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Спиральная (Модификация HELIX)
2.4 GHz Helix Antenna
Par/By: Bertrand Zauhar, VE2ZAZ
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Here is the design of a 2.4 GHz antenna that is ideal for amateur satellite communications. This antenna is easy to assemble because the design itself tolerates inaccuracies in the construction without really affecting performance. And with this antenna, you won't have any difficulties working all current and future amateur satellites offering the 2.4GHz. band. An exception though is AO-40, which requires a parabolic antenna.
The following drawings and tables describe quite well the construction of this antenna. You can mouse-click on all drawings to get a zoomed view of them.
Here are a few additional notes to consider:
- Using a felt tip pen, mark the wire at every 14.75 cm, the equivalent length of one turn of wire. In total, mark the wire 17 times (16 turns). Perform this task on a flat surface such as a table before forming the wire turns.
- To form the wire coil, use a cylinder shaped tube with a diameter slightly smaller that the final diameter to achieve. In the end, all the pen markings should line up with each other.
- Drill holes whose size matches the hot glue sticks (standoffs) diameter. In this case, a 1.1 cm (7/16") diameter is required. Drill only one face of the square boom, that is, the face which will receive the standoff.
- The hot glue stick standoffs are cut 0.3 cm longer than the optimal length that would maintain the wire coil centered around the boom. Remember to include in your calculations the part of the stick that is inserted inside the boom. For my antenna, the total length was 3.1 cm.
- A 0.3 cm deep slot is grooved at the tip of each of the standoffs. The slot depth is calculated in order to maintain the wire coil centered with reference to the square boom. In this case a coil radius of 2.3 cm is targeted. The easiest way to create the slots is to use a heated piece of #12 (AWG) wire and to force it against the standoff tip. This will melt the tip down to the required slot depth.
- The standoff tip slots must be oriented with an angle of 12 degrees with the antenna reflector. This will accomodate the wire coil and preserve its shape.
- You can apply some hot glue at the standoff extremeties. This will hold the wire in place.
You can paint the antenna parts that are more susceptible to deterioration: the hot glue standoffs, the copper wire and matching plate.
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Spécifications
Type :
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Helix
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Polarization :
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Right hand circular
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Number of turns :
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16
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Gain :
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~16 dBi*
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Total length :
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68 cm
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Beamwidth (-3dB) :
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27 deg.*
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Bandwidth :
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See measured return loss plot
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*Theorical calculated value
Note: Click on the folowing drawings to get a zoom-in view
Dimensions
Wavelength :
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l = 12.5 cm
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Boom length :
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Lboom = 68 cm
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Distance boom end to Reflector :
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Lrefl = 18 cm
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Turn spacing :
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S = 0.24 x l = 3.0 cm
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One turn diameter :
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Fturn = 4.6 cm
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Reflector diameter :
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Frefl = 1.0l = 12.5 cm
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Standoff spacing :
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Lsupp = 2.5 x S = 7.5 cm
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Coupling strip width : |
Wcoupl = 0.6 cm
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Coupling spacing 1 :
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D1 = 0.3 cm
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Coupling spacing 2 :
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D2 = 0.12 cm
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Standoff to reflector spacing :
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Dstand = 2.0 cm
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Wire one turn radius :
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R = 0.184 x l = 2.3 cm
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One turn Circumference :
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1.18 x l = 14.75 cm
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Parts List
- 1 12.5 mm square aluminum tube, 70 cm long
- 1 1 mm thick aluminum disk, 12.5 cm diameter
- 1 Female, panel mount N-type connector
- 4 1.1 cm (7/16") hot glue sticks
- 1 2.5 cm (1") diam. all stainless steel hose clamp
- 6 1.25 cm (1/2") #8 flat head stainless steel screws, lock washers and nuts
- 2 2,5 cm (1") #10 round head stainless steel screws, lock washers and nuts
- 2 9 cm x 1.25 cm x 2 mm aluminum strips, bent at 5.5 cm from end
- 1 5 cm x 10 cm x 5 mm aluminum plate
- 1 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm x 2 mm aluminum shim that fits N-connector footprint
- 2.5 m #12 guage (AWG) copper wire
1 0.25 mm x 0.6 cm width copper strip arc-shaped to fit one quarter of a wire turn.
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Note: This antenna design is inspired from James Miller, G3RUH's design. I am thankful to him for his great work. His design is included in "Mode S - The book", which is available at Amsat-NA |
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