Our BC-146.565 DF Antenna

BC-146.565   $150 USD

MK4 Sniffer $250 USD

A 2-Meter Amateur Radio Antenna
-
The BC-146.565 antenna is a 3-element yagi beam antenna. It is specifically designed to be a hand held, fold up, portable radio direction finding beam antenna for use on 146.565 MHz.

The BC-146.565 is designed to be compatible with a wide range of equipment, including both the older and newer models of the L-Per, the MK-4 Sniffer (shown below), and any hand held receivers (receivers may require an antennuator).

This antenna evolved from wanting to upgrade my direction finding arsenal with a precision 3-element hand held beam antenna to use with an MK4 Sniffer on 146.565.

After talking to various antenna manufacturers, I was surprised to learn that none of the major companies made a 3-element beam specifically designed for the T-Hunt frequency. They made antennas for the 2-meter band, but not specifically for Transmitter Hunting.

After defining the specifications, I spoke with several experts in RDF to get their input, including Joe Moell, K0OV, who wrote the book, “Radio Direction Finding Simplified,” and who was a regular writer for 73 and CQ magazines; as well as Bob Thornburg, WB6JPI, an RF engineer and transmitter hunter.

Using the EZNEC 4.0 antenna program to model and optimize the antenna, I then tuned it using an antenna analyzer.

When everything is said and done, we have a excellent T-Hunting antenna specifically designed for 146.565 MHz.

My objectives were that the antenna:

• Fold up neatly for storage
• Have a good front-to-back ratio
• Have no side lobes at resonance
• Have good forward gain

• Be specifically resonant at 146.565 MHz
• Have a standing wave ratio (SWR) of less than 1:1.2 @146.565 MHz
• Have an X-factor of 1 or less
• Have an impedance of 50 ohms + or - 2 ohms @146.565 MHz
• Have a balanced feed point