DIY Cloverleaf & Skew Planar CP Antenna's Guide [VIDEO]

[J.Knight]

I DID NOT MAKE THIS VIDEO.

Schraut5 on YouTube made this video!

I found some of the guides online rather confusing with not enough information for a beginner so this video cleared things up quite a bit if not completely.


View this video on YouTube

Original Instruction are from David Windestahl @ RCexplorer.se

[IBCrazy]

*sigh* Wrong wire size for 5.8GHz... And RG174 cable does not work for 5.8GHz without serious losses. I even outlined this in my tutorial on RCG. David Windestahl wrote his tutorial solely for 1.3GHz. 5.8GHz is a whole different game all together

This method is far easier. The length of the hook is equal to the feed gap:


View this video on YouTube

-Alex

[MASHTON1138]

Wow! And all the questions get answers like "I'm not sure, give it a try". *sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh*

[J.Knight]

*sigh* Wrong wire size for 5.8GHz... And RG174 cable does not work for 5.8GHz without serious losses. I even outlined this in my tutorial on RCG. David Windestahl wrote his tutorial solely for 1.3GHz. 5.8GHz is a whole different game all together

This method is far easier. The length of the hook is equal to the feed gap:


View this video on YouTube

-Alex

That method does look a bit easier.

What wire size would you suggest for 2.4 ?

I don't run 5.8 so I don't care much but if you'd like to tell me the right wire size for that frequency, I'd be happy to let Schraut5 know he's using the wrong gauge.

I saw your tutorial on RCG but it was semi-confusing to me as I don't have a background in electronics so this video made it quite a bit easier to understand what goes to what.

I will modify my build using the guage you suggest and the method you posted above I just didn't quite know how to make it to be truthful.

Thanks for the input Alex I appreciate it.

[Dande]

I've made a stand for Cloverleaf & Skew Planar antenna's.

Can make a vid of it, if someone want me to.

What gauge wire (in mm) should be used for 5.8? (0.8mm on the pic.)

[IBCrazy]

For 2.4 use .030" wire. For 5.8GHz you need .020" or .018" if you can find it.

In my video the legs that get soldered to the shield do not count toward your lobe length so you can make them as long or short as you like

I am starting to see a lot of these tutorials and videos come out. David Windestahl did a great job, but only intended it for 1.3GHz. What people do not understand is how difficult 5.8GHz is to get even close to correct. It really is difficult. 2.4GHz on the other hand is a walk in the park

-Alex

[Dande]

Ok, it's not easy to make the 5.8GHz antennas.

I've got some questions:

1. What type of tolerance we are talking about? 0.01mm, 0.1mm or 1mm
2. What kind of coax is usebal with 5.8GHz?
3. Fead gap?

(does the one in the pic look ok? (if it was 0.5mm not 0.8mm))

David

[IBCrazy]

Dande

1. Depends on how close you need it. tolerance is +/- 1% for 1 < SWR < 1.5
2. RG316 works fairly well.
3. The feedgap is the distance between where the antenna starts and where it ends. Remember the signal is live the instant it leaves the coaxial shield, so the remaining wire sticking out of the coaxial cable between the solder points is live and counts as part of the loop length. You must trim from your lobe the length of this gap. In my case, I bend hooks equal to this length.

-Alex

[Freshmint]

RG316 is okay for 2.4ghz?

[Dande]

!!!!!! 1% !!!!!! so the total length including the fead gap is +- 0.53mm @ 5.8GHz.

OK.... then I know what im inn for.

Then i know aprox how much I have to trim off, in my case 1.20mm to 1.70mm.

Then the question is where do i trim it?

I've ordered parts to make the SWR meter, but it will take some time before it gets here. Then I might be able to find a method of making these antenna repeatebly.

I hope that it is possible to do so.

By the way, is it the same tolerance at a helical antenna @ 5.8GHz?

David