W6NL 40m Moxon Yagi
Design, construction, and performance analysis of a 2-element 40-meter Moxon Yagi antenna.
Description
This resource presents a detailed analysis of the W6NL 2-element 40-meter Moxon Yagi antenna, covering its design, construction, and measured performance characteristics. It outlines key specifications such as a free-space gain of 6 dBi, 11 dBi at 70 feet, and a direct 50-ohm feed. The document highlights the antenna's physical attributes, including 52-foot elements, a 27-foot boom, and a weight of 75 pounds, engineered to withstand 125 mph winds. Modeling was performed using AO6 and K6STI software, with a focus on the unique functions of the transverse tip elements for Moxon coupling, physical balance, efficient capacitive loading, and reduced wind load.
The presentation includes comparative data, showing the Moxon's superior front-to-back (F/B) ratio and wider bandwidth compared to traditional loaded Yagis. Performance graphs illustrate the SWR, gain, and F/B across the entire 40-meter band (7.0-7.3 MHz), comparing measured results against calculated values. Azimuth and elevation patterns demonstrate high F/B, with the antenna's pattern matching that of a full-size 3-element Yagi on a 30-foot boom. It also notes a gain difference of 1.5 dB down relative to a K3LR 4-element Yagi on a 50-foot boom, providing practical benchmarks for performance evaluation.