mdg@uvacs.UUCP (03/27/84)
Are there any VHF antenna gurus in NetLand? I have a minor problem. I need to make a directional antenna which is tuned to 121.6 MHz. (I don't really need it to be broadband.) Here's the rub. I have to be able to carry it through the woods *easily*. If someone knows of an article where I can find something like a foldable yagi design, I'd REALLY appreciate it. The design must also be forgiving enough that any idiot can unfold it, since I may not be the one who uses it. I was thinking about using a wooden main boom that folds in half, with room for three or four yagi elements, and a handle that I would use to carry it with, but I can't think of any good way to fold the elements back that wouldn't begin to wear out after a few unfoldings. I also don't want to have ANY loose parts (free screws and such...), because if they get lost, I might be miles away from the replacement parts. In fact, I'm not at all opposed to something other than a yagi. If you know of a quad design that is field portable, and suitable for VHF direction finding, I'd be happy to hear about it! TNX in advance, Mike Geipel N4IXJ P.S. - In case that was too easy a task, it would be cool if I could also receive (and transmit no more than 10 watts or so) reasonably well on 155.16 MHz. As I said before, 121.6 MHz is the frequency that the direction finding would be for. (But it'd be nice if perhaps a switch could add a tuning capacitor [?!?] to the elements, and the elements could be respaced [?@!?*!?], without requiring an owner's manual for guidance!) P.P.S. If you're curious, this is for a group that does mountain rescue work.