Antenna design according to published dimensions or simulation is just the beginning. The parts that hold it together tend to be harder to come by: a square boom of the right thickness, element holders, a waterproof box for dipól alebo spojku dvoch dielov nosníka. V bežných stavebninách sa takýto sortiment spravidla nenájde. Tino's Funkshop is a German e-shop whose offer is focused on the construction of antennas of the type yagi.
The store itself states that its parts are made of polyamide reinforced with glass fibers (PA GF) and intended for long-term outdoor operation. Payment is possible in advance or via PayPal, DHL is available, but the site does not state rates or delivery dates. Please check them on the "Zahlung & Versand" page before ordering.
You will read in the article
Basic frame: aluminum tubes and booms
The aluminum pipe category includes six items:
| Product | Dimension | Lengths | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tube 6 × 1 mm | Ø 6 mm, wall 1 mm | 1000 mm | €2.90 |
| Tube 8 × 1 mm | Ø 8 mm, wall 1 mm | 500, 1000, 1200 mm | from €1.50 |
| Tube 10 × 1 mm | Ø 10 mm, wall 1 mm | 500, 1000, 1200 mm | from €1.79 |
| Tube 12 × 1 mm | Ø 12 mm, wall 1 mm | 500, 1000, 1200 mm | from €1.99 |
| Boom 15 × 15 × 1 mm | square profile | 500, 1000, 1200 mm | from €2.29 |
| Boom 20 × 20 × 2 mm | square profile | 500, 1000, 1200 mm | from €3.49 |
For the radio amateur, the most important distinction here is between the elements and the beam. Tubes with a diameter of 8 to 12 mm are used for elements and dipoles, square profiles for the boom. The product names list both the 12×1mm tube and the 20×20×2mm boom as suitable for large Yagis. With a long boom, the greater thickness of the wall is reflected in stiffness, but also in weight, and for portable use this is a compromise that must be balanced. The site does not indicate the alloy of the pipes, so it is worth contacting the store if you require a specific strength.
The sheet category contains a single item: a ground sheet 100 × 30 mm for an antenna socket or a dipole connection for €1.99. The page doesn't list the thickness or alloy, so you won't find the "plates and mounting plates" from the pre-order here. Don't look here for ready-made mounting plates for transformers.
Element holders
The Yagi element must be precisely positioned in the beam and must not wobble. The store offers 15mm and 20mm boom mounts for €0.65, as well as €0.99 kits that include M4 stainless steel screws. They are also in green. For larger antennas there are "big" mounts: 15mm boom bottom for €1.50, a set for €3.49 and a 20mm boom bottom for €2.00 (intended for Yagi on 4m and 6m). These include the Heavy Duty set for a 20 mm boom for €3.90, intended for Yagi on 4 m and 6 m as well.
The site only lists weather resistance, not UV stability or the diameters of the elements the mounts will accept. Therefore, before purchasing, check in the instructions for your design whether the element passes through the beam or is isolated from it, and whether the dimensions of the elements allow for a specific holder. There is also a €0.59 bracket reinforcement part that will be "available soon".
Dipole couplings and boxes
Dipole couplings are made of polyamide, they are electrically insulating and should withstand the weather. The seven sizes cover from 4mm (for aluminum rods, €3.49) through 6 and 8mm to 10×1 and 12×1mm (€3.66 and €3.72) and large 12mm variants for Yagi on 4m and 6m and 16mm Heavy Duty, both €7.95. The shop recommends 4 to 6mm for lightweight compact antennas, 8 to 12mm for regular Yagis, and 16mm for larger, more powerful antennas.
The junction boxes for the connection of the dipole and the adaptation line have the dimensions 75 × 45 × 40 mm (€1.49) and 100 × 100 × 40 mm (€2.49, set €4.39). Also supplied are 4 to 10mm and 12mm bushings for €1.80, described as waterproof with strain relief. The page does not list the degree of IP protection, material or connectors. Therefore, for a box on a pole, I recommend checking the interior for moisture and corrosion at the joints after the first winter.
Connecting the boom and fixing it to the mast
The boom accessories category offers 15mm and 20mm boom couplings including screws for €5.90, 20mm boom T-clamps for €3.80 (to hold support and bracing elements), 15×15mm boom bottom braces for €9.99 and 15×15 to 30×30mm lamella plugs for 0.25 to €0.35.
Fixing to the mast is provided by 15mm (€13.49) and 20mm (€15.49) boom clamps, both marked 'coming soon', and a €16.90 cross clamp, which is discounted from €19.90. Plastic sleeves from PP have dimensions from 6 to 40 mm for 1.80 to 3.32 € and galvanized U-sleeves are for pipe diameters up to 38, 40, 48, 58, 70 and 75 mm for 2.99 to 5.75 €.
Lightweight structures and portable antennas
For SOTA, GMA and field contests, weight is important. The Leichtbau category includes AlMg3 rods with a diameter of 2.4, 3.2 and 4 mm and a length of 1 m (0.85 to 1.35 €), a 20 mm PVC boom 1 m long for 0.95 €, M20 sockets for a PVC boom (0.30 €), a 4 mm dipole coupling and a compact box 75 × 45 × 40 mm. Weights are not listed on the site. These are modular parts, so you determine the weight according to the lengths and number of elements. AlMg3 alloy is the only specifically named alloy on the pages I've gone through.
Complete kits and antennas
The site says they include element mounts, aluminum tubes, couplers, mounting hardware and instructions.
| Construction site | Band | Elements | Impedance | Boom | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 Leichtbau DK7ZB elements | 144/432 MHz | 9 | 50 Ω | not listed | €20.49 |
| 13 Leichtbau DK7ZB elements | 144/432 MHz | 13 | 50 Ω | not listed | €23.49 |
| 9 DK7ZB elements | 144/432 MHz | 9 | 50 Ω | not listed | €44.99 |
| 13 DK7ZB elements | 144/432 MHz | 13 | 50 Ω | not listed | €50.99 |
| 9 elements, 70 cm | 432 MHz | 9 | 50 Ω | 1.6 m split boom | €42.99 |
| 9 elements, 70 cm | 432 MHz | 9 | 28 Ω | 1.5 m split boom | €42.99 |
| 5 elements, 2 m | 144 MHz | 5 | 28 Ω | split boom | €43.99 |
| 5 elements, 2 m DK7ZB | 144 MHz | 5 | 50 Ω | 1.5 m | €43.99 |
| 4 elements, 4 m | 70 MHz | 4 | 50 Ω | 2.02 m | €64.99 |
| 2 elements, 6 m | 50 MHz | 2 | 28 Ω | 0.65 m | price not stated |
The names show the two impedance designs. At 28 Ω, adaptation to 50 Ω is required, which the site does not describe, so for this version, ask for instructions before ordering. Some names refer to the DK7ZB design, but the site does not mention the gain parameters. There are only two items in the ready-made antennas section: the five-band Outback 1899 for €49 and the basic X-30-N VHF/UHF antenna for €45.99, no other details.
LoRa and IoT
The LoRa section is not an antenna, but a module. It includes TTGO LoRa32 and T-Beam LoRa32 boards in 433 and 868 MHz variants (€29.95 and €54.95), Heltec LoRa 32 V3 433 MHz (€34.95), LILYGO T-Deck 433 MHz (€79.95) and T-Deck Plus 433 MHz (€110). The 915 MHz variant is not in the list. For TTGO boards, the name states that the 433 MHz version is for APRS and balloon reception, the 868 MHz version for IoT and Meshtastic. The site does not list antennas, gain or connectors.
Cables and connectors
There are ten cables on offer: RG 58 C/U (50 Ω, €1.00), RG59 B/U (75 Ω, €0.95), RG-179 B/U (€2.49), RG 188 A/U PTFE (50 Ω, €2.85), Aircell 7 (€3.40), Highflexx 7 (€2.60), Ecoflex 10 (€5.40), Hyperflex 5 (€2.25 and €2.50 in two offers) and RG 213 U (€2.80).
Connectors include N (straight and angled for 7 and 10 to 11 mm cables), BNC, PL for RG58 and N/N adapter with flange. Crimping and soldering variants are distinguished only in some names, for example N-7 Crimp and BNC-stecker UG 959 TA as a soldered version. SMA and PL-259 connectors are not listed. For PL, the store has cable breakage protection for €0.99.
Screws, caps and accessories
Fasteners are only in M4 size: 40 mm A2 screw (€0.15), A4 nut (€0.05), A2 spring washer (€0.05), V4 washer (€0.05) and A4 wing nut (€0.32). The site also offers plastic plugs for square profiles from 15 × 15 mm to 30 × 30 mm and for round pipes from 6 to 30 mm, priced from €0.15 to €0.59. The plugs protect against water entering the pipes, but the site does not explicitly state this purpose. For mooring, the shop offers only two rope tensioners, 3 to 6 mm for €3.90 and 4 to 8 mm for €8.40. There are no ropes or Mastrant sets in the section. Accessories include insulating eggs for wire antennas, Anderson Powerpole adapter, PTT pedal, FT140-43 toroid, 30 to 60 mm mast foot and heat shrink tubing.
Summary
Tino's Funkshop makes sense if you are building a 2m, 70cm or 4m Yagi and need mechanical parts in one place. The offer is limited for anchoring, ready-made antennas and connectors. Therefore, before ordering, check whether the desired item is really on the list.