Tape Measure Yagi Antenna
2022-04-04 | By bekathwia
License: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike
My interpretation of this classic ham project utilizes bits of standard measuring tape steel as radials, a 1-inch PVC pipe as the pole, and 3D printed couplers to connect the radials to the pole.
For this project, you will need:
- 1″ OD diameter PVC pipe at least 3 feet long
- Steel retractable tape measure
- Coaxial cable
- USB RTL-SDR module with antenna for testing
- Computer running CubicSDR software
- Solid-core wire (just a small piece)
- Soldering iron & solder
- Eye protection
- Flush diagonal cutters
- Wire strippers
- Helping third hand tool
- Heat shrink tubing
- Tape
- 3D printer (I’m using my Creality CR-10s Pro)
- PLA filament
- nanoVNA (optional but handy for tuning)
To keep up with what I’m working on, follow me on YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and subscribe to my newsletter. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases you make using my affiliate links.
You can print or modify my design on Tinkercad.
I followed 2m band specs I found online for the length and spacing of the tape measure pieces. Many have built these before and documented their designs. Here are the writeups I found most useful:
- Joe Leggio WB2HOL Tape Measure Beam Optimized for Radio Direction Finding
- Michael Martens’ 2 meter Tape Measure Yagi Beam Antenna
- South Canadian Amateur Radio Society’s Tape Measure VHF/UHF Yagi Antenna
- jcoman’s Tape Measure Antenna
The driven element pieces are connected to each other with a wire folded into a hairpin shape. I sanded off the paint from the tape measure steel where I wanted to solder and connected the driven elements with the hairpin wire as well as the two parts of the coaxial cable.
You can read more about my adventures listening to satellites with this antenna on my website. To make your own, pick up the following supplies from Digi-Key:
Have questions or comments? Continue the conversation on TechForum, DigiKey's online community and technical resource.
Visit TechForum