Homemade 70Cm Yagi Beam Antennas For Amateur Radio

Created a Yagi DualBand 2m/70cm from old TV Antenna Aaron KU6Z Blog

Amateur radio, also known as ham radio, is a popular hobby and service that brings people, electronics and communication together. People use ham radio to talk across towns, around the world, or even into space, all without the Internet or cell phones. It’s fun, social, educational, and can be a lifeline during times of need. Amateur radio operators need antennas to communicate. A Yagi antenna, also known as a beam antenna, is a popular type of directional antenna used by ham radio operators. A beam antenna can be used to communicate over long distances or talk on multiple bands.

Making a homemade 70cm Yagi beam antenna is a great way to get started in amateur radio with a minimal budget. The antenna is easy to make and the materials are readily available at most hardware stores. Once constructed, the antenna is light weight and easy to transport. It can be used for local communications, for radio contests and for emergency communications.

Table of Contents

Materials Needed for Building 70cm Yagi Beam Antenna

To build a 70cm Yagi beam antenna, you will need the following materials:

1 piece of ¾ inch PVC pipe, 10 feet long
4 pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe, 6 feet long
2 pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe, 3 feet long
2 pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe, 1 foot long
1 piece of ¾ inch PVC pipe, 1 foot long
2 pieces of ¼ inch galvanized steel wire, 3 feet long
2 pieces of ¼ inch galvanized steel wire, 1 foot long
1 piece of ½ inch galvanized steel wire, 1 foot long

Steps for Building 70cm Yagi Beam Antenna

To build a 70cm Yagi beam antenna, you will need to follow these steps:

Cut the ¾ inch PVC pipe into the following lengths: one 10 foot piece, one 6 foot piece and one 1 foot piece.
Cut the ½ inch PVC pipe into the following lengths: four 6 foot pieces, two 3 foot pieces and two 1 foot pieces.
Connect the 10 foot piece of ¾ inch PVC pipe to the 6 foot piece of ½ inch PVC pipe with a PVC elbow joint.
Connect the 6 foot piece of ¾ inch PVC pipe to the 3 foot piece of ½ inch PVC pipe with a PVC elbow joint.
Connect the 1 foot piece of ¾ inch PVC pipe to the 1 foot piece of ½ inch PVC pipe with a PVC elbow joint.
Connect the 3 foot pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe to the 6 foot pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe with PVC T-connectors.
Connect the 1 foot pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe to the 6 foot pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe with PVC T-connectors.
Drill a hole in the center of the 1 foot piece of ¾ inch PVC pipe and the 1 foot piece of ½ inch PVC pipe.
Connect the ¼ inch galvanized steel wire to the 1 foot pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe and the 1 foot piece of ¾ inch PVC pipe with a PVC connector.
Connect the 3 foot pieces of ¼ inch galvanized steel wire to the 6 foot pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe with PVC connectors.
Connect the 1 foot pieces of ¼ inch galvanized steel wire to the 6 foot pieces of ½ inch PVC pipe with PVC connectors.
Connect the ½ inch galvanized steel wire to the 3 foot pieces of ¼ inch galvanized steel wire with a PVC connector.
Secure the antenna to a mast or pole with a U-bolt.

Gain and Coverage of 70cm Yagi Beam Antenna

Once the 70cm Yagi beam antenna is constructed, it can be used to communicate on the 70cm band. The gain of the antenna is approximately 8.5 dBd while the coverage is approximately 200°. This makes the antenna well-suited for local communications and for talking on multiple bands.

Using the 70cm Yagi Beam Antenna

Once the 70cm Yagi beam antenna is constructed, it can be used for a variety of applications. It can be used for local communications, for radio contests, for emergency communications and for talking on multiple bands. It is also a great way to get started in amateur radio with a minimal budget.