In a couple of weeks I will test three different types of UHF antennas at my #satnogs station:
I will post the result so stay tuned!
https://network.satnogs.org/observations/?station=858
Will you be testing them simultaneously on the same passes? That would be the best comparison…
No sorry, I do not have that type of possibility. I think I will run each antenna with a couple of strong telemetry satellites on 437 MHz for at least 48 hours.
It will not be a perfect test but during 48 hours the satellites will have a couple of good passes, so each antenna should have a couple of good passes.
Hello Lars,
I have good results with turnstile and QHF antenna and 9A4QV “LNA for all”.
Also cross yagi with RHCP or polarisation switch are best option (sometimes SAT is tumbling).
I tested one homemade 70cm Eggbetter type antenna it was deaf. I suspect on phasing coax for loops.
Update:
My next test will be with Loga 3 antenna. At shops with radio, TV and SAT equipment we have this logperiodic antenna that covers VHF and UHF ham bands. Price is around 10eur.
73 Milo YT2CQ
Interesting low budget logperiodic antenna. Please share your results later.
Hi! Some update:
Now I’m starting tests with the first of three UHF antennas. The first one is a Crossed Dipole Turnstile, I will have this antenna connected for about a week.
Please feel free schedule at SatNOGS Network - Ground Station SM0TGU - VHF UHF
Next test, Eggbeater. Unfortunately I do not receive much, I have a crappy QTH but maybe I have some error in my setup. SWR is excellent but…
I see that other stations are receiving with good results with UHF Eggbeaters and UHF Turnstile dipole so it should be possible.
Maybe I will try to bypass the LNA.
There is nothing wrong with the RTL-SDR v3 in my #satnogs setup, switched to my UHF high-gain tracking UHF yagi and got very good results. Next: hunting errors in coax cables and connectors in my Satnogs setup. I will also connect my IC-705 to the Eggbeater and do some manual RX tests.
So, the tests with the turnstile dipole and Eggbeater has not been a success. The coax cable and RTL-SDR has been proved to work OK. My next test will be with a fixed yagi .
Hello Lars, can you scan 70cm band with spectrum analyzer (~420MHz)?
Its look like you have noise from CDMA base station.
Or local repeater on 2m are too strong for SDR.
https://network.satnogs.org/observations/2958101/
Yes, I have noice and local interference on 70cm band, there is not much I can do about this. But I have done several different tests with the Eggbeater antenna and I think it is faulty.
Oh, sorry I didn’t realized you are talking about UHF…
Yes it’s UHF I’m testing now. My VHF antenna works very good. 
I have tried to make a QFH before, without any success…
Next test will be with a small UHF yagi, fixed elevation and azi mount. Stay tuned for results!
So, testing a small UHF Yagi now, fixed elevation, for my station. Got decodes now, so I think this will be my solution, at least the strongest sats can be followed at some passes (not all of course).
Will also try to stack two yagis.
Continue to use fixed Yagi. It seems that my broadband LNA, not filtered, is having huge problem with interference so I’m continuing testing with the LNA switched off.
Soon I will test to with two stacked yagis.
Why don’t you give a try to QFH antennas?..
https://network.satnogs.org/observations/3066421/
Bugsat without any LNA
73’s from EA5WA Juan Carlos
Yes, that is impressive, I see a lot of stations using omni antennas on UHF and get decodes. I have a bad QTH and very strong interference so it seems I need the gain from Yagis…
Hi Lars,
have a look at our UHF Eggbeater antenna we use at DK0SB in Bochum https://network.satnogs.org/stations/1663/
https://network.satnogs.org/observations/3058204/
LUSAT with its continuous carrier allows you to compare easily.
We also use VHF Eggbeater with outstanding performance… the only Antenna which can beat it is the TA-1 Antenna we use on the APT station!!!
The Eggbeater does have more gain in higher elevation, so ground noise is very well suppressed at very low elevation…
The TA-1 is more wideband and I have a run a lot of comparisons. I’m surprised how well the TA-1 works in a silent environment. We have added a 137 MHz cavity filter and APT works like a charme…
We will be adding Higain VHF/UHF antennas with Rotator later this year…
73s Peter
Hi Peter,
thank you for info. Impressed by your UHF Eggbeater, that is way much better results then I got with mine. My VHF Turnstile antenna is performing very good (from Vinnant Antennas) so that one I’m going to keep.
Thank also for LUSAT info, I will schedule that satellite for my tests.
73 Lars
