3.4 GHz Ham Radio test with WA5VJB Log Periodic Feed

Ham Radio DX Channel ^ | Aug 27, 2019 | Ham Radio DX Channel

[tbw2]

I received a log periodic antenna designed by ham radio operator WA5VJB from Kent Electronics. They are rated from 2 to 11 GHz, so this model will cover several of the ham bands. These antennas are made on PCB's and are ideal for use in the amateur microwave bands as compromise dish feeds. In this video I do a test of such a feed versus my patch antenna on the 3.4 GHz band.

https://www.wa5vjb.com/products1.html

I mounted one in place of the original dipole feed on a 2.4 GHz (13cm) gridpack at the same focal point. Whilst gain will be down a bit on 3.4 GHz (9cm) results were surprisingly good, although smoke started to come off the PCB at a power level of 20W FM! In this video I have a contact with VK7ZBX whilst portable. Again this was a non line of sight contact.

FT8 Digital Record: Ham Radio on the 3.4 GHz band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9KGf...

500km (310 miles) on the 2.4 GHz and 3.4 GHz Ham Radio bands! 📡 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L02P2...

[tbw2]

3.4 GHz Ham Radio test with WA5VJB Log Periodic Feed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSUfKTdSwM4c

[sauropod]

Review.

[IYAS9YAS]

Is there a Ham Radio ping list? If so, please add me. If I’m already on it, thank you, and I’ll have to find my memory pills. I’m sitting for the Technician exam in two weeks. Could really use some advice on a 2 meter starter radio. Would really like to build it myself, but am willing to buy ready to go.

[The_Media_never_lie]

Cool!

[tbw2]

I have a ping list focused on ham radio. I can add you to mine.

[srmanuel]

Before I had my technician’s license I bought a Baofeng UV-5R on Amazon Prime Day for like $25 and learned what a repeater was and how to program it into the radio.

Then when I passed my Technician’s exam I upgraded to a Yaesu FT-2DR which also did digital.

A few months ago I bought 4 new Baofengs on Amazon for cheap backups and got all of them programmed the same.

[HangnJudge]

Great hobby, has been sidelined somewhat by the proliferation of cell phones and ubiquitous internet availability. Still a prime skill during emergencies

[InterceptPoint]

I mounted one in place of the original dipole feed on a 2.4 GHz (13cm) gridpack at the same focal point.
+++++
That’s the right thing to do. But a Log Periodic is a relatively long antenna compared to a simple dipole. It seems like the correct placement of the LP would be critical if you want to get maximum gain.

An LP antenna is really just a stack of dipoles. I would expect the best feed placement to be at least close to a placement of a the LP where the 3.5 GHz main element is at least close to the optimum location of true 3.5 GHz dipole.

If the feed location is adjustable you might mess with that a bit.

Or maybe you did and I’m preaching to the choir.

Good luck with your project.

[SoCalConservative]

Would you mind adding me too?

Thanks and 73,

Howard, W1HBO

[Gnome1949]

A huge number of people are taking exams for a ham radio license. There has been a massive increase in new amateur radio operators in the last couple of years.

Below is a link to those NEW operators just issued FCC licenses in the past month.

This list can be sorted by license grant date and sorted by state. There were over 20,000 new ham radio operators licensed in 2020. New Hams

[Gnome1949]

Link does not work. got to radioqth.net and customize list of new hams.

[SoCalConservative]

I don’t use 2 meter so much anymore, but keep it simple. I have been using my Yaesu FT-2900 for a long time and it goes up to 75 watts. Nothing fancy, it weighs a ton and very heavy duty. 2 meter only though. The new one is a 2980, basically the same but up to 80w.

If you’re using it mobile, having a separated face plate is wonderful. But for your first radio, get something easy to operate. The 2980r is only around $150. You can get something fancier later and use the 2980 as a back up or at home, what have you. KEEP IT SIMPLE! Kenwood, Icom, Yaesu all make fine products, can’t go wrong.

Good luck on your test and your amateur radio journey!

73,

Howard, W1HBO

[metmom]

Is there a Ham Radio ping list? If so, please add me. If I’m already on it, thank you, and I’ll have to find my memory pills. I’m sitting for the Technician exam in two weeks. Could really use some advice on a 2 meter starter radio. Would really like to build it myself, but am willing to buy ready to go.

Ditto. I would like to be on that list as well.

I’ve been considering the need to add a ham or shortwave radio to our prep supplies and would be interested in learning more, which means anything as I have ZERO experience with that kind of stuff.

[TangoLimaSierra]

Please add me to your HAM ping list.
Thanks

[backtobasics]

Add me too. Going for my technician in a couple weeks. Just got a handheld and figured out the laptop programming and its now setup for several local repeaters. Cant wait to transmit, but listening is fine for now.

[IYAS9YAS]

Greatly appreciated! Thank you.

[PGalt]

T post INFOBUMP!

[ellipsis]

Could you add me as well? I’ve had my ticket for over ten years and hardly used it - I have a Baofeng here on my desk and would love to find some tips and tricks for it.
KB1RZF

[LastDayz]

Please add me to your ping list as well. Thank you.