Uploaded January 2017 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Challenged myself to build a usable Yagi style antenna for the 2 Meter (2M - 144MHz) amateur radio band. The challenge part is that I wanted to use stuff I had lying around, and I wanted to build it using the fewest possible tools. Definitely no electric powered tools, so that this could be replicated in an emergency, no-power situation.
It's a PVC boom and uses standard 12GA electrical circuit wire for the elements. Everything is assembled using wire ties, and cut to length based on measurements - no antenna analyzer.
It turned out pretty well. Made a couple contacts and managed not to get frostbite in the process.
The design is based on an older ARRL article which is freely available here:
arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9304054.pdf
Challenged myself to build a usable Yagi style antenna for the 2 Meter (2M - 144MHz) amateur radio band. The challenge part is that I wanted to use stuff I had lying around, and I wanted to build it using the fewest possible tools. Definitely no electric powered tools, so that this could be replicated in an emergency, no-power situation.
It's a PVC boom and uses standard 12GA electrical circuit wire for the elements. Everything is assembled using wire ties, and cut to length based on measurements - no antenna analyzer.
It turned out pretty well. Made a couple contacts and managed not to get frostbite in the process.
The design is based on an older ARRL article which is freely available here:
arrl.org/files/file/Technology/tis/info/pdf/9304054.pdf
