UPDATE: IceConeFeed v2.1

After many inquiries from the HAM community for updating the IceConeFeed design parameters a new version is now available (purchase here).

Key features are optimized helix dimensions to achieve a lower SWR and also reduce the LNB shadow in order to increase reception gain. See below the comparison between the 3.5 turn helix of IceConeFeed v2 and the 2.2 turn helix with a 1.4mm wire of the IceConeFeed v2.1

The outer design has been cleaned and a high grip surface area has been added to both the radome and base plate for easy radome handling.

IceConeFeed v2.1 radome and base held in hand, showing the grip surface

First tests show a superior performance in return loss, the IceConeFeed v2.1 is easier to tune and should only yield 0.7dB RX attenuation which is an 1.4dB advantage over the v2.0 version.

This is in agreement with the shading analysis below. V2.0 on the right with 38% (2.1dB) helix shade, V2.1 on the left with 14.7% (0.7dB) helix shade.

Helix shading analysis in GIMP: v2.1 left, v2.0 right

VNA plot of the IceConeFeed v2.1: SWR 1.03 at 2.4 GHz

IceConeFeed v2.1 connected to a handheld vector network analyser

Want one? The IceConeFeed v2.1 is available in the shop — fully assembled and tuned for QO100.