DIY Cubical Quad Antenna anyone can Build!

In this video We build a 6 Element Cubical Quad antenna. I also tell the history of why this antenna was built!
Cubical Quad Calculator, www.wa2ooo.com...
As an Amazon Affiliate I may earn a commission at no cost to the customer.
Bambu Lab A1 3D Printer, amzn.to/3DKqsKq
Bambu Lab A1 Mini 3D Printer, amzn.to/41QQ4iP
OVERTURE PETG Filament, amzn.to/3BQiL56
18 Gauge Silicone Wire, amzn.to/3Pg7vlv
5-Pack Micro Wire Cutters, amzn.to/4iXe1uV
Klein Tools Wire Crimper, Stripper , amzn.to/4a4P6BJ
Klein Crimping Tool for 10-22 AWG , amzn.to/4gY0v8N
Hakko Digital Soldering Station, amzn.to/3PfgGCD
Comet CAA-500MarkII Antenna Analyzer, amzn.to/3BPXTuy
NanoVNA-H4 Vector Network Analyzer, amzn.to/4jaytJd
#diy , #antenna , #hamradio , #gmrs,

[@donaldross1077]

Good video Chuck. I am N5YTH in Tulsa, Ok. I am retired now and looking to get more active in Ham radio. Twenty + years ago I played around with 2 meter quads! I had some pole vault fiberglass shafts to use for boom and fiberglass rod for spreaders. I just had to push it and see just how far I could go. So, I built two identical quads {5 element} and 'caul phased' them. Took a CB coax harness and tied them together. I was working simplex with 5 watts over 500 miles away. I would change the wire to magnet wire. larger the better, this widens the band. I also incorporated an ink pen type system in the ends of spreaders to keep the wire tight and straight. It also helped to re-tighten the wire after the birds get off it. Each side was around 19 inches. The main array was only about 15 feet off the ground. Have fun. N5YTH Don

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Don, that's awesome to hear! I hope you do get back into it now that you are retired and congratulations!

[@K5YAC-DX]

Howdy neighbor. I'm just up the road in Collinsville. -73

[@TheSmokinApe]

I've said it before, Uncle Chuck is the premier antenna builder on KZbin!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Well that is really nice of you to say, I do appreciate it!

[@MikeN2MAK]

Great job, as always, Chuck. That antenna would be a ton of fun during one of the VHF contests! The ERP with 10dB gain turns 10W from an Icom 705 into 100W (not accounting for any loss). You are so right about the "ease" of getting gain on higher bands with shorter wavelengths--you don't need as much length and the antennas can even be portable.

[@DeBohannan-pn7zt]

Built a bunch of those in 2 meter for horizontal side band , they worked perfect but you do need a choke on it , found out pretty fast . its a lightweight antenna so I built sleeve chokes for them and that made only horizontal signals were heard . I used 3/4" PVC for boom and 1/4" fiberglass plant steaks for spreaders , my record distance was 420 miles with ground wave only and I was a 10' above sea level so quads are the best .

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Yea my plan is to use the same type of choke, I like those for most of my portable antennas!

[@Paddy_Roche]

Great build Chuck, you really are The Master Antenna builder. 73 de 2E0TWD

[@lundebc]

Looking forward to getting the stl files so I can build it! Great video!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I will be working on getting them posted.

[@K5YAC-DX]

Neat work on the 3D printing, Chuck. I need to get one of those soon. Looked at a couple models at GigaParts when I was in Huntsville, but really don't know enough about them to make a good buying decision. We are working on a portable design (rapid assembly/disassembly) that shares a couple of features similar to what you have developed, but it will take some modeling to get the mechanicals done the way we want for production. Interesting, as it appears your D1 and D2 are larger than your DE, which isn't typical. Maybe an illusion on my monitor, but those are usually some percentage smaller than the driven with D1 being the largest director and D2, D3, etc. being slightly smaller. Often, D2, D3, D4 and so on can be the same size with good results. An oversized D1 (or any director that is larger than the driven element) would likely act more as a reflector, but your field testing will tell the story. Could be that your driven element is also slightly off in spacing, which will have an effect on feed point impedance and tuning. When modeled, the DE is typically much closer to the reflector than D1 in mono-band designs. Yours looks centered, or slightly forward of center between REF and D1. Perhaps your BNC connector is accounting for some of the electrical length, which is very sensitive at these higher frequencies and might cause one to trim the driven element wire to compensate. A combination of wire length, spacing and termination can contribute to erroneous readings and degraded performance, even if SWR looks good. It's often best to split the coax to make the feed point termination, keeping center and shield as short as possible (especially on UHF), then adding your connector further down the line. In other words, a pigtail with short split leads at the driven element feed point and your connector of choice at the other end still provides a nice quick disconnect, but helps to eliminate undesirable electrical characteristics at the driven element. Not my intention to be critical, but rather some food for though since you've obviously put some effort and time into your interesting design. Cool video, and nice work on the homebrew quad design. 73, Mark - K5YAC

[@bland-b7e]

Thanks again Chuck!! Looks like a great project to break in my new 3D printer!! Awesome video!!!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

It would be a great project for that new printer!!

[@AndyAAzeroAM]

Nice work Chuck! Really liked ya showing the stuff in tinkercad too

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks Andy, a fun project!

[@MrFreddarama]

Looks great ! I don't know about this type of design for up on top of the tower but for portable use it looks perfect.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

There a a lot oh Hams putting them up on towers, but it does seem like more work. Thanks for watching!

[@kevinrhodes9329]

Hello Chuck I love that antenna you built looks very nice thanks for sharing 73 from KD7KYB KEVIN in Billings ,Mt

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks Kevin it was a fun build!

[@DonDegidio]

Hi Chuck, Nice quad build. I like your design. Easy to experiment at 70cm with a 3D printer. At the end when you paused after saying that would be you last video, I held my breath until you said for 2024.🙂You and the family have a Happy New Year. 73 WJ3U

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks Don, Yea the high bands sure do make it easier on the builds. 73 and have a good New Years!

[@nickhauser3390]

Great video! Would love to do this as a club build someday

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

That would be a great idea, hope you can do it!

[@MrSlickPulla]

Great video, but where's your ear pro and your anti kick back device for table saw? Lol I'm going to build one of these😊

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Shhhh, Yea I know bad habits. Build one you will have fun!

[@Siskiyous6]

Beautiful antenna

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks, it's one of the better antennas to get on a video and they just look Cool!

[@hamradiowithkevin]

Excellent build chuck. Great stuff for sure.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks, Hey are you going to Quartzfest this year? It starts around 1-19-25.

[@MrStanwyck]

Cool antenna. I would definitely like to build one. I just ran across your channel and subscribed. I’m very interested in antenna building. Happy Holidays!!!! Bill, KC2KNA

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Welcome aboard, hope you enjoy the channel and Happy Holidays.

[@mariondanielwd7b]

You said you are getting new printer ive been looking at the flashforge 5 pro just curious as i use mine to build antenna accessories thanks i enjoy your antenna builds

[@buckeye43210]

Nice project. I may try to work up something similar using OpenSCAD.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I plan to do a follow up to this video with some different building technics that aren't printed. Let me know how it goes when you build yours!

[@tanbotrt]

Nice video chuck!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thank you and thanks for the comment and watching!

[@LifeAtTerminalVelocity]

Cool build!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Not as cool as you jumping out of planes lol!

[@Bill-HRT]

Very Nice, Chuck.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks Bill.

[@tincansailor9437]

Dang. Wish I had kept the kids’s Tinker Toys!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

They still make them lol and great idea!

[@TI2GBB]

Nice quad Chuck! Try a quad for VHF, it will be great to see the performance in FT8/SSB 73 from Costa Rica TI3GB-Greg

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I have never tried FT8 there but I have done SSB. Didn't we meet this year at one of the Hamfest?

[@TI2GBB]

@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures yes sr! During hamcation 23! I give you a sticker of Costa Rica with my callsing! I hope to see you next year there! 73 and all the best! PD: I'm still using the moxon antenna for 6m you design and share in a video and is working oustanding!

[@snakezdewiggle6084]

15 db is a bit of a stretch. With all that hardware, polarized, stranded wire,. I'd say 6 db on a good day. A good chance you're confused by the noise-floor. Whats the Front to Back, side lobes, off axis rejection, etc.

[@Keith_WB2VUO]

Here north of Line A, the 420 Mhz to 430 Mhz range is not available to hams. It's used for land mobile here and in Canada. The band limits are detailed in Part 97... de WB2VUO in Amherst, NY

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Ohhh thanks Keith. My 705 is locked out of that section and I bet it was from being used in that section of the country. It was a reconditioned / open box but i think the youth on the air is where it was used.

[@wf2v]

Do you have the parts on thingiverse or printables?

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Not at this time, I want to tweak a few things first.

[@TheNerdCompany]

Would definitely love to know when you post this! Very interesting antenna. Great work

[@markharrison1160]

All the more reason to learn Fusion360 with the sketching. It is just a matter of going back into the sketch for the model and changing the dimension of the hole and the model readjusts. You then kick out the updated stl file.

[@buckeye43210]

You can also do this with OpenSCAD :-)

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Mark I am working on it and I do like that feature. The learning curve for me is harder, but I will get there!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

@@buckeye43210 I will look into this one also! Thanks.

[@timel64]

I would you recommend 1/2” PVC for boom? I think Lowe’s has a thin walled version, that would save weight.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

You can use PVC for sure! The small boom in wood was really light though.

[@Dale-g3e]

How can I get the part list for the antenna

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Not a lot of parts outside of the printed parts. I will be getting the stl files up on thingaverse soon I hope. I also will do a follow up video explaining how to build without printing parts, make sure you are subscribed!

[@VA7LBA]

That would be a great 70cm antenna for an old Motorola radio running DMR.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Oh yea it would for sure!

[@VP2EIHonAnguillaIsland]

Good stuff.. tnx for sharing.. C-ya on da bands, Happy New Year 2025, 73 🎙Ira

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Thanks and I hope we get a cotact!

[@don_n5skt]

But Chuck, that table saw costs more than any other part of the build. And of course, that is the only part I am missing.😉

[@sxswutah-ww6dr]

Not a part, it’s a tool. You probably have a neighbor that has one and would be willing to help out.

[@don_n5skt]

@@sxswutah-ww6dr I am just kidding with Chuck. Here I can do the same thing with a wooden dowel. And it might be fun to try.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

@@sxswutah-ww6dr Don is always trying to bust them lol! But you are correct he just needs to make friends!

[@DanielKassner]

What was the SWR meter you were using at the end?

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Daniel, sorry I forgot to talk about that. I did put a link to it in the description, but it is a Comet CAA-500MarkII. I think it's one of the best buys , because it covers so much of the bands for a decent price. I plan to do a follow up video to this to answer some questions and I will show it then. I also have a video on it from a couple years ago. kzbin.info/www/bejne/d3qld5eOrLVlna8

[@JayN4GO]

Good for UV satellite

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I would think so, thanks for watching!

[@4207skippy]

What if you don’t have a 3-D printer?

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Make it out of another material, it doesn't have to be 3d printed.

[@Siskiyous6]

Hardwood is a great material for those parts Chuck made.

[@buckeye43210]

Check your local libraries. Many of them have 3D printers and only charge for the cost of the filament.

[@pERs0n98]

Check out your local library

[@straightkey]

What band is it for?

[@buckeye43210]

70cm (440 MHz)

[@Alan_KG9PN]

When and where will you post the .stl files? I love building antennas, not just for ham radio but weather satellite reception and SDR listening. I would love to build this and try some 70cm SSB on my 991a! Thanks and 73. KG9PN

[@patrickmooney6615]

Would you consider selling the 3D printed parts for us non-3D printers?

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Patrick email me. I have a friend that might do this for a few people.

[@Dale-g3e]

This is KF4GBR I would like information on the antenna how much for you to print the parts and shipping

[@RatchetFWD]

Alright so I need a table saw . lol jk nice build Hollywood!

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

Everyone needs one Lol. But be careful !

[@RatchetFWD]

I’ve got an old rigid I need to get rid of. It’s shimmed out and aligned by me but still scares the crap outa me from the few times I’ve used it. Dahm covid had me buying questionable stuff off marketplace from shady trucks .

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

@@RatchetFWD Yea you really need to be awake and paying attention when you use one!

[@EdS808]

Are the 3D parts available ?

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

They might be soon lol Ed.

[@phillipzx3754]

Far to complicated. But it does look pretty cool.

[@KK6USYHamRadioAdventures]

I agree, it's not the simplest build but worth it for the results.

[@michaelkoester8821]

Could this video be more out of order? Its like yoda building