M2 440-21 ATV Yagi (Courtesy M2 Antenna Systems Website)

I decided to build the simplest of our four Yagi antenna first – the M2 Antenna Systems 440-21 ATV. This antenna features 21 elements on a 14 1/2 foot Boom and provides excellent gain and F/B performance. Here are the specifications for the  M2 440-21 ATV Yagi (Courtesy M2 Antenna Systems Website):

Our mast is a 3″ piece so M2 made up a custom mast plate for us (more on this in a bit). The first step in the assembly of the antenna was to layout and inventory all of the parts and to thoroughly review the assembly instructions.

70 cm Yagi Parts

The next step was to assemble the boom and to install the 21 elements using the supplied insulated bushings and lock rings. The element installation takes quite a bit of time as most of the elements are of different lengths and they must be properly centered on the boom. To make this process a little easier, I used a marking pen to number each element location on the boom so that I could easily determine which length element went in each location on the boom.

70cm Yagi Boom and Elements

The next step was the installation of the driven element, balun, and associated matching system. The key to this step is to install the coupling bars at the proper location on the driven element/matching unit.

70cm Yagi Driven Element

The final step in the assembly of the antenna was to install the mast clamp. We are using a 3″ mast on our tower and M2 Systems made a custom mast clamp plate to accommodate our mast. The mast clamp should be placed on the boom at the point where the boom including the weight of the feedline balances the antenna relative to the mast. It’s important to get the mast plate installed so that the elements of the antenna are at a right angle to mast. This is easily done by leveling the elements of the antenna in the vertical plane and then using a horizontal level to get the mast plate perfectly square with the antenna elements.

70cm Yagi Mast Clamp Installation

These steps complete the antenna assembly. The only step that remains is to test the antenna and rig it with a coax jumper cable before it does on the tower.

Completed 70cm Yagi

One can do a reasonable test of a Yagi of this type by elevating it 10 – 15 ft and doing an SWR test. I attached a 20 ft length of LMR400 UltraFlex feedline to the antenna, carefully fastening it to the boom of the antenna so that it did not couple to and interact with the antenna. I then used a RigExpert AA-520 Antenna Analyzer to verify that the Yagi’s SWR was as expected.

70cm Yagi Test

At this point, the first of the four Yagi antennas is complete and I plan to tackle the 2m Yagi next.

You can read more about our tower project via the articles which follow:

• First Tower Part 1 – Ground Broken For New Tower!
• First Tower Part 2 – Tower/Antenna System Design Details And Equipment Ordering
• First Tower Part 3 – More Excavation For Feedline Conduits
• First Tower Part 4 – Tower/Antenna System Analysis And Design (Planning And EZNEC)
• First Tower Part 5 – Tower/Antenna System Analysis And Design (HFTA Analysis)
• First Tower Part 6 – We Have A Tower!
• First Tower Part 7 – 100 ft Tower Completed!
• First Tower Part 8 – VHF/UHF Antenna System Design
• First Tower Part 9 – Feedline Conduits And Electrical Power Complete
• First Tower Part 11 – Building Yagis (2m)
• First Tower Part 12 – Building Yagis (SteppIR DB36)
• First Tower Part 13 – Building Yagis (SteppIR DB36 Continued)
• First Tower Part 14 – Building Yagis (SteppIR DB36 Continued II)
• First Tower Part 15 – Building Yagis (SteppIR DB36 Completed)
• First Tower Part 16 – Building Yagis (Second SteppIR DB36 Completed)
• First Tower Part 17 – Feedline Breakout System
• First Tower Part 18 – Antennas On The Tower (Preparation and Upper Yagis)
• First Tower Part 19 – Antennas On The Tower (System Integration)
• First Tower Part 20 – Antennas On The Tower (System Complete)
• First Tower Part 21 – Antennas On The Tower (Final Odds and Ends)
• Complete Presentation on Amateur Radio Station Design And Construction

– Fred, AB1OC