23cm Band Antenna Projects for Amateur Radio

Find construction plans and designs for various 23cm antennas, including Yagis, quads, and dishes, for the 1200 MHz ham radio band.

David
Reviewed by • Senior RF Engineer & Technical Editor March 2026

The 23cm band, spanning 1240 to 1300 MHz, offers hams exciting opportunities for local and DX QSOs, especially through troposcatter, EME (Earth-Moon-Earth), and satellite operation. Building antennas for this microwave band presents unique challenges and rewards, often requiring precise construction and careful tuning to achieve optimal performance. Operators frequently experiment with various designs to maximize gain and directivity for weak signal work.

This category focuses on antenna projects specifically for the 23cm band. Hams can find designs for common types like Yagi antennas, including popular DL6WU and F9FT variations, suitable for field day or fixed station use. There are also plans for simpler builds such as quad and ground plane antennas, which are excellent for beginners. More advanced projects cover specialized feeds for parabolic dishes and horn antennas, essential for serious DX and EME operators on 1296 MHz.

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