A Low-Noise 'Urban' 6 element LFA Yagi for 144MHz

Revised 26th August 2009 V1.0

The LFA design has a patent pending and all G0KSC designs are copyright. Any ham can build for their own use or those of a friend. Where profit or commerical gain exists, express permission of G0KSC must be sought.

 

If you suffer with noise from living in the city, this is another low-noise antenna from G0KSC

This one is really nice and compact, has good badnwdith (over 1MHz 1.1:1) and yet has maintained an excellent pattern at the same time. Stacked in 4, you would not be unhappy with this very low-noise LFA for EME working. This antenna will be particularly good for EME purposes due to it's very low noise (Sky Temperature) and excellent G/T figures. See the bottom of this page for more information.

PLEASE NOTE:

• This antenna WILL NOT show the true SWR in any antenna modelling package unless you are using one which uses the latest NEC4 calculation engine. Do not confuse your version of EZNEC with nec version. EZNEC uses nec2 by default.
• There are two sets of measurements listed below. One uses imperial sizes, the other uses metirc sizes. Ensure you use the correct one for the material you have
• 'within one or two millimetres' Will not do! take the time to ensure you get the spacing ant element lengths as close as you possibly can to the measurements below to ensure good, solid performance
• Please read the 'how to make the LFA Loop' page here

Download the EZNEC files for this antenna HERE

 

 

4 x 6el LFA 'on contest' at G0VHF September 2010

'The LFAs performed well showing a stronger rx and much wider beamwidth than the 2 x 12el M2 on the other tower...'

 

 

Note: performance figures centred on 144.100MHz the centre EME frequency

Performance European Version                                   UK/USA Version

Forward Gain:                                 11.97dBi at 144.100MHz                 11.96dBi at 144.100MHz

Front to Back Ratio:                        23.79dB at 144.100MHz                 23.89dBi at 144.100MHz

Peak Gain:                                        11.96dBi                                           11.96dBi

Peak F/B:                                           24.2dB                                            24.26dB

Bandwidth:                                       1MHz below 1.1:1 (2MHz 1.3:1)     1MHZ below 1.1:1 (2MHz 1.3:1)

 

Build Dimensions for European Version - If you need 12mm Loop sizing mail me

Element                             Spacing in metres Half element Length in metres            Element Notes

Reflector                                0                                                           .517                                               10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

DE1                                       .108                                                      .439                                              13mm Tube

DE2                                       .283                                                      .439                                              13mm Tube

D1                                         .468                                                      .479                                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D2                                         .943                                                      .459                                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D3                                        1.629                                                     .441                                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D4                                        2.349                                                     .429                                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

 

 

Notes:

DE1 and DE2 are joined at the ends by either 10mm tube. Feed point is the centre of DE1

Please read the 'how to make the LFA Loop' page here

Download the EZNEC files for this antenna HERE

SWR Plot for the European version of the G0KSC 6el 144MHz LFA Yagi

 

Build Dimensions for UK/USA Version

 

Element                             Spacing in metres Half element Length in metres            Element Notes

Reflector                                0                                                            .517                                               3/8 Inch Diameter tube or solid rod

DE1                                       .108                                                      .438                                              1/2 inch Tube

DE2                                       .283                                                      .438                                              1/2 inch Tube

D1                                         .468                                                      .479                                              3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D2                                         .943                                                      .459                                              3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D3                                        1.629                                                     .441                                              3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D4                                        2.349                                                     .429                                              3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

 

 

Notes:

DE1 and DE2 are joined at the ends by either 10mm tube. Feed point is the centre of DE1

Please read the 'how to make the LFA Loop' page here

Download the EZNEC files for this antenna HERE

SWR Plot for the European version of the G0KSC 6el 144MHz LFA Yagi

 

Antenna Elevation Plot

 

European version Azimuth Plot

 

UK/USA Azimuth Plot

 

EME Notes

This antenna makes an excellent EME antenna when configured in a 4 bay stack. Below is the TanT output screen showing that sky temperature is a super low 224.4 Kelvin.There is no other array this short on the VE7BQH list (apart form the G0KSC 7element!). However, the sky temperature is lower on this array than many of the longer arrays listed (VE7BQH G/T list, Google search).

 

There are no antennas as short as this on the VE7BQH G/T list. However, this array still outperforms longer arrays in all respects

 

4 x 6 element LFA Yagis configured in a 4 Bay array  and showing current distribution. 2 metres Vertically and 2.7 metres horizontally. Optimum spacing still to be defined

Download the EZNEC files for this antenna HERE

 

As always, any questions please ask!

 

Justin G0KSC

A Low-Noise 'Urban' 13 element LFA Yagi for 50MHz

The LFA design has a patent pending and all G0KSC designs are copyright. Any ham can build for their own use or those of a friend. Where profit or commerical gain exists, express permission of G0KSC must be sought.

I am not sure too many of these will be built due to size but I guess I maybe surprised. This is the ultimate single Yagi for 50MHz. If you build one, I must come and work the DX with it!

Like the 9, 10, 11 and 12 element version before it, this antenna has been designed with light-weight in mind and optimum performance through single piece elements. It has all the common attributes of an LFA Yagi, Flat SWR, Excellent Gain, fantastic Front to Back ratio and suppressed unwanted lobes.

A True DX'ers antenna and at over 25 metres long, not for every ham in the neighbourhood! However, this antenna does have a massive .3dB advantage over the smaller 12 element version and at these levels of gain, that can make quite a difference.In addition, I have supressed further the lobes around the centre of the antenna in order to improve receive performance even more.

Both European and UK/USA versions are available. Build and construction details are below and EZNEC files are available for download on the download page.

The 13 element LFA Yagi for 50MHz. How it will look when completed

4nec2 (with nec4 engine) Elevation plot of the 13el 50MHz LFA

13el 50MHz Azimuth plot from the 4nec2 antenna modelling package

PLEASE NOTE:

• This antenna WILL NOT show the true SWR in any antenna modelling package unless you are using one which uses the latest NEC4 calculation engine DO NOT confuse EZNEC with the NEC engine. EZNEC uses nec2 by default
• There are two sets of measurements listed below. One uses imperial sizes, the other uses metirc sizes. Ensure you use the correct one for the material you have
• 'within one or two millimetres' Will not do! take the time to ensure you get the spacing ant element lengths as close as you possibly can to the measurements below to ensure good, solid performance
• Please read the 'how to make the LFA Loop' page here
• Please do not alter segmentation or try to 'tune' the antenna unless you have nec4 or better. SWR will not read true within anything else

                          Performance European Version                             UK/USA Version

Forward Gain:            16.15dBi at 50.150MHz                 16.14dBi at 50.150MHz

Front to Back Ratio:   29.34dB at 50.150MHz                  29.1dBi  at 50.150MHz

Peak Gain:                 16.18dBi                                           16.16dBi

Peak F/B:                   37.25dB                                           36.96dB

Bandwidth:                500KHz below 1.1:1                       500KHZ below 1.1:1

Build Dimensions for European Version - If you need 12mm Loop sizing mail me

Element        Spacing in metres       Half element Length in metres       Element Notes

Reflector        0                                 1.484                            10mm Diameter tube

DE1              .371                             1.232                             13mm Tube

DE2              .936                             1.232                             13mm Tube

D1               1.681                            1.392                             10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D2               3.279                            1.361                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D3               5.214                            1.338                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D4               7.477                            1.318                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D5               9.871                            1.301                               10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D6             12.351                             1.285                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D7             14.937                             1.265                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D8             17.51                               1.252                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D9             20.176                             1.229                               10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D10           22.695                              1.205                              10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

D11           25.178                              1.19                                10mm Diameter tube or solid rod

Notes:

DE1 and DE2 are joined at the ends by 10mm tube

Feed point is the centre of DE1

SWR Plot for the European version of the G0KSC 13el 50MHz LFA Yagi

Build Dimensions for UK/USA Version

Element      Spacing in metres    Half element Length in metres            Element Notes

Reflector       0                             1.485                         3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

DE1               .371                       1.233                         1/2 inch Tube

DE2               .936                       1.233                         1/2 inch Tube

D1                1.681                      1.393                         3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D2                3.272                      1.362                         3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D3                5.214                      1.339                        3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D4                7.477                      1.319                        3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D5                9.871                      1.302                        3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D6               12.351                     1.286                        3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D7               14.937                     1.266                        3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D8               17.51                       1.253                        3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D9               20.176                     1.23                          3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D10             22.695                     1.206                         3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

D11             25.178                     1.191                         3/8 inch Diameter tube or solid rod

Notes:

DE1 and DE2 are joined at the ends by 3/8 tube

Feed point is the centre of DE1

SWR Plot for the UK/USA version of the G0KSC 13el 50MHz LFA Yagi

Antenna Elevation Plot

European version Azimuth Plot

UK/USA Elevation Plot

As always, any questions please ask!

Justin G0KSC