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Author Topic: Eggbeater Antenna Question  (Read 355 times)

WD4OHD

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Eggbeater Antenna Question
« on: November 24, 2021, 07:11:47 PM »

After looking at some VHF & UHF Eggbeater designs, I'm left wondering...when reflector elements are included underneath the main antenna (I've seen designs with 4, 6, or 8 elements):
(1) are they all connected together electrically (or not, or does it matter if they are or they aren't)?
and
(2) are they generally isolated from ground, connected to ground (or does it matter one way or the other)?

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AK5B

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Re: Eggbeater Antenna Question
« Reply #1 on: November 25, 2021, 08:24:03 AM »

They form the ground plane just like the one needed for a standard 1/4 wave ground plane antenna often used at VHF and above.  Yes, they are connected to the shield side of your coax and earth grounding should occur at your shack's point of entry via a properly installed ADU.

From what I know about the current crop of satellites these days, using eggbeaters will be disappointing for the majority of times (I still have my 25 year old eggbeaters from M2 and am hoping someday there will be more powerful birds in the sky so I can get the kind of use out of then that I was able to back in the good old days...)


73,

Jeff
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KQ4KK

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Re: Eggbeater Antenna Question
« Reply #2 on: November 25, 2021, 08:33:34 AM »

My M2 Egg Beaters with radials and even Preamps are not very good.
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KF0QS

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Re: Eggbeater Antenna Question
« Reply #3 on: December 11, 2021, 11:30:59 PM »

My first satellite antennas were the M2 Eggbeaters with the radials.  To answer the OP's question, AK5B accurately describes how the radials function and how they're hooked up to the transmission line.

In terms of how they work, they got me on the air on satellites.  I was even able to upload and download emails from some of the early orbiting 1200 baud BBS satellites (like AO-16).  I also fondly remember my days on the RS series of satellites (RS-10, RS-12 and RS-15).  I used my Eggbeaters for 7 years.  For the record, I did have mast-mounted preamps on them.

In 1999, I moved to a new QTH and put up CP yagis.  There is truly no comparison between those (14 elements on 2 meters and 30 elements on 70cm, again with mast-mounted preamps) and the Eggbeaters.  Also, I believe that today's satellites have lower power outputs than those old ones, so I don't know if the Eggbeaters would be as effective with the newer birds.

In short, if you've got no alternatives, the Eggbeaters will probably get you on the air and will certainly do it better than a ground plane antenna on 2 and on 70cm.  But, if you can lay out the cash and have the room, I'd go with the M2 LEO pack at a minimum.
« Last Edit: December 11, 2021, 11:34:12 PM by KF0QS »
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