Tape Measure Beam Antenna
In April 2022 Ken Rozzen – KB1HXO, the vice president of our club discussed the undertaking of a club project, the building of a 2-meter tape measure beam antenna. After some discussion, it was decided that we would undertake the project at our next meeting. The project was based on the design originated by Joe Leggio – WB2HOL which has been widely distributed in ham circles. The antenna is a beam antenna that has a very good front to back ratio which makes it a great portable antenna for radio direction finding and more specifically for fox hunts. Because of the flexibility of the tape measure elements, it folds down into a small profile that easily fits on the back seat of your vehicle.
In addition to the tape measure for the elements, some schedule 40 PVC pipe and fittings, which are readily available at most hardware stores or big box outlets, will be required along with some hose clamps and a 50-ohm feed line. Construction of the antenna will only take about an hour and we were all amazed at its performance.
The original article about the design and build of the antenna can be found HERE!
You can also download the PDF how to, HERE!
The following pictures are submitted by Dennis Clowes – KC1LNL and are of the model he constructed at our antenna build session.
Slot Antennas
A Presentation on slot antenna basics by Merton Kenniston, KC1KVA to the Quabog Valley Amateur Radio Club Nov. 29, 2022.
A slot antenna is a kind of antenna with one or more slots through a metal plate and typically operate at frequencies between 300 MHz and 24 GH.
To see Merts presentation on slot antennas, Click Here.
NanoVNA
NanoVNA – A quick overview by Mert Kenniston, KC1KVA.
VNA stands for Vector Network Analyzer. An antenna analyzer is a device used to measure the input impedance of an antenna.
To see Merts presentation on NanoVNA, Click Here.
FT8
A presentation on how to setup your transceiver and get on the air for most digital modes, and specifically on the ICOM 7300 for FT-8.
To see Merts’ presentation notes on FT8, Click Here.
Lithium Batteries
A presentation on lithium batteries, everything you need to know before choosing a battery for your rig.
To see Dennis’ presentation on lithium batteries, Click Here.
The Quaboag Valley Amateur Radio Club (QVARC) 