I recently purchased a 13cm transverter from SG-Lab. I have constructed a 13cm Bi-Quad antenna for use on local suburban SOTA summits, however I will need a high gain 2.4 GHz antenna for SOTA activations 100+ km from Canberra, but not one as bulky as a Grid-pack antenna or parabolic dish. I have decided to construct a 20 element 2.4 GHz (DL6WU format) yagi. I used VK5DJ’s Yagi Calculator software to generate yagi element dimensions, tolerance is a BIG fat Zero +/- mm. Boom material is wood 18 mm square Western Red Cedar, very stable material. When finished the boom will be coated with a generous coating of Cabothane, hard wearing waterproof clear timber varnish.
I am using the same construction technique as I did for the 12el 23cm (1296 MHz) Yagi. Reflector and driven elements are 3.1 mm aluminium rod, I have a 2 metre length on hand. Drive element material is 1.6 mm copper wire folded by hand, inside diameter is 22 mm. 🙂
13cm 2.4 GHz Yagi Boom Preparation
13 cm 2.403 GHz Yagi Dimensions
VK5DJ – 2.4 GHz DL6WU Yagi Dimensions
12el 23cm Yagi and the new 20el 13cm Yagi with reflector and director elements. Folded dipole is next.
23cm yagi and 13 cm yagi
Testing my first prototype 2.4 GHz folded dipole
2.4 GHz Folded Dipole Assembly
13cm 2.4 GHz folded dipole – 137 mm length of 1.6 mm copper wire. 2403 MHz Impedance balun – 43 mm length of RG402, velocity factor = 69.5%.
13cm folded dipole and balun assembly mounted on a SMA panel mount
SMA Panel Mount
2.4 GHz folded dipole assembly mounted on 6 mm nylon spacers
Homebrew 2.4 GHz Yagi – Balun and Folded dipole assembly
20el 13cm 2.4 GHz DL6WU Yagi – reflector, driven element, D1…D18
20el 13cm 2.4 GHz DL6WU Yagi
20el 2403 MHz (2.4 GHz) DL6WU yagi antenna
First Published: 3 March 2018
Last Update: 3 March 2018
VK1 SOTA on 1.2 and 2.4 GHz 
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Thanks for the feedback Peter. I used Cabothane on the 23cm Yagi, I am planning to do the same for the 13cm version. Cabothane offers a waterproof coating.
Cheers
Andrew VK1AD
Andrew,
It might be worth painting the boom with paint or varnish – the latter would probably look better. Keep the water out of the boom…. Same for the 23 cm version.
Nicely done on both antennas.
Hi Andrew,
It looks very impressive. I will be most interested to hear how it performs in the field. It should be good!
73
John D
VK5BJE/VK5PF
Reblogged this on Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life and commented:
Of interest to my SOTA and VHF/UHF readers. My first attempt at a homebrew 20el 2.4 GHz DL6WU yagi.