2M Antenna Projects and Designs
A collection of antenna projects and designs for the 2-meter band (144 MHz), suitable for amateur radio enthusiasts.
The 2-meter band, at 144-148 MHz, is a popular spot for local and regional amateur radio activity, including FM repeater operation, simplex QSOs, and even some weak-signal DX. Many hams enjoy building their own antennas for this VHF band, whether for portable use, fixed stations, or specialized activities like satellite operation or contesting.
Operators can find numerous antenna projects here, from simple J-poles and Slim Jims for everyday use to more complex Yagi designs like the YU7EF 6-element or HB9CV beams for higher gain. There are also plans for Moxon rectangles, Quad antennas, and even specialized designs like the Big Wheel or turnstile antennas for specific applications like ARDF. These projects help hams optimize their stations for better signal reports and more reliable QSOs.
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The article describes a high-gain, compact beam antenna design for the 2-meter band (144-146 MHz). The NSH 4x4 Boomer is a 4-element antenna that is mounted on a 4-foot boom with an 8.2 dB gain, 1.2:1 SWR, and a front-to-back ratio of 18 db. It is designed for mobile operations and little area, making it perfect for field usage such as disaster management. The design employs regularly spaced parts with a straightforward gamma match for tuning, and the construction materials include a square boom and polished aluminum tubes. In local and portable tests, the antenna worked regularly, achieving contact distances of up to 15 kilometers. -
This DIY guide details constructing a 5-element Yagi antenna for VHF frequencies. Yagi antennas offer directional signal transmission/reception compared to omnidirectional ones. The guide covers material selection (aluminum, screws, etc.), design using software or formulas, and step-by-step assembly including cutting elements, drilling holes, and attaching the coaxial cable. While calculations are provided for a 146 MHz design, adjustments are necessary for different frequencies. Safety precautions and potential result variations are emphasized. -
A project for a home made 5 element yagi-uda antenna for 2 meters, covering 144-148 MHz band by N1BMX -
An easy portable VHF antenna to build for ARES - RACES work is the 300 Ohm Twin Lead JPole antenna -
A Lightweight 2m Yagi for SOTA. The boom is 20mm PVC electrical conduit and the elements are 2.4mm aluminium TIG welding rod. The antenna is carried as a single length of conduit with the elements stowed inside the boom, sealing them in with a bung. The driven element is connected directly to 50 Ohm coax with a BN-43-202 balun core to decouple the coax shield. -
A 4 elements Yagi-Uda antenna for 144.3 MHz plan with dimensions and yagimax dimension calculation -
With increased ES propagation, this lightweight 5-element LFA antenna offers enhanced performance over the Bigwheel antenna's 5dBi gain, delivering approximately 11dBi and forward gain. Designed from G0KSC’s specifications, the 1.8m antenna was adapted for reduced weight using 6mm and 4mm rods instead of heavier tubes. 3D-printed PETG clamps ensure durability and precision, while the first tests showed excellent SWR and element coupling. Though built with a temporary Choke BalUn, the results were promising, with a Pawsey Stub BalUn planned next for further optimization. -
Such kind of omnidirectional antenna gives the possibility to be QRV with horizontal polarisation, as commonly used for the CW and SSB section of the 2m band. This actual design shows a 1.3:1 bandwidth of about 150kHz, centered to 144.200MHz. -
G0KYA Moxon antenna for 2 meters band -
kv5r 2 meter antenna -
Quarter wave groundplane antenna for 2 meters FM by AA1PG -
A 2 meter dipole antenna by KV5R -
A simple VHF vertical aerial for the home station -
A detailed construction guide for a 2-meter single 5/8 wavelength Flower Pot antenna, including design principles, dimensions, and VSWR curves. -
Sort of similar to the one of the 6m omni. Instead of using twin-lead, this design makes use of a more or less regular double bazooka antenna (coaxial dipole). Your attention shall be drawn to the available standart literature, such as Rothammel. In order to "compute" the dimension, Karl Rothammel mentioned that the total length of the dipole shall be 95% of the free-space wavelength. The short-circuit bridges (closing the folded dipole) are to be placed at a distance-fraction being equal to the velocity factor of the coax cable used, which will be 66% using RG-58 or RG174. -
A Tape Measure Beam Antenna for Radio Direction Finding based on WB2HOL design. -
This article is about a 4 element yagi VHF antenna designed to be easy to be assembled and suited for portable operations -
Fully functional weathervane conceals an efficient 2- meter base-station antenna. Your Neighbors and HOA won’t know it’s there and they will love the rooster-vane. The Rooster-Tenna is a covert 2-meter ham radio antenna disguised as a functional weathervane, ensuring seamless integration into residential environments. This improved version features a wide-spaced parallel-fed folded dipole in a compact skeleton slot design. Constructed from aluminum tubing and acrylic supports, it offers omnidirectional, vertically polarized performance suitable for repeater and satellite use. Easy to mount and tune, it achieves a low SWR across the 2m band. With 3D-printable parts available, the Rooster-Tenna blends practicality with stealth, making it an ideal solution for HOA-restricted areas -
2 Wavelength ,2 Meter Bi-Square Beam , 5dbd gain. This antennas are very cheeap to build and their radiation pattern is similar to a figure 8 with maximum signal through the loop but they may be used as a near-omnidirectional antenna -
A simple coax dipole antenna for 144 MHz by 9A7PJT -
An off-center-fed sleeve dipole, made of CPVC and aluminum foil tape by KV5R -
An interesting article on building a 4 elements yagi antenna with gamma match for the 2 meter band. This article include two videos demonstrating assembling procedure by KG0ZZ