[TowerTalk] Optibeam Log Yagi

[Meeker, William Q [STAT]]

I have had an OptiBeam Log-Yagi 16-5 up for 2.5 years. Previously, I had an OptiBeam 16-3 for 20, 15, and 10 meters up for almost 20 years, but I wanted a resonant antenna for 17 and 12 meters (I foolishly burned out a balun trying to run high power, through a tuner to the 16-3).

I have been very happy with the Log-Yagi antenna. I miss the 8 elements on 10 meters (in the 16-3), but not that much. 

I think that the advantage over an LAPD is that the Log-Yagi was optimized for the ham bands.

My OptiBeams have held up well (again 20+ years) in the Iowa wind and ice. They are very good mechanically. 

73,

Bill
K0KT



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Message: 1
Date: Tue, 30 Dec 2025 06:01:36 +0000
From: Tony <73guddx at gmail.com>
To: "TowerTalk at contesting.com" <TowerTalk at contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Optibeam Log Yagi
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All:

Anyone using one of Optibeam's "Log Yagi" antennas? The documentation states that they have several advantages over standard log-periodic designs ? it also mentions enhanced performance above the calculated gain, which is attributed to the large radiation area of the antenna.

One of the models has a F/B of 35db which is pretty impressive for an HF antenna.
See:  https://www.optibeam.net/index.php?article_id=136&clang=1
Documentation: https://www.optibeam.net/files/logyagi_e.pdf

This might be a better choice compared to motorized multi-band antennas like the SteppIR which are no longer in production.

Tony