2 Meter Turnstile Antenna
Build a simple 2-meter Turnstile antenna for effective amateur satellite communication.
Description
A 2-meter Turnstile antenna, detailed for amateur satellite communication, offers a straightforward build for those looking to engage with orbiting transponders. The author, WB8ERJ, shares his personal design and construction methods, emphasizing the antenna's simplicity and effectiveness for LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellite work. This design provides a circularly polarized signal, crucial for mitigating Faraday rotation and signal fading often encountered with linearly polarized antennas when tracking satellites.
Construction involves readily available materials like PVC pipe and copper wire, making it an accessible project for many hams. The article includes practical advice on element spacing and feed point considerations, drawing from the author's hands-on experience in the shack and field. It highlights the antenna's utility for receiving signals from various amateur satellites, including the popular AO-91 and AO-92.
The Turnstile's inherent omnidirectional pattern in the horizontal plane, combined with its circular polarization, yields consistent signal reception, often resulting in stronger decodes and more reliable contacts compared to basic dipoles or verticals.