodic_antenna
Couldn't adapt an equatorial mount for a telescope?
watt rating?
website doesn't say it.
What happened to your eye? Antenna get you?
Could you use orange ping pong balls on the elements to protect eyes?
I use mine for fox hunting.
2:10 what do you mean you got on eye left?
I have 1 real eye in my head
One eye left?
2:04 he only has one eye left?
He doesn't dwell on it. Just has to compensate and make it not affect his outlook on life. It takes a special person not to consider themselves 'disabled' but enabled.
im surprised that little servo could hold an elk. Try a deer they are a little smaller. ;)
📝
Every time I check Gigaparts for something, "Item out of stock." I quit buying from them because they're too often out of stock on whatever.super annoying.
Moon bounce? I don't think so.
Ez Prado Sr. Not with this elk antenna but I have one for moonbounce yes
in the land of the blind a one-eyed man is king
My elk 3 elements yagi is scary for the eyes or eye lol good job
DEFTONES STRIKES AGAIN!!!!!
HAHAHA I guess it plays what i listen to alot HAHA good eye
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