3D printable replica of SATCOM / MILSAT antenna AV 2040

In spring 2019 I was asked to build an antenna which should be similar to equipment which is used by US Army and what more it should work.

After some research through sources of US military contracts and pictures there was a hot candidate for MILSAT or SATCOM antenna build: AV 2040 UHF Satellite Communication (SATCOM) Antenna from ULTRALife corporation [1]

There are STL [2] and OBJ [3] files for anyone who would like to print own atenna. The design is for 449,550 MHz but by adjusting lengths of active parts of the antenna it can be tunder in wide range, see below on Fig. 5

Fig.1 – First design in Tinkercad.com
Fig.2 – Detail of RG58 coax cable prepared for soldering SMA connector
Fig. 3 – Detail of SMA connector
Fig. 4 – SWR (Standing Wave Ratio) of antenna
Fig. 5 – The antenna lengths

There are three formulas considering f as frequency in Hz need to be calculated to get three dimensions which are mandatory for best results:

red = (299792458 / f / 2) * 0.92 [meters]
blue = red * 1.05 [meters]
green = 299792458 / f * 0.225 [meters]
Fig. 6 – First bunch of antennas
Fig. 7 – Picture from outdoor testing
Fig. 8- Making of the antenna and QSO on 102 km

19 thoughts on “3D printable replica of SATCOM / MILSAT antenna AV 2040”

  1. It is clear how to count the dimensions of elements, and the dimensions of the phase shifter tracer as? you should also take into account the difference between the dielectric and the material/taming coefficient of a standard cable

    1. Hi Mirik,
      This antenna has active only two of four elements for vertical polarization. There is no RHCP. If you know about “dieletric” and “timing issues” you also should know metods how to exactly measure propagation time of signal in a cable to avoid these problems. I use NanoVNA for checking phase of signal and I dont need to consider parameters of any cable I use.

      Be safe!

    1. The problem of the download arises when using Chrome. The Opera was downloaded immediately.

  2. Hi Erik,
    please use right click & open in new tab, I tried and it worked.
    Past week I moved my blog to my home server and did some changes. I will investigate it later.
    Sorry for troubles. Send me photos if you will do this antenna!
    Have a nice day!

  3. Good day! Dear Tomasbrincil, good job! I liked the antenna design very much. Could you put the files for 3D printing in detail, otherwise it is not convenient to start the printer for 14 hours. Thanks for good job. 73!

  4. Hi Dimitri

    What is price for one of these antennas if i take care of shipping ?

    Would love 240-500 mhz usable band width for tx / rx

    What is actual band width fir usable tx ? 🙂

    Dobre / Thank you /

    Sincerely Craig

    Ve9SUF

    1. Hi Craig,
      I am very sorry but I dont make these antenna to sell right know.
      I have many other activities and day has 24 hrs still.
      Maybe you could buy something what is more complicated to send oversea because ITAR but less complicated over one border, huh?

      1. Hi

        I know yo usaid no last time (your busy) any chance you would sell one of the 5 that you made ? For $80 USD ?

  5. Hi Dmitry, I have a question, can I use this antenna in connection with the Satcom satellite?

    1. Hi, I am pretty sure you can. This antenna is originaly designed for this purpose. But my replica has driven only two of four radiators for linear polarization. You must add phasing line done with piece of 1/4λ coax cable or you can use some of popular Anaren´s hybrid coupler to drive other two radiators and you got RHCP 🙂

      1. How to wire the Anaren rhcp 90 degree coupler ? ITs confusing to me. HAve 2x of them for 225-400 (tested @ 433 mhz i think it was.

        10260-3 Anaren Hybrid Coupler 3db .225-.400Ghz & OK 432Mhz

        please email. if any one has the answer

        Dobre 😀

        pcguruworld@yahoo.com

        Dobre 🙂

  6. Nice antenna. Can you tell me to which elements to connect the shield and the core?
    Core to red and the shield to blue or green (fig.5)?

  7. This is awesome – I’m printing it as I type!

    Is there a PDF/document outlying the actual wiring up of the antenna? I haven’t ever built an antenna before so this is a new experience for me! It’ll be for a Baofeng UV5R.

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