DL6WU Long boom Yagi design tools

DL6WU-OD.xlt

Overview

This is an Excel spreadsheet template to design DL6WU Yagi antennas based on the following references by Guenter Hoch, DL6WU:

•  "Extremely Long Yagi Antennas", VHF Communications, 3/82; and
• "Zelf Ontwerpen en Bouwen van VHF en UHF Antennes" (with PA0MS), VERON;

and supplemented by direct information from DL6WU.

There are a large number of tools to assist with the design of long boom Yagis as described by Guenter Hoch, DL6WU. When comparing the outputs of these tools for identical inputs, there are differences that suggest departures from Guenter's design concepts. DL6WU-OD.xlt is an Excel spreadsheet template that provides a convenient method of developing, saving and documenting a design in a modern desktop application, and seeks to precisely follow Guenter's design concepts.

Figure 1 shows a screen shot of an example 2m DL6WU Yagi design in mm dimensions.

Figure 1: Example calculation in mm dimensions.

Figure 2 shows a screen shot of an example 70cm DL6WU Yagi design in inch dimensions.

Figure 2: Example calculation in inch dimensions.

This spreadsheet includes user functions written in VBA and derived from the program dl6wu-gg.bas on 17 July 2006. Table 1 is the change history from that file.

This derivation is produced and published with permission of Ian White (G3SEK, GM3SEK).

The intention with this spreadsheet was to faithfully implement the algorithms and data from the program dl6wu-gg.bas which is believed to best capture Guenter Hoch's design concepts. The program dl6wu-gg.bas used an algorithm for stacking distances that is probably sourced from W1JR. This spreadsheet uses DL6WU's recommended algorithm for optimal stacking distance, and a more accurate method of estimating the beamwidth of antennas (from which the stacking distance is calculated). These changes were made in consulation with Guenter Hoch and Ian White.

Please notify defects to owen at vk1od.net.

Change history

•  V1.01 2006-06-17 OD Initial derived from dl6wu-gg.bas (see Table 1 for its history).
•  V1.02 2006-06-21 OD Function names prefixed to be unique in a wider context, field labels edited.
•  V1.03 2006-06-22 OD Added choice of method for calculation of suggested stacking distance for two Yagis, related functions renamed, model sheets edited for new field.
• V1.04 2006-06-23 OD Relabelled choice of method for calculation of suggested stacking distance for two Yagis (DL6WU / W1JR).
• V2.01 2006-06-30 OD Uses VK1OD's regression for estimating beamwidth from gain, DL6WU formula for optimum stacking distance from beamwidth.

Installation

Download the file DL6WU-OD.xlt and save it in your Excel templates directory.

Templates are usually stored in the Templates folder, in the XLStart folder, or in the alternate startup folder. The easiest way to find the location of your Templates folder is to open a new workbook and attempt to save it as a template, noting the location of the default directory that is offered by Excel.

Once the template is installed, to create a new model based on the template, from the menu choose File/New and select DL6WU-OD.xlt as the template. (If you cannot see the template, it hasn't been installed properly, see above.

Digitally signed macros

The template contains macros with digital signature by VK1OD. The Certifying Authority certificate for this signature can be imported by clicking here using Microsoft Internet Explorer (do not use another browser for this purpose).

File checksums

Links

• VHF/UHF Long Yagi Workshop - Ian White, GM3SEK
• K7MEM's online javascript calculator

V1.02 Last updated: 23/04/08 20:09:42 -0600 .

VK1OD on the 'net. I appreciate your feedback. © Copyright: Owen Duffy 1995, 2007. All rights reserved. Disclaimer.