Hy-Gain VB-214FM Build Question

[Mudfoot]

Should I make a stand off for the coax balun? Not sure if it'll affect it by being taped to the boom. I have it 70% built. Been so hot last couple days.

My phasing cable on my little Cushcraft dual band yagi is really touchy on how the cable is mounted. Trying to head off problems a forehand.

 

[KC9Q]

I have several Hy-Gain beams with that 4:1 coaxial balun taped to the boom like in the photo, and never had any problem with tuning. These were the old Hy-Gain antennas made in Lincoln, NE, so I hope they perform the same. Have fun be it SSB or FM, those Hy-Gain beams work great.

73, Mike

 

[w9cll]

It Will be fine

 

[AudioShockwav]

Mine was also taped to the boom.
Worked fine for me.

73
Jeff

 

[Mudfoot]

I don't ever remember having a beam with a hairpin matching. The Cushcraft dual band yagi is an end mount. I had a crazy time getting it to behave with a decent SWR. That phasing cable was temperamental. I don't know if any other manufacturer used the same eyebolt attachment scheme, but I sure do remember having, or helped someone else with one. Seems like I remember it being a 6 meter yagi.

As I write this, I have one more element to tighten down. The eyebolt sure holds each element securely, but it's touchy getting exact measurements on each side. Once you get it perfect, the elements want to pull to ether side when tightening. My OCD won't allow that, so it's going slow, but measurements are exact. I'm pleased with how light this thing is. Can't wait to see it in action. If it works like I think it will, I might stack a pair.

Thanks for easing my concerns.

 

[Mudfoot]

Has a slight sag and a little crooked down the mast.

 

[Mudfoot]

Initial check shows 1:1:2 @ 144 and 3:1:3 @ 148. Antenna about 6' high and measured close to the feed point. Should be fine once tuned to 146 ish.

 

[BJ radionut]

You might try rolling it over Flat, for final "tweaking" so tripod not causing a reflective issue. Then when you get the actual feedline for install, add that for final check.
Most of those I messed with, the 13 and 15 element models seem to get "longer" when up off the ground.
Which means it will drop in frequency slightly when at their final home above 20 ft. or more above ground.
This does not tend to be a problem as they are normally very wide with the VSWR curve. Last one I helped with we tuned for 146.52, then when up about 25 ft. on mast it dropped into the 145 range and required a little more "tweak" to get it balanced across the band. He wanted to make sure it was still below 2:1 near 148 as he would use on upper Simplex freq's like 147.57.
Think you'll like it once up, they do preform very well for cost.
All the Best
Gary

 

[Mudfoot]

That was an earlier pic when I was constructing it. My measurements were performed while it was on a 20' military fiberglass mast fed by 100' of my Shireen cable. The driven element is cut for 144.00, so it looks like it'll behave with tuning.

I have since abandoned this antenna and gonna go with the Cushcraft A148-20T, fed with two runs of coax. My wife's cousin coveted it, so I sold it to him. The A148-20T is supposed to be here Thursday.