If your going to get involved building antennas, I would suggest that you
get an antenna analyzer such as the MFJ unit.

For determining patterns, use the AUT (antenna under test) as a receive
antenna and a dipole for the transmit. This will allow you to change the
dipole from virtical to horizontal.

Excite the dipole with a low power signal. The MFJ can be used as the
transmitter.

You may then rotate the AUT and take readings on the receiver.

Some means of rasing and lowering the transmitting antenna is nice so you
can get elevation patterns as well.

Always using the same transmitting dipole will allow you to compare various
antennas, if not with exact data, at least comparative data. The key is to
eliminate as many variables as possible. I always use the same coax on the
AUT, mount it on the same mast, so that the main variable is the antenna.

My setup uses a homebuilt field strength meter and a calibrated antenuator.
A computer interface pulses the rotor and records the output from an A/D
converter (fed from the above setup) on the computer. This allows me to
print out the patterns.

Getting started, a receiver with an S-meter can be used along with a
calibrated antenuator.

I am sure that in my ramblings I have forgotten something, but you get the
idea...



"Uwe Langmesser" wrote in message
...
I recently set up my first 2m transceiver with a makeshift antenna and I
would be very interested to learn more how to improve my little set up
mostly by working on the antenna side of it.

Now there seems to be a bewildering number of things one needs to know
which
is why I thought I turn to this forum for guidance.

My question is if I want to build and improve my own antennas, what sort
of
measuring devices would I need to build or get??

An SWR meter, I think, will tell me-hopefully- how well my antenna and
radio
are matched, but it will not tell me anything about how well my antennas
focus the radiation in a particular direction. How could I measure that?
Will a field strength meter do that?

And where do I find plans for these types of devices, most swr bridges are
for the HF band, I haven't found anything simple for 144MHZ.

Your help in starting me out in the right direction would be appreciated

Uwe