Discussed recently on the air: "The 2m/440 J-Pole Antenna"

You may have heard me, Dave (KG6SVF), and Wayne (KG6KPR) discussing a J-Pole antenna on the Tracy repeater.  If you are interested in what it looks like, I obtained a picture of it below.  Credit for this antenna goes to John, K8HL.  Wayne also has copies of this on paper, and I can print a copy for anyone who wants one also for reference.  Wayne has used this antenna for a while at work and loves it, and I now have one in operation as my home QTH voice antenna.  It works excellent, and I can now work simplex very well, as well as recieve repeaters more in the distance (I'm into most Sacramento repeaters now reliably with 5-10w)  The gain on it is supposed to be incredible, Wayne used it to talk simplex to a ham with a HTX-202 with a mag mount on his car in Galt to his work in Stockton, CA.  The HTX-202 puts out 5W max, provided it has the right voltage.  (As an example.)  Though the diagram lists 2M only, the SWR on 440 also is excellent, so it will work on both bands reliably.  This antenna is tuned to the center of the 2m band and the SWR stays pretty flat to both ends of the band (under 1.5:1) on Wayne's assembled antenna.  I am planning on having another of these antennas made for my home packet station.

Since I am no longer on packet, my second J-Pole is now used for my second home station (FT-7800) or monitoring with the wideband reciever with my VX-2, or my scanner.  Though both J-Poles have now tarnished into a color that basically blends into the background, both are still working excellent.  In fact, I think the SWR on them is slightly lower now that the tarnishing has completed.   I took them down a few weeks ago to make sure the clamps had stayed tight and everything was good.   Both of mine were made from these plans for me by Dave (KG6SVF) and we went with putting a SO-239 on the J-pole to attach coax instead of the way the diagram depicts.  It is attached via the tab on the shield side with a self tapping screw, with a coax center conductor ran from the center to the centerpoint on the long leg of the J-pole.  I also inspected this, no corrosion or loosening has occured with it being baked and moved around with the summer weather (including a few windy thunderstorms!).  Dave also now has one up at his home QTH, and Wayne (KG6KPR) still has the one at work in full use.  They all work excellent for simplex on 2m as well as 440 (been on 440 simplex more lately!).

NEW!  Plans for a 6m J-Pole.

Got these via QRZ a few days ago.  May build one for 6m vertical operations.  Its huge though, probably have to basically assemble on site, or rent a long trailer to transport the thing.  Makes the 2m one look like nothing.

Haven't built it yet, but the person who sent it to me off QRZ supposedly runs one without any issues.  159.25" tall, not including the mounting stub.  Could probably put it on the ground and it would work well.....