WA5VJB 1.3G PCB Yagi Antenna

[BlueFlyer]

After seeing Bonafidepirate use this antenna on his setup, I thought I'd get one and give it a go.

I ordered on the evening of 16th Nov, and it arrived this morning 22nd Nov. That's very good considering it only cost $16 USD including shipping. I imagine it came well below the value threshold too as HMRC didn't stop it for extra fees.

It can be purchased here: http://www.wa5vjb.com/products2.html

Data sheet here: http://www.wa5vjb.com/pcb-pdfs/Yagi1250.pdf

It's maximum performance is on 1280MHz and it has a gain of between 6 and 7 dBi

Front



Back



Here is how I attached a bit of salvaged semi-rigid coax with SMA connector to the PCB Yagi.

First, cut away the outer insulation, the shield and the inner plastic insulating material to expose a length of the core wire



Then carefully cut away just the outer insulation in order to expose the shielding.



Offer up the prepared coax to the PCB pad and track as shown in the data sheet, and trim the coax to fit.



Tin the inner core wire and the outer shielding with regular 60/40 solder



Apply some solder to the large pad and the track, then solder on the shielding



Bend the core wire down making sure it stays in contact with the track (or very close to it) when left alone, and then solder the wire to the track.



And there you have it, some semi-rigid coax soldered to the PCB Yagi



Here's the Yagi on my 1280 tuned patch antenna for size comparison.

[BlueFlyer]

The antenna makes its first appearance in this video

The antenna is tested in comparison to a patch antenna in this video

[zagifly]

With a dipole on the aircraft what is the orientation of this antenna on the Rx, hoping to use it on my fatshark goggles module. I have done 11.8 K just on home made dipoles so hoping to go further with this.

Dave H

[BlueFlyer]

[Rommie]

Holy poop there good, I may have to get some new antennas and vtx/vtx gear

[English Turbines]

Hi Blue,

  Looks good, I need some semi rigid coax before I can do mine m8....Dont know if you noticed but where the drilled holes are, these holes are through plated connecting the elements to each other....I did continuity check mine because at first I thought they were just holes requiring wire soldering in to connect...
  Its nice and compact isnt it..?.....:)

   Are you going to use both at the same time back to back giving all round coverage...?

          :vulture:

[BlueFlyer]

I bought 1 for a friend, saved on postage.

I'll be trying mine on my tracker. It will be much lighter than the massive patch antenna, so will be easier on the trackers servos.

The plan is to eventually have a directional UHF antenna (maybe a moxon, evetually a yagi) and 1280 antenna on the same tracker for ultimate link quality within the radius I tend to fly, and super long range for when I want to push the limits.

[Lola]

Nice job there blue. May I suggest putting a dab of hot glue where you soldered the coax to the antenna? Just to give it a touch more stability.

[BlueFlyer]

You may suggest anything you like :)

[Lola]

I did it on an old 5.8 board I was testing as the wires eventually broke off with it in and out of the car each time. It's up to you of course.

[zagifly]

I have ordered 2 of these, $12 for the 2 and $10  for postage which I think is a bargain. And you get a tracking number, be nice if someone did the same antenna in 5.8.

Dave H

[BlueFlyer]

Lola, if anything, I'd be more concerned about the solder pad becoming detached from the PCB, so I may reinforce the area with some hot glue :)

I havent tested mine yet zagifly, but I have confidence in it after watching those videos.

[SnoozeDoggyDog]

I won't be suprised of the price goes up ....

[Rommie]

I only got 5.8ghz gear but I think I might upgrade, I do have a set of 2.4 that I don't use either, may have to just upgrade

[English Turbines]

I have ordered 2 of these, $12 for the 2 and $10  for postage which I think is a bargain. And you get a tracking number, be nice if someone did the same antenna in 5.8.

Dave H

Hi Dave,

       If you look on their site, they do a 5.8G Patch which looks like a Linear....I dont think a 5.8g Yagi like the 1280 one would work too well...

:vulture: