Fractal Quad Yagi
Building a compact 10-meter Fractal Quad Yagi with high gain and directivity
Description
Presents the construction of a 10-meter Fractal Quad Yagi (FQY) antenna, detailing the design principles and practical build steps. The article highlights the antenna's compact size, with elements measuring just over 4 feet per side, making it suitable for easy erection and rotation with a TV rotator. It claims an impedance close to 50 ohms, allowing direct feed with 50-ohm coax, and specifies a 3 dBd gain with a front-to-back ratio exceeding 25 dB. Bandwidth is reported at 500 kHz for less than 2:1 VSWR.
The resource includes a segment chart (Fig. 1) illustrating the precise lengths for each wire segment of the driven element and reflector, noting adjustments for different wire diameters. Construction utilizes readily available materials such as #9 aluminum ground wire and plastic water pipe for spreaders. The author, KF7BS, describes fabricating the framework, bending the fractal elements, and mounting them, including modifications like adding a small stub for reflector tuning. A materials list is provided, detailing items like 40-ft rolls of #9 Radio Shack aluminum ground wire and 1/2-inch plastic water pipe.
Scaling equations for the driven element are discussed for different frequencies, such as designing for the CW band. The article references Chip Cohen NIIRV's_ original Fractenna website as the inspiration for the design.