Don's 2 Meter Extreme Dream Beam Antenna

Building the ultimate 2 meter ham radio beam antenna with local parts. Estimated at (12.5 dbd ) this video shows how to build it and the parts you will need, and analyzer performance stats for frequency and swr. UPDATED VIDEO ON OUR CHANNEL NOW.
SEVEN ELEMENT 14.5 dbd* MODEL. CHECK OUR CHANNEL.
Much has changed in the last 3 years on the materials and plans
From the bend to bend of each piece of copper, this is the measurements of the elements. Using any other screws can effect the frequency. From U to U or to the bends where you attach the screws are listed. The distance between the bends.
Please understand you must cut the wire longer to achieve this and your bending needs to be like the video shows. It is not super critical except for the driven element, but we wanted to be clear.
Distance inside the bends is shown below.

QRZ MEMBERS ONLY- SEE A DETAILED DESIGN WITH ALL THE LATEST FEATURES OF THIS PERFECTED DESIGN.

U----------------82 1/2"-----------------U Reflector
U------------78 5/8"-----------U DE
U------------74"-----------U Dir 1
U---------72"-------U Dir 2
U------70"------U Dir 3
2" of exposed unshielded rg8 or 213, 50 ohm coax to attach.- This is critical. Using smaller coax is unwise on 2 meter and will change the length needed of the unshielded coax for a perfect match. If you did use smaller coax you would peal back more shield, but it will exceed the coax guard and performance is lost in the feed line.
If you can test frequency resonance that is recommended but if the distance inside the bends matches, you will be very close to perfect resonance for 2 meters.

[mohawk]

Got to tell you guys that this was one of the most enjoyable home brew antenna videos I have watched. You guys made me feel like I was right there with you building it. Great job guys and a bad ass antenna. Thanks N2QKK Dave.

[adampennington]

Best 2m design out there. I use the 5L version, my buddy uses a 7L version. We talk simplex (over 17 miles) regularly at half a watt. My antenna is at 33 feet. His is at 24 feet. He can use his VX-8DR to talk to me on 50 milliwatts! Unfortunately half a watt is as low as I can go. The only downside to this antenna is weight. This things are absolute pigs lol. We have redesigned them using fiberglass booms and spreaders with aluminum directors and reflector. 4lbs for the 7L version. Right around 3lbs for the 5L. I can hit repeaters at 80 miles day or night. There is a fairly tall repeater at over 100 miles that I get into on a regular basis. LOVE this antenna. The only people that say that this design isn't worth the effort are the people who haven't used one. Great job, fellas!

[JRPlantagenet]

I just finished this antenna a couple of days ago.  It was very easy to build.  When I first transmitted I thought my SWR meter was broken because the needle didn't move from 1:1.  BUT, the antenna was just RIGHT on 1:1 at 146mhz!!!  Thanks guys.  73

[John-hqc]

Nice antenna. And describing lengths and showing method used.

[ct]

I really enjoyed this video guys. With regards to the UPVC end caps, if you ask for those over here in the UK they look at you as though you’re stupid. That’s usually followed with, “why would you want to cap the end of a pipe?” We can order them from overseas via eBay but there are so many UPVC hacks that could be made if we could get end caps. Take care guy. I’m going to search for that seven element beam you mentioned within the description. 73’s and kind regards, Karl. MW6TBI.

[jimic]

Don, you and you friend had make a great job with that antenna, I will try to biuld it one day.
Greatings from the CE zone.
73´s
XQ6WBM

[errymoningkey]

Just found this channel. Great work guys. 👍

[purplemutantas]

Excellent! It's always awesome to get a good contact on a home built antenna. I need to make another 2 meter yagi. It's pretty amazing what you can do with a few watts and a good antenna.

[lookedlikecarlos]

Thanks for the fun video. I am from North-East Arkansas and just got my ticket. Please make more ham videos. 

[userfixit]

Nice to see y’all experimenting

To me, that’s Ham Radio!
-Bob. KQ2Q

[pressmantheshow]

To WX9DX  Don was using the same setup. The receive sure beats the 38 foot jpole. It is highly directional for sure. It has a small tight width lobe from each side that has considerable distance also. 73

[berkmanyt]

Great job….EXCELLENT….your video style should be mimicked by other YouTubers.
Thanks for the diagram and parts list.    walt  K2CXP   north of NYC 75 miles

[NightRunner]

Wow... I was thinking, "What are they doing, making a pvc horizontal dipole beam?" its a loop beam! That's pretty slick. :-)

[ericlarson]

Awesome and inexpensive build
Also enjoyed all the music ! Could you send a list of the music ?

[wxfield]

The barbell @13:43 is thinking, _"The last time you used me to exercise was when you bought me, picked me up, and drove me to your basement. Now I'm an anvil?!"_

[virgilioleandro]

I never see something like that.
Perfect! Congratulation!

[larryl]

why not bolt the directors ends together with a short screw and enclose connection with in the tubing.????

[w.rustylane]

I love home made antennae. Keep up the good work. I can't wait to get my Tech. license. What is your QTH?

[nvmo]

That is basically the same antenna that is in The ARRL Antenna Handbook 21st Edition starting on page 18 - 41. This one has one more director and the elements are round rather than square.  They are a great antenna and with one extra director will just make it that much tighter and a better front to back ratio.  I built one of these about 20 years ago but I didn't glue the parts together so I could break it down if need be.

[wxdx]

You most likely have 3 of the 4 watts lost in the cable. LOL And what happens on TX happens on RX also. So yeah 22 miles on simplex with a HandHeld and antenna just around 25 feet, yeah it seems to be ok! What antenna was the other station using?
73
Jimmy, ARRL TC, WX9DX