cantenna

kc_fan · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:43 pm Post subject: cantenna

I was wondering how many people here have made a cantenna and tried it with EVDO that is on the fringe area. I have found a calculator on line that allows for it to be tuned to 1900Mhz. I was looking at building one that will use a old DirecTv dish I have as a reflector for the signal.

I would be building this to try to help my brother out he has the Omni external and the 3 watt amp but his EVDO signal is still around -105 to -116, he is using 1xrtt -83 to -99 right now.

Thanks,

Mike

firemensfriend · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 6:14 am Post subject:

Keep us posted on your progress. Some pics would be nice also.

kc_fan · Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:04 pm Post subject: Pics/updates

I will keep everyone posted on this, it will be a few weeks before I have the time to build it. I am also looking at trying to build my own yagi.

Mike

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

kc_fan · Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 2:32 am Post subject: Built My own Yagi

Just a update, I have built my own Yagi, it will have just under 15 dBd. I am waiting on the 20 ft of LMR400 coax to arrive and then will be testing it at my brothers house in the next two weeks. I used the following site for the calculations:

www.k7mem.150m.com/Electronic_Notebook/antennas/yagi_vhf.html

I made one that was 36" long, (33" is usable and what I calculated it on). I had to have 3" for mounting the U clamp for the pole. It has 1 reflector, 1 driven element and 15 directors. The hardest part is you have to messure some of the elements out to 64th's of a inch.

I made the yagi out of a square 5/8" wooden dowel and steel and brass (for the driven element) welding rods that are 1/8" round. It has a folded dipole for the driver and I am using a U shaped piece of coax to make a matching transformer to match the 300 Ohm dipole to the 50 Ohm coax as discribed on this page:

www.k7mem.150m.com/Electronic_Notebook/antennas/yagi_vhf_feed.html

Thanks,

Mike

kc_fan · Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 9:26 am Post subject: Yagi update

I wanted to update everyone on what happened with the Yagi, it worked great for the 1xrtt signal he had, it went from -102db with the omni to -89dbm with the yagi.

I think that they must have the 1xrtt on 1900 Mhz and the EVDO on 800Mhz because we see no sign at all of the EVDO signal with the 1900 Mhz yagi, on the omni see a week -115 signal on it. I think the EVDO signal he is seeing may be from a Alltell tower. I may build a 800 Mhz yagi too just to see what hapens with it.

Mike

Oldbull · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 05 Oct 2005 Posts: 24

I got about 10 miles out of this rig, was a bit flakey but worked. The next week or so after I got it working EVDO was available at my local tower so didn't use it for an extended time. I had better luck aiming a Direct tv dish with a flat panel antenna than I did with the Dish and cantenna.

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

Suppose you don't know the location of the tower. What technique would you use to find it and aim correctly?

Also, anyone know how to evict some large birds that are building a nest in the tower nearby?

Walter · EVDO Junkie Joined: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 307

Luka · EVDO User Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 93

kc_fan · Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:15 am Post subject: 800 Mhz

I have built a 800 Mhz yagi, but have not yet made it to my brothers to test it. I will let everyone know what happens with it once we have tested it. Also we are using 20ft of lmr400 for the feed line to have very low loss in the feed line.

Thanks,

Mike

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

mmash · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 May 2007 Posts: 7

Probably a dumb question...but would it help to put the booster antenna inside of a directv dish for better signal...or should I try a yagi to gain a stronger EVDO signal?