Sounds like a movie title doesn't it? It seems since the advent of computer software primarily Eznec, there are legions of relatively new experts all claiming to have a better way to build a Yagi antenna. Some of these are quite good actually, and some will have you making something that half way through building it your going to be wondering why you got into this hobby in the first place. Just to reiterate I like Yagi's and in most conditions they do a wonderful job of getting you to places you will never be able to talk and listen to. Most Yagi's are quick build yagi antennas. However some Yagi fans not content to sit on their laurels ( and why should they? ) have been busy coming up with scheme's to build a better antenna. Now let me say this: Alot of these Eznec experts (I do really mean they are experts) I speak to quite frequently either through email or on the phone. And I frequently even buy their designs and try them out myself! And I am certainly interested in all antenna designs that will affect my own primarily HF recieving performance. However:

Or how about this one? Lots of elements surrounded by smaller ones? let's turn a 8 element antenna into a 24 element antenna! Why not! All of this and believe me there are many more designs that are based on the same principle........ Turn a single yagi beam into a stacked version (normally two yagi's) without building a whole nother antenna. If you are familiar with Eznec you have noticed that these designs are trying to accomplish the same thing, isolate two yagi horizontal sections by providing a way to kill the radiation in the mid section of the antenna. In effect build one antenna with the gain properties of two stacked yagi's. If even they are not exactly stacked at a long enough distance, or are compromised a bit on the bandwidth. What does this sound like?? And what is the visual description of what they are trying to accomplish? Have a look below.

But wait a minute, thats a Cubical Quad ! Correct ! Yagi experts have for years complained that the Cubical Quad was just two 1/4 wave elements stacked one above the other. Thats right it is. Has anyone ever complained having two stacked yagi's? So what's wrong with having two stacked antennas?? Apparently nothing nowadays, as long as we call it a (place name here)Yagi. My point is, all of these designs are trying to accomplish the same 1 - 1.8 increased DB gain as the Quad. So I ask you? Which looks simpler to build? The designs shown at the beginning of the page or the Quad shown directly above? Some of these newer yagi designs use elements that are a 1/2 wave long or longer, for increased gain. Sounds good, but do you really wanna build one of these? Especially on HF? Really?

Again I am not deriding anyone's work in antenna design, lord knows I have made my share of design Edsel's over the years. But adding unnecessary complexity, weight and not to mention trying to accurately match these designs in the REAL World. I just don't see much benefit for the extended effort involved.

For me personally I don't care what an antenna is called. If a single Yagi gave 1-2 more DB gain then a comparable Quad, I would using them no matter what you wanna call it. Yagi, Quad, Quagi, etc,etc. So be aware just like wire antennas, (see 140 varieties here) there are lots of designs, some good, some ridiculously hard to build, some simple and some completely ineffcient. Antenna's are enough of a pain in the *ss to begin with, in my book I want something simple that works.

                            

 

 

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