Performance Data and Geometry
Pattern and VSWR
121.5 MHz Aircraft Emergency Frq. Vers./ incl. smart mechanics for /p operation
Download as File
Stacking
Contest 4 Yagi Stack
A 8 x vertical Monster Stack ... with drawings now


YBN 2-5m Yagi   with Conventional Driver (Split or Folded Dipole)

This little Yagi has a high F/B, which makes it quite useful as a contest stack,
because the clean rear pattern is kept with stacked arrays.

Contest 4 x stack of YBN 2-5m, built by YO2LSP, used in 2020 IARU ctest by YO5LD/P

7th place in IARU Contest 2020 Single OP class. Congrats!

Edy, YO2LSP: "I completed the construction of 2x11 elements and 4x5 and was used in the IARU contest by YO5LD
who succeeded an excellent results for the YO position. - 413 QSO`s , ODX - DA0FF @ 1028 km, Total: 192.955 points.
The antenna works fantastic, in special 2x11 element system. Thank you for your work." ... tnx Edy!

See here for details and phasing lines decription

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4 x vert. YBN 2-5m built by Zoran, E76C

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4 x vert. YBN 2-5m at DL0GM built on 15 x 15 mm boom

Source of image: http://ov-g07.de/images/G07/Contestjahr2022/Mai/Mai2022-64.jpg     built by DL5KBG.

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Update: Stacks with high F/B and CAD drawings as PDF for booms, struts and clamps see end of page

   

The YBN 2-5m is the very pilot model which was used to derive all the "On-Boom-BC-Factors" from (s. Dubus 2/2010). It has been measured about 50 times using various boom dimensions and element lengths. Finally for the 5-8 Yagi concept article (Dubus 4/2012) with folded dipole too. If you stick to the dimensions I give below and use the right i.e. measured symmetrising coax length you virtually can not fail with your build. On right : Stagger stacked 2 x 5 ele. (s. Dubus 1/2014)

Sketch of boom with option to expand to 8 elem. / The additional 200+ mm on the rear enable mounting it formast as on
photo on left side. Note differing position of D1 when using thin through boom elements or folded dipole as given below.

Performance Data

                     Elem. 4 mm     Elem. 5 mm     Elem. 8 mm
Gain vs. isotr. Rad.  10.2 dBi       10.2 dBi       10.2 dBi
Gain vs. Dipole        8.0 dBD        8.0 dBD        8.0 dBD
-3 dB H-plane         73.0 deg.      72.8 deg.      73.2 deg.
-3 dB E-plane         54.8 deg.      54.6 deg.      54.8 deg.
F/B                  -24.9 dB       -25.2 dB       -24.8 dB
F/R                  -23.4 dB       -23.4 dB       -23.0 dB
Impedance           50/200 ohms         =              =
Mechan. Length        1485 mm           =              =
Electr. Length        0.74 λ            =              =

Stacking Dist. h-pol.
top-to-bottom         1.57 m
side-by-side          2.03 m

Geometry

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EZNEC wires for 8 mm elements

Ø6 mm Elements - raw Dimensions exclusive BC

		Refl	 DE	D1	D2	D3
Pos. 		0	 283	403	822	1485
NEC x2          1028.0	 992.0 	956.4	930.5	861.0	

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               INSULATED THROUGH BOOM THIN ELEMENTS (BC acc. 6WU)
        Pos.  1/2 Length   BC 20 mm    BC 20 mm   BC 25 mm    BC 1"
                 in NEC     = 2.2      = 2.2     = 3.4       = 3.5
				 
Refl.     0      514.5     1033.2      1031.2     1032.4     10xx.x
DE      283      496.0      994.2       994.2      995.4      9xx.x
D1      403      480.0      966.2       962.2      963.4      9xx.x
D2      822      467.5      942.2       937.2      938.4      9xx.x
D3     1485      433.5      875.2       869.2      870.4      8xx.x

Ele.Ø             5 mm       4 mm        5 mm       5 mm       1/4"

Use WiMo made spare Folded Dipole for their YU7EF line EF0208c
or selfmade one with modified D1 as follows:
Note: for elements 4 mm D1 is of differing length for 5 and 8 ele. Yagi when using a folded DE
ele. 4 mm, Pos. 403 mm, NEC =>  483.0, 20x20 => 968.2, 25x25 => 969.4 mm
ele. 5 mm, Pos. 402 mm, NEC =>  481.0, 20x20 => 964.2, 25x25 => 965.4 mm, 1"x1"=> 96x.x






				
                        ON BOOM ELEMENTS
        Pos.   1/2 Length   BC 15x15   BC 20x20   BC 25x25    BC 1x1"   BC 20x20   BC 25x25  
                 in NEC      = 2.7      = 3.9      = 7.6      = 7.9       = 3.9      = 7.6  
				 
Refl.     0      514.5       1031.7     1032.9     1036.6     1034.9     1031.4     1035.1
DE      283      496.0        994.7      995.9      999.6      999.9      995.9      999.6
D1      403      475.0        952.7      953.9      957.6      954.3      947.9      951.6
D2      822      461.0        924.7      925.9      929.6      925.9      918.9      922.6
D3     1485      423.8        850.3      851.5      855.2      851.5      844.9      848.6

Ele.Ø             8 mm         8 mm       8 mm      8 mm        3/8"      10 mm      10 mm

Note: element lengths for Ø 8 mm fit 5/16" too
The Driver Dipoles diameter is 10 mm for all examples.
Use EZNEC's Auto-Segmentation at 144.3 MHz.

Use WiMo made Folded Dipole (spare from YU7EF line EF0208c)
or selfmade one with modified D1 as follows:
NEC => 477, Boom 20x20 => 957.9, Boom 25x25 => 961.6 mm, Boom 1"x1"=> 961.9

Folded Dipole

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Folded DE tip-to-tip = 990, inner height = 54, diam. = 10 for all builds

Sketch of Folded Dipole

Overview on the stages of the YBN 5- 5 / 8 / 10 ele. project

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Here is a very helpful overview on the stages of the YBN 5- 5 / 8 / 10 ele. project provided by Stef, F4EZJ (tnx!).
It shows what elements are shared and different at what positions on the boom for the various combinations

Note: Element lengths given fit elements mounted on a 20 x 20 mm boom with 'standard insulators and M3 screw

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Pattern and VSWR Plots



Current distribution

Elevation and Azimuth plot at 144.3 MHz

 

Return Loss and VSWR plot - Version with Folded Dipole from WiMo EF0208c

miniVNA: 144.40 MHz, Z = 49.6 Ohm, SWR = 1.03, RL = -36 dB

Note: this plot is taken on a build without any post tuning on DE or D1.
Just the "On-Boom-BC" added.

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121.5 MHz Aircraft Emergency Frq. vers

Aircraft Emergency Frequency version built by F6ANQ and F6BKI.

VSWR = 1:1.0 with Z = 50.5 - 1.5 ohms at 121.5 MHz:

A self engineered hinge to fold / unfold the Yagi:

Thus the Yagi can be folded as a whole and fits into the rear of an estated car in no time:

  

And a quick mount mast clamp:

Photo Credit: Jacques, F6BKI

Geometry for Boom 25 x 25 mm and elements held in hydraulic clamps on request.

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Downloads

EZNEC file of this Yagi with Straight Split DE  


Read more about building this Yagi in my Article "5-8 ... an extendable 144 MHz Yagi" in Dubus 4/12

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Stacking

Stacking Dist.    DL6WU Formula    min. Side Lobes    max. F/B
H-plane               1.57 m           1.41 m          1.90 m
E-plane               2.03 m           1.83 m          2.01 m

Gain vs. isotr. Rad.  12.7 dBi
Gain vs. Dipole       10.6 dBD
F/B                  -18.5 dB

T_ant                236,0 K*
G/T                 -11,01 dB*

Stacking Dist.         DL6WU -10%       DL6WU
Gain vs. isotr. Rad.   15.8 dBi        16.1 dBi
Gain vs. Dipole        13.7 dBD        14.0 dBD
F/B                   -21.3 dB        -24.3 dB
F/R                   -26.2 dB        -24.3 dB
T_ant                   231 K*          237 K*
G/T                   -7.85 dB*       -7.64 dB*

                    Free Space Data      Over perfect gnd
Gain vs. isotr. Rad.   16.25 dBi            20.9 dBi
Gain vs. Dipole        14.10 dBD            18.8 dBD
F/B                    -27.5 dB            -26.1 dB

Theoretical numbers, no phasing line losses
nor imperfections caused by H-frame included

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Stagger Stacked Contest Array

These Yagis are stacked at 1.90 m and upper & lower Yagi in put 502 mm backwards.
The actual shift for this design stack of 502 mm is a little less than the principle 1/4 λ on 144.3 MHz.
Same as the proposed stacking distance of 1.90 m differs from the 1.57 m per DL6WU formular.

Why is that so?

The principle 1/4 λ is a number based on the theoretical concept of canceling backwards
source by a total of 180° of phase shift. But the individual directive Yagi-Uda antenna holds
phase shifts between parasitic elements and exciter (dipole) in itself. Thus best results for
increased F/B and F/R vary slightly. Same to the difference in vertical stacking distance to DL6WU.
A stacked arrays pattern is an intereference pattern of 2 or more sources i.e. Yagis. A stacking
scheme and goals apart from the standard longs for other optimum stacking distances.

Read abt. the principle here: Article 'Stagger Stacking' by Bill Thompson as PDF


Photo: 4 x YBN 2-5m stacked at 1.90 m vertical and 502 mm inner shift

Free Space Elevation Plot of Stagger Stacked 4 x vert. YBN 2-5m

Free Space Azimuth Plot of Stagger Stacked 4 x vert. YBN 2-5m

How to feed?
This idea goes back to Robi, S53WW's
"High Performance Antenna Stack for 2m Contest&Tropo Work", here .

Read S53WW's web article or my article published in Dubus 1/2014 & Dubus Technik XIII for
full details of theory about stagger stacking and feeding with 1/4 λ phase lag into
the front Yagis. Note - line lenghts given hold no errors here, but a creative and proven
use of the periodicity of the sinus wave

Image Source Dubus 1/2014: DG7YBN, Stacking beyond DL6WU - Part 2

These are 50 ohms coaxes, all of them, transformation and phasing is done
by the lenghts only, there is NO power splitter needed.

Basics - Impedance

• We take the upper two Yagis: Thats a 50 ohms plus another 50 ohms via 50 ohms coaxes.
Two times 50 ohms in parallel results in 25 ohms at their sum point.

• Then we do same with the lower pair of 50 ohms Yagis.
Two times 50 ohms in parallel results in 25 ohms at their sum point.

• Then we add these Two times 25 ohms in parallel via a transformation coax
consisting of any odd multiples of 1/4 such as 3/4, 5/4 ... wl of 50 ohms coax,
which transforms 25 ohms to 100 ohms in each line.

• Finally when these two lines of odd multiples of 1/4 wl meet, we get 50 ohms
from two times 100 ohms in parallel ... and we are done.

Basics - Phasing

The inner Yagis are displaced by 1/4 λ. To compensate this the feeding coaxes for the
inner Yagis must be are arranged for a phase lag of -90° compared to the outer Yagis. We will
name that phase correcting length 'L-plus'.

But:  Feeding with a phase lag of -270° makes +90° as 360° - 270° = + 90° (periodicity of the sinus wave)
Prolonging the lines for the outer Yagis by 270° has same effect as feeding the inner Yagis with -90°.
So that instead of increasing the lengths of coax towards the inner Yagi by 90° of phase angle or 1/4 λ and
have those extra lengths hanging about on the pole with this little trick we can fit the -270° into the
lengths to the outer Yagis.

Phasing Coax Lengths

L_plus: We name that extra 270° length as L_plus in the sketch above. With a v-factor of 0.662 for PE coax it
is 1.031 m. The reason for this is to derive shortest possible feed lines up the pole instead of winding up phasing
lines for the inner Yagis as we see so often on vertical stacks.

L_1: L1 lengths are basically ANY length; but stay clear from any multiple of 1/4 λ x velocity factor.

L_2: L2 lengths are basically ANY odd multiples of 1/4 λ x velocity factor. Here they are 5 x 1/4 λ x V-factor.
At the sum point between 2 Yagis of 50 ohms impedance we find 25 ohms. Any odd multiple of 1/4 λ x velocity factor
brings that back to 50 ohms in the centre feed point. No splitter needed.

Total Lengths

Total lengths must include the lenghts inside likewise the N-T-joiners or whatever self made T-junctions.

Velocity Factor

Lengths L_plus, L1 and L2 given are for PE coax only!
For foam and air coax the effective velocity factor of these at 144 MHz must be applied.

See here Symmetrising / Transformation Lines
and here Phasing & Matching Lines


Using 3 N-T-Pieces a flexible, easy to produce phasing line assembly is done at low costs.

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Monster Stagger Stack     tnx for suggestions to Alexey, RA4SD!

• Full CAD drawings for a 8 x vertical YBN 2-5w stagger stack for download now

This is the forward offset Yagi with strut and all, find drawings with dimensions for download at end of chapter


• A brief study about a monster stack of 8 x vertical YBN 2-5w at narrow distances

Elevation Pattern (not optimised ... if you really think about a stack like this ask me for optimation of F/B if needed)

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• A brief study about a monster stack of 8 x vertical YBN 2-5w at full distances

Elevation Pattern

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• A monster stack of 8 x vertical YBN 2-5w at distances optimised for best directivity and F/B

• Geometrical shift between the Yagis is 502 mm
• Vertical stacking distance inside the 2 stacks is 1.90 m
• Vertical stacking distance between the 2 stacks is 3.10 m

For a contest stack in a location with many strong stations around you directivity is all that counts.
With such a rear pattern with a F/B of 38 dB but half power beam width of 56 degr. this stack
gives a good forcast for much less splatter received then most other options.

While this is a free space simulation lets see if the stack maintains this nice attribute when placed
above ground ...


Elevation Pattern above 'perfect ground'

Same on 3D thanks to the capable 3D viewer of 4nec2

Downloads

Boom of Yagi in Position     0 mm for formast mounting  

Boom of Yagi in Position 502 mm for formast mounting 

Strut for Yagi in Position     0 mm for formast mounting  

Strut for Yagi in Position 502 mm for formast mounting 

Plates for mounitng strut to Yagi (same for both positions) 



73, Hartmut, DG7YBN