6m 4-Element Quad Antenna: Portable Short Boom Beam with 8 dBd Gain

This document details the construction of a portable 6-meter 4-element quad antenna designed for VHF and Field Day events. The antenna features a 10-foot boom and utilizes #12 bare wire elements. Spreader arms are fashioned from 3/8" OD x 48" fiberglass electric fence posts, with a modification required to reduce the ends to 0.370" OD for proper fit. Alternatively, 3/8" OD fiberglass tubing with a pre-reduced diameter can be used. Synthetic lumber hubs allow for post-assembly adjustments by sliding and locking along the boom. Spreader clamps, made from 3/4" OD fiberglass rod, incorporate 3/8" x 1" deep spreader holes and 1/8" element holes with countersunk edges. These clamps are drilled and tapped for 8-32 nylon thumbscrews, using both taper and bottoming taps for secure wire fastening. The antenna is designed for field assembly in approximately 10 minutes, requiring only a wrench for mast attachment. It offers comparable gain to a 6-element OWA Yagi while being smaller and lighter.