Inmarsat Patch Antenna - Easy build at home

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Here we take a look at whats involved in building a DIY Homebrew Patch Antenna for L Band/Inmarsat.
Reflector Size: 170 mm x 170 mm
Patch Size: 94 mm x 94 mm
Corner Trim: 21 mm from top right and bottom left corners
Coax Connection (Probe): 24 mm from top edge
Height of patch from reflector: 7 mm
The corners of the patch need to be trimmed to give the patch antenna right hand circular polarization (RHCP), which is the polarization used by Inmarsat Satellites.
Airspy R2 is the SDR receiver used for this video. www.airspy.com
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#TechMinds #PatchAntenna #Inmarsat

[@SteveWrightNZ]

Nice. Many folks can't see past the old dipole antenna, but the patch is an immensely better antenna. I played with slot antennas for the HF bands - these are fully ridiculous in size, but the performance was just amazeballs..

[@TechMindsOfficial]

I’d love to see some plans for that if you can link it? 🙏

[@ralphthebrick]

Fantastic gain on that antenna Matt. Definitely going to have a go at building one. Been using the small patch antenna in your other video this weekend with the Tecmanoid software , Managed to decode LES and EGC with ease. Cant wait to try one of these out.Thanks for sharing

[@grimmace77]

It's the Nooelec Saw filter and lna that helps because the SDR hardware with such tuning range is also bad about harmonics. so if you buy a $25 saw/lna for a specific frequency it does a good job compensating. How many do you want to buy for your $20 radio? The specific band antenna also tunes the poor tuning sdr.

[@hoggif]

A piece of semi-rigid coax makes a great feedthrough. Just solder it on the reflector. Add some epoxy on the back side if you need more support. Those are available with sma connectors as pig tails, just cut one in half to get two ends. Alternatively you can use simple solderable sma connector, just solder an extension for the center pin. Needs 5 holes rather accurately though (and clearing copper around center hole).

[@philsimpson]

Built this antenna today and it works a treat, signals are 9+dB better than the sdr-kits modified GPS patch, using a nooelec saw io lna

[@TechMindsOfficial]

It’s good isn’t it! Thanks for watching

[@RockTouching]

15:10 it's 7mm from the copper to the fiberglass, but about 9mm to the copper of the active element.

[@nlo114]

For temporary outdoor use, make a temporary radome. Take one large-ish thin polythene bag and inflate it, you end up with a conical cornered balloon. Put the antenna inside the bag then inflate, you get a conical witch's hat radome that will shed water on the outside. Best done with an air-line or canned CO2 (fire extinguisher); breath will cause condensation. once full, tape it up. PE has a relative permittivity of 2.25; if you can make an enclosure of thin PTFE sheet, (2.1), that would be better. With your signal levels there should be no problem. Glass (3.7 - 10) tends to block microwaves, so you may have trouble getting through double-glazing. Good luck!

[@MatthewJohnCrittenden]

Sweet, was going to order an RTL SDR one but out of stock so going to make it instead.

[@smiffykuk]

Very interesting, a couple of suggestions.😏 As the driven plate surface is on the other side of the pcb, 6mm space would be correct so no extra needed. Also, by using an sma which protrudes into this air dielectric area, you may effect matching. Flush fitting would be better maybe😏 These are only suggestions and I really enjoy you channel.👏

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Thanks Martin! Appreciate your comment. One thing I do need to do is hook it up to my VNA to see exactly where it’s resonant. Maybe I’ll do that this weekend 👍🙏

[@smiffykuk]

@@TechMindsOfficial Yes, good idea. I tried adams 98 by 98 but it's resonance was way too low. How did you come by your driven element size?.

[@JONJWS1]

What a great video, I am going to have a go at making one of these, just got into sdr radio. How thick does the copper plate have to be?

[@chaim0001]

Hi, another video that inspired me to build a new antenna. The distance of 7mm is between the copper plates, so we can discount the 1mm of the substrate, correct? Also what did you connect between the antenna and the SDR? Thank you again!

[@johnbekker9832]

I do not get the same results, i'm also using the nooelec sawbird lna and a Airspy mini. The 600 and 1200 bps channel is working prefect but the 10500 bps channel is to weak to decode. I discovered that the dimensions of the patch from Adam 9A4QV is 98 x 98 mm instead of 94 x 94 mm. what are the right dimensions? i,m aiming on the 15,4 W inmarsat (3F2)

[@eviscero]

How do you figure dimensions for other frequencies?

[@krzysztofsoja5301]

OK, so now protect the copper using some transparent arcylic paint ;) I've done to many biquad antennas for 1,8 or 2,4GHz and they survived many years mounted somewhere outside with no corrosion whatsoever.

[@jimdotdev]

I realize this is a year old comment, but what about polyurethane?

[@krzysztofsoja5301]

@@jimdotdev I think polyurethane paint would be OK. Remember to brush the copper elements with fine grit water based sandpaper (i.e. 600-1000) to maximize surface area, then clean them with something capable of removing fat (paint thinner, acetone, alcohol)- of course from this point on work in gloves. I am not sure if polyuthane paint requires sanding between layers - try to find about that. There is at least one more thing to consider - how antenna's coating would impact antenna performance on a given frequency/range of frequencies. For 1.8 - 2.5GHz acrylic transparent lacquer didn't seem to have any negative effects. Good luck!

[@knightrider9795]

how about if we want to make a Thuraya antenna? They are LHCP.

[@Subgunman]

Wish I knew where one of my VHF Comms magazine was hiding. There was an article in there on making these antennas for VHF and UHF frequencies plus a web link to a site that would allow one to enter a frequency and it would give you the correct dimensions. They were using Aluminized Mylar on one inch styrofoam insulation board.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Oooohhh let me know if you find it! Would be interested in reading those articles, even make one!

[@the80hdgaming]

Ah... I knew it... lol.. That looks like a great little antenna...

[@Equiluxe1]

Just one question should that be 7mm between the copper or 7 mm gap plus the thickness of pcb material.

[@klave8511]

Equiluxe1 Well spotted, 7 mm air gap but less if pcb is using part of it because it’s Er isn’t 1. Or mount the pcb towards the ground plane but that’s tricky to solder? Maybe just a sheet of metal wold be easier.

[@Equiluxe1]

@@klave8511 What about using double sided pcb or would that mess things up even more.

[@7-7rrmmontventoux70]

Hello, merci pour cette belle réalisation. Je vais réaliser cette patch comme vous l'avez décrite mais comment avoir une polarisation circulaire gauche à la place d'une polarisation circulaire droite comme ici ? Merci

[@TEKKKNO]

Using this antenna can i receive inmarsat signals on boat or its not stable for boats ? Also if there's a ship near by using inmarsat data service to transmitting ais signals via inmarsat internet service to marine traffic service can i found ships location (coordinates) from received and decoded signals?

[@harryszwergstatt2879]

Amazing Video!😊

[@cm2723]

Yo guys, was there ever mention of the drill size used for the holes or if the screws were m2, m3,4 etc? Overall, great video, thanks for this info/tutorial.

[@MrJanoz]

Thanks for a great video about building this type of antenna. I have just built one, but I do not get any signals from it and I think it could be because I do not have any LNA (yet). But as I am new to this I wonder how important it is where the antenna is pointing (strait up, towards the southern sky or ...)?

[@bernadettemaullon6966]

Is it the same with microstrip antenna ? ❤️

[@denis_w1wv131]

Excellent!

[@antenna_designaaa664]

Please show me how to calculate 21mm at corner for Trancated corner square patch Antenna

[@Samuel-eu1ts]

I was wondering did you use any calculator to get the dimensions ? If yes do you think it could be adapted to receive noaa hrpt because this could be easily mounted on a tracker.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Nope, I did not use a calculator. I based this design on one I found on the internet by Adam 9A4QAV

[@Samuel-eu1ts]

@@TechMindsOfficial Do you know any all I can find is microstrip pcb antennas

[@vitotonello261]

I would like to use this for fpv-racing. Do you know where I can find a gain (dbm) calculator? or how much gain this antenna has?

[@johnbell3621]

Why is there a hole in the centre of the driven plate?

[@SenpaiSkyy]

Sorry if this is a dumb question but… I was wondering what type of patch antenna this is. Everytime I googled patch antenna calculator I get microstrip patch antenna and they don’t look like this. I have tried stacked patch, patch panel and stacked patch panel. Is there some literature on how this is designed or could you point me in a direction to find it? Thank you in advance.

[@ostanin_vadym]

Thank you for content

[@TechMindsOfficial]

You’re welcome, thanks for watching my videos 🙏

[@rraftek]

Hi, Great videos! Can you please let us know how this DIY antenna perform Vs NOOELEC you have tested before, Waiting for your comments and another video in the topic. Kind regards Rafal.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Sorry for late reply, just seen your comment. Actually this antenna performs the best out of any other Inmarsat antennas I have tested. Definately worth building your self.

[@johnbell3621]

if you don't trim the corners, does it become a standard linear feed?

[@JOOLZNED]

What inmarsat are you pointing at, Im in the uk, I have built the antenna correctly and accuratly using a vernier guage to check that its absolutly correct, I have had a scan around and can barely see any signals. Im using a 0.8dB noise with 25dB gain amp, I do have some buildings near me maybe they are blocking but I would have though I would see something seeing as you could recieve the signal so stronly even through a window

[@daniglikmanas]

Hello my friend! Please, do you know where I can buy this antenna ready to use? Regards, Dani

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Unfortunately not, that’s why I built one. Maybe I could make a small batch of them to sell. I wonder what sort of price one would pay 🤔

[@88njtrigg88]

@@TechMindsOfficial Sir, it would have too contain the Tech Minds logo.

[@josephhacker6508]

Could this be modified for GOES 16 reception?

[@IOTConnect]

is that center drill required??

[@CE4JDM]

Do you know if I can receive anything in Chile with this antenna if I build it?

[@verdammtesarschlochs6148]

wait is this the thing that goes by the router to push the signal in 1 direction or not? it looks like a standard antenna?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

No, this is for 1.5 ghz and you need 2.4/5ghz

[@muzammilzuki1323]

can you help me about what is the dimension and size if i want to design at 1090 MHz frequency?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Well, 1090 is for ADSB, and this type of antenna would be useless for that purpose as it’s directional and circular polarised. Better off making a 1/4 wave GP antenna for 1090.

[@muzammilzuki1323]

@@TechMindsOfficial it is okay. I want to design and make it for educational purposes. Can you show me how to calculate the dimension if i want to design the patch antenna like you done but for frequency of 1090 MHz?

[@cemtanca2286]

can you make a video inmarsat voice decoder how to . please thanks.

[@nupixelfpv]

How to tune this antenna? My lowest SWR have below desired frequency.

[@TechMindsOfficial]

Not entirely sure, but maybe try bending the corners in or out.

[@danwalkley304]

Have you tried without the LNA ?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

I don’t think I did, but should work if you have a clear line of site

[@cemtanca2286]

do not use connectors just solder antenna cable directly thats makes %25 more power connectors kills signals always chosee RG6/U6 is best for solder inner side and outer side cable its both copper .

[@advancedmicrosystems4658]

Sry but thats totally wrong. A SMA connector attenuates by less than 0.2dB at those low frequencies. You have just mounted it wrong. Only use high quality connectors and adapters....

[@advancedmicrosystems4658]

Also RG6 is not suited for this application, it is a 75R cable. Use H2000Flex for longer links and RG316 for jumpers.

[@MarkPentler]

@@advancedmicrosystems4658 a 75/50 mismatch isn't too bad on Rx, and may provide better loss figures if you use RG59 or RG6, surely? We're at GHz here.

[@MarkPentler]

Case in point, my ADS-B system is entirely fed by RG59 because the nice man from Virgin Media who installed my cable tv/phone left me a drum by accident! 😂 At 1090 MHz it's going to have better loss and I do brilliantly for range at over 200 miles. For L-band it may be worth it unless you're willing to get some 50 Ohm low loss stuff

[@jocasimoes2222]

👍👍

[@gamingforlive2150]

people with alloy hat see thats why we dont like copper 🤣

[@juliobarrios8353]

Traducir en español

[@decaymare2288]

bro where is the substrate

[@memeconnect4489]

HAHA i knew it :P

[@simonecascella2036]

Followed every single step ... It doesn't work, wasted copper

[@verdammtesarschlochs6148]

i dont think this is what i wanted

[@rasputinputin8103]

Sir. It is a 'RULE' not a ruler. A ruler is a person who controls something. When will people ever learn the things?

[@gibbywankenobi66]

rul·er /ˈro͞olər/ Learn to pronounce noun 2. a straight strip or cylinder of plastic, wood, metal, or other rigid material, typically marked at regular intervals, to draw straight lines or measure distances.

[@Gabe-reis]

you need to work out how to cut your video. we dont kneed to know that plastic won't conduct electricity.

[@rictronico]

very interesting, especially at minute 19:05 you detect signs of Valparaiso, Playa Ancha. sure it is the communications center of the "Chilean Navy". I live in Valparaiso, Chile. es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faro_Punta_Ángeles 👌

[@rogersradio1356]

@rogersradio1356 Hi Matt, excellent instructions, I have built one, works a treat, many thanks

[@miketaylor253]

No luck decoding Inmarsat STD messages, but can decode Aero from this bird. Just wondered if this antennae would be better than the patch from Sdr-kits?

[@TechMindsOfficial]

For me this patch is better but don’t forget this patch required a LNA/Filter to work effectively 👌 I’m thinking about putting this actual antenna on eBay, to sell, as it was my first it’s not 100% but it does work. I have more sheets so I can make more

[@miketaylor253]

@@TechMindsOfficial Have ordered the Noelec LNA, just trying to find the 7mm standoffs, to make the antennae