Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • CQ Amateur Radio

    How to Tune a Yagi Antenna

    Dec 01, 2020 6 minutes
    BY PETER J. DALTON,* W6KW
    “Trial-and-error should be a process if one wants the best performing antenna.”

    I have been asked a number of times, “How do I tune my Yagi antenna?” I have answered these requests in writing. However, I have been spending considerable time listening on 40 meters while I do various things in the ham shack and have been saddened by the all-too-frequent confusion some hams have over tuning an antenna versus obtaining a good match. Here is what I have found to be the best answer to both tuning and matching based on practical experience:

    I believe an antenna should be tuned before it is matched. Tuning consists of trimming and tweaking the antenna (or antenna array) itself to resonance on its design frequency, as installed. Matching tunes the antenna and feed system to present a 50-ohm load to the transmitter, even when the radio is operating on something other than the antenna’s resonant

    You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

    More from CQ Amateur Radio

    CQ Amateur Radio6 min read
    Vhf Plus
    During August, an impressive high-pressure system was in place over the middle of the country, bringing sweltering heat and weeks without rain. A silver lining to the weather, however, was the tropospheric ducting that resulted across the region. Pho
    CQ Amateur Radio3 min read
    Gordo’s Short Circuits
    For those of us with the Kenwood TS-2000 HF/V/U transceiver, it’s a keeper, even though an oldie! Some use it just for HF, some for cross-band multimode satellite contacts, and many didn’t realize this classic rig has a built in TNC for digital modes
    CQ Amateur Radio10 min read
    Transceiver to Computer Interface
    Many modern-day amateur radio programs use a single USB cable between the transceiver and computer to transfer three basic types of information; audio signals which can include SSB, RTTY, digital or CW signals, critical transceiver control and pollin

    Related