Build your own 2.4Ghz 15dbi Yagi

New Spanish translation.

I recently obtained an old Aironet 2.4Ghz 15dbi Yagi. Instinctively, my first thought was to take it apart and measure everything. I've seen pictures of these types of antennas before, but no one seems to have any sort of accurate measurements. Here, you will find exact measurements (well,as exact as can be with Vernier Calipers) that will allow you to make a copyof this antenna.

Here's some pictures of the antenna:

Assembled antenna
Still assembled... not for long
Overview of disassembled antenna
Disassembled view
More detailed pic of the driven element
Driven element close up 1
Another more detailed pic of the driven element
Driven element close-up 2
Another detailed pic of the driven element
Driven element close-up 3


I traced the outline of the antenna on paper to make a quick and dirty diagram for recording measurements. Many people have given me better drawings of the antenna, and I appologize for not posting them sooner. I still have all your submissions, although not all of them are in formats that I could read (mostly various CAD formats). Here's one I received from Dragan Cesmedziski from www.gajtanless.org that's in PDF format, so it should be usefull for everyone.


Here's the details of my old hand drawn version.

Technical Drawing preview

Choose Image Size:

Colossal (5592 x 1314)
Huge (2796 x 657)
Big (1398 x 329)
Medium (699 x 165)

Some clarifications to the diagram:

Loop Details:

After much demand, I decided to take another look at the loop part and see if there was a way to get at it for better inspection, measuring, and imaging. Well, as it turns out, like most things assembled on an assembly line, there is an easy way to do it. It's only held in by a couple dabs of hot glue and the tie wraps hold the wire back. After cutting the tie wraps and wiggling the loop a bit, it came out. What it looks like is quite surprising:

Loop Detail Pic Small

Choose Image Size:

Big (1170 x 1262)
Medium (585 x 631)

Some clarifications on the loop:

Interesting Application

Frank Hibberd sent me this photo and description of his use of the antenna for receiving video from his model plane. I told him I would post it here, but unfortunately it's taken me a very long time to do so. Here's his message:
Hello Andrew

I am very grateful to you for providing details of the 2.4Ghz Yagi. The picture shows the yagi I have constructed from your dimensions, mounted on a hat. It receives signals from a TV camera/transmitter on the electric-powered plane. The hat is worn by whoever is controlling the plane, which also carries a digital camera controlled from the ground.



The legal limit on the transmitter power is 10mW, so the yagi is needed to get a reasonable range. The system works very well.

Thanks again!

Frank Hibberd
Coventry
UK
Thank you Frank for the truely unique application idea and photo. I'm sorry it took me so long to get it up on this page.

Other Antennas:

Kryptoknight Yagi - A very nice copy of these plans (with a slight modification) with construction instructions and nice pictures.
Cookie Cantenna A much easier to build 15dbi waveguide antenna - CHECK THIS OUT!!!
Build your own sector panel antenna A simple homebrew sector panel antenna (Spanish) - orignal link broken - local mirror HERE
Inside the Comtelco 7.5dBi Antenna Build your own 7.5dbi patch antenna
Building Helical Antennas Plans and instructions to build your own helical antenna.
Building Yagi Antennas More Yagi Designs, pictures, etc.
Building a Cardboard Horn Antenna Quite different but worth a look.
Various Antennas A whole collection of info on different types of antennas.
Slotted Waveguide A very professional do it yourself antenna with spectacular results. Probably requires machine shop time to construct though.
Downpipe Slotted Waveguide An easier and cheaper waveguide more suited to DIY construction.

Other Wireless Links:

My WAP-11 Site - My extensive resourceses all having to do with the Linksys WAP-11 or compatable.
WAP-11 Hack The infamous WAP-11 Power boost hack.
WAP-11 Ver 2.2 Hack Put D-Link firmware on your WAP-11 Ver 2.2
Seattle Wireless Awesome site with tons of wireless info. Click on Title Index


If you have any questions, send me an e-mail at andrew_dot_hakman_at_gmail_dot_com