Just got the latest ARRL mag and found your advise to the questioning ham. I think this will be a hit! Knowledgeable Elmers' are always welcome to the newbie and the old farts. This may turn out to be the first feature I read in future QSTs.
I have a Comet GP1 in my attic dormer. The antenna itself is at least 30' off the ground and the radials put the ground pane just over the horizon. I can get into repeaters in Brooklyn NY from Albany NY.
I bought a mag mount 2m 440 MHz antenna. Went to my kitchen grabbed a cookie sheet mag mounted it in the center of the cookie sheet. Placed it on top of my book case ran the coax to my 2m 440 MHz radio. Works great for all the local repeaters out to 30 miles.
I have a Diamond X-30 for 2m/70cm under my roof mounted on a satellite dish tripod normally used for camping. Works pretty well and I don't have to worry about lightning strikes.
I also live in Florida and in a condo complex. Out side antennas are a no, no. I took my 2m/440 mag mount placed it in the middle of a cookie sheet then put that on a top shelf. Now my shack and antenna is on the second floor. Works well with all local repeaters.
I found on UA-cam some videos on making vertical VHF-UHF antenna. It uses 2 stainless steel welding rods bent so each has one part is UHF and VHF. One bent rod points up the other points down. It only needs the 2, 1/8 inch stainless steel welding rods,, some PVC pipe or other thing to mount the rods on, and some mounting hardware, and some RG-58 with a connector. You can do a serch for "Vertical VHF-UHF dipole " there is videos. One person did 4 short videos with a very good step by step, on the buld. I got a 1lb pack of the stainless steel welding rods, 8 in the pack for around $15. It has been some time so I may be off a little on the price, and prices may vary. But it looks to be a very easy antenna to make. I don't have software to see what if any gain it may have.
I know my comment is late, this video has been out a while. I run a vertical with a ground plane in my attic for 11m and get very good results. Only problem is the noise from one particular LED light in the kitchen.
Late to the party here also a new bee ..im in an 8 unit apartment 2nd floor I had the issue of management not letting me and others here mount anything roof or in the yard for our hobby.. so we the 3 of us found a kit from firestik IBA-5 Indoor kit its a 5ft coil wrapped stik with 4 metal feet stick out 3 ft from base its made for indoor use we all got that kit it works great its around 90$ 👌
Hi David, I have one of Ed Fong's portable ladder line "J-poles." Have only used it outdoors. It seems to carry the freight quite well when the top end is about 3+m up in the air. For indoors, maybe hang it from a cup hook in the top trim of a larger window? Another quick and easy; mag mount on round electrical box, add 4 19.5" radials on the sides (drill small holes, self tapping screws), bent down accordingly. Perch the fitting on a length of pvc tube. Even easier, add tiger tail/rat tail to the handheld radio. They can work a treat also. Thanks for the good work that you do! 73, KI7MBR
I am a retired radar engineer, worked within a few feet of transmitters and antennas at over 3 million watts at about 3 GHZ. Did me no harm. Avoid direct contact and there is no problem.
There's thunder in the area (north central Tennessee) as I type this. I'm in a HOA that has outdoor antenna restrictions, so as yet I do not have any outdoor antennas, but I'm working on that. I'm getting good reports using a mobile triband antenna with radials on a tripod inside my shack.
I live in an attic apartment and I have 65 1/2 ft of wire strung up around the living room and slightly into the kitchen with a 49 to 1 and I get DX to Europe no problem
An indoor antenna for 2m or 70cm should be all right during a thunderstorm, but a longer HF wire or element (indoor or outdoor) may pick up transients from lightning in the area and damage the sensitive first receiver stage in your radio when connected. Disconnect or use a so called lightning arrester.
Hello Dave. I'd like to see a test of an antenna in the attic vs same height outdoors. It would be interesting to see the loss differences. Just an idea for a show. Thanks for the great info!!
Your 1/4 wave coathanger antenna will work just as well upside down, hang it from the ceiling that way up and then the ground plane radials are well out of the way, the antenna is above all the clutter plus the coax is easy to route over to a wall and down to the rig.
I use a homebrew Yagi in a spare bedroom. Fortunately, the repeaters I use are located in the same general direction so I don't need to rotate the antenna. 73
I'm a fan of the Copper Cactus (J-pole made from Cu tubing), as they are inherently at DC ground when mounted directly to a properly grounded mast, so that static buildup can naturally drain off to the ground rod, which makes them safer when the T-storms roll through. I stress "safER", because as Dave says, under a direct strike, all bets are off. I do wonder if Dave's J-pole is commercially available, because I really like how the 50 Ohm matching feedpoint is implemented on that particular model, and it'd be ideal on one of those 20' masts made of Top Rail :D
I live in a DC high-rise 12 floors up. The multipath is fierce not to mention multiple high power TV antennas within a mile or so. With my whip (Nagoya NA-771 VHF/UHF) I can barely (1x1) contact the repeater in Greenbelt (10 mi./16 km. line of sight) using a Radioddity GA-510 (Baofeng). Should I invest in a Yagi (stacked?) or just find/build a remote station out in the weeds? A cabin might be nice!!
Hi Dave, thank you for all the excellent videos. I got my license VE6COR in 2016 and many of your videos have been and continue to be very helpful to me. As I reside in a place with limited means to put up antennas, I have a variety of antenna projects, mostly in the portable variety such as the Chameleon F-Loop which I use, the MFJ-1979 which I got after getting their apartment antenna MFJ-1622 and tripod mounting with the Wolf River coil, and now to get higher power, going to try the MFJ-936C, ever tried this loop tuner? Thanks again. 73.
Can an old TV antenna (tower) be used to attach a C.B or Ham antenna to? What antenna is best for the home? I've given my kid's some old C.B radios I had in my trucks, they live in rural areas and I figured this would be a fun way for them to communicate or the grandkids to talk back and forth
At some point in time you were also mentioning or showing the metric system for foreigners viewing your channel. Not anymore. Is it for a reason and if possible can you reinstate this feature of your channel :-). I watch every episode and appreciate everything you do. I am also an ARRL member and also have a US callsign. 73 de Bert, PA5BM / WA5BM.
Hello Dave KC1MVX here, from Groton CT. That's right a KC1 calling. I've barely had my license for over a year and I've been doing a ton if stuff. Many local clubs, ARES, Red Cross, Skywarn and local events such as triathlons. I am also active duty in the US Navy and I found that I quickly over extended myself and that's not even included the HF contesting I've done. I live in military housing so I get constant flack for my antennas and have found that all the things I've join require my constant attention. Did I mention I joined AFMARS? How do I dial it back as my military obligations gain traction?
Hello David I have a question for you since you seem to know plenty of the Ham Radio equipment, it has nothing to do with this video. I Just purchased the TYT TH 9800plus I know I need to purchase the power supply if I plan on using for home station BUT! can I get away with purchasing a T-Shape connector to cigarette plug AND! AC TO DC converter one end cigarette female the other 110v wall outlet to power up the TYT 9800? if not tell me why?
I have used a Magnetic Loop on the wall next to me. It worked well for 15 to 40 meters.
I’d love to hear more about this!
Hi Dave, I enjoy watching your videos and I just wanted to say thank you for all you do! I am a newer ham and I find all your videos super helpful!
I have used Ed Fong dual band antennas and they work good.
Just purchased the DB-J2 which I will try using it indoors by hanging it on a curtain rod. I also have the DB-J1, definitely great dual band antennas!
Just got the latest ARRL mag and found your advise to the questioning ham. I think this will be a hit! Knowledgeable Elmers' are always welcome to the newbie and the old farts. This may turn out to be the first feature I read in future QSTs.
I have a Comet GP1 in my attic dormer. The antenna itself is at least 30' off the ground and the radials put the ground pane just over the horizon. I can get into repeaters in Brooklyn NY from Albany NY.
I bought a mag mount 2m 440 MHz antenna. Went to my kitchen grabbed a cookie sheet mag mounted it in the center of the cookie sheet. Placed it on top of my book case ran the coax to my 2m 440 MHz radio. Works great for all the local repeaters out to 30 miles.
I have a Diamond X-30 for 2m/70cm under my roof mounted on a satellite dish tripod normally used for camping. Works pretty well and I don't have to worry about lightning strikes.
Just ordered that same one for use inside my bonus room over the garage. Hopefully I can get my necessary range...
I also live in Florida and in a condo complex. Out side antennas are a no, no. I took my 2m/440 mag mount placed it in the middle of a cookie sheet then put that on a top shelf. Now my shack and antenna is on the second floor. Works well with all local repeaters.
I found on UA-cam some videos on making vertical VHF-UHF antenna. It uses 2 stainless steel welding rods bent so each has one part is UHF and VHF. One bent rod points up the other points down. It only needs the 2, 1/8 inch stainless steel welding rods,, some PVC pipe or other thing to mount the rods on, and some mounting hardware, and some RG-58 with a connector. You can do a serch for "Vertical VHF-UHF dipole " there is videos. One person did 4 short videos with a very good step by step, on the buld. I got a 1lb pack of the stainless steel welding rods, 8 in the pack for around $15. It has been some time so I may be off a little on the price, and prices may vary. But it looks to be a very easy antenna to make. I don't have software to see what if any gain it may have.
Dave, I have 2 Meter mobile mag mount, on top of a steel cabinet in my radio room. Works just fine.
Tom
A magnetic mobile antenna on a filing cabinet works good for local repeaters KI5YEE
Mag mount. Pizza Pan. 1/4 l 2m antenna. Put on top of shevling. Done.
I know my comment is late, this video has been out a while. I run a vertical with a ground plane in my attic for 11m and get very good results. Only problem is the noise from one particular LED light in the kitchen.
Late to the party here also a new bee ..im in an 8 unit apartment 2nd floor I had the issue of management not letting me and others here mount anything roof or in the yard for our hobby.. so we the 3 of us found a kit from firestik IBA-5 Indoor kit its a 5ft coil wrapped stik with 4 metal feet stick out 3 ft from base its made for indoor use we all got that kit it works great its around 90$ 👌
Hi David, I have one of Ed Fong's portable ladder line "J-poles." Have only used it outdoors. It seems to carry the freight quite well when the top end is about 3+m up in the air. For indoors, maybe hang it from a cup hook in the top trim of a larger window? Another quick and easy; mag mount on round electrical box, add 4 19.5" radials on the sides (drill small holes, self tapping screws), bent down accordingly. Perch the fitting on a length of pvc tube. Even easier, add tiger tail/rat tail to the handheld radio. They can work a treat also. Thanks for the good work that you do! 73, KI7MBR
Is it dangerous to operate and antenna indoors. Isn't the RF energy when transmitting dangerous for humans
I am a retired radar engineer, worked within a few feet of transmitters and antennas at over 3 million watts at about 3 GHZ. Did me no harm. Avoid direct contact and there is no problem.
There's thunder in the area (north central Tennessee) as I type this. I'm in a HOA that has outdoor antenna restrictions, so as yet I do not have any outdoor antennas, but I'm working on that. I'm getting good reports using a mobile triband antenna with radials on a tripod inside my shack.
I live in an attic apartment and I have 65 1/2 ft of wire strung up around the living room and slightly into the kitchen with a 49 to 1 and I get DX to Europe no problem
N9TAX Antennas great quality
An indoor antenna for 2m or 70cm should be all right during a thunderstorm, but a longer HF wire or element (indoor or outdoor) may pick up transients from lightning in the area and damage the sensitive first receiver stage in your radio when connected. Disconnect or use a so called lightning arrester.
Helpful, thanks
Hello Dave. I'd like to see a test of an antenna in the attic vs same height outdoors. It would be interesting to see the loss differences. Just an idea for a show. Thanks for the great info!!
Slim J antenna for 2 meter is a great single band antenne one van make with 300 ohm ladder line. Its flexibel and has some gain too.
Hi Dave, 73
Your 1/4 wave coathanger antenna will work just as well upside down, hang it from the ceiling that way up and then the ground plane radials are well out of the way, the antenna is above all the clutter plus the coax is easy to route over to a wall and down to the rig.
I just ordered a diamond X30 with intentions to run it inside in just such a configuration.
I use a homebrew Yagi in a spare bedroom. Fortunately, the repeaters I use are located in the same general direction so I don't need to rotate the antenna. 73
For 2 meter and 70 cm a HB9CV antenna can be an very effective antenna. Easy to build and a good gain for the antenna seize
Nice, I have a KB9VBR copper JPole sitting out in the garage I could use for an indoor antenna. Great idea, thanks. 73 de AI5DD
Mag mounts on top of ice boxes work. But would take off during lighting in case curge enters housevwiring.
I'm a fan of the Copper Cactus (J-pole made from Cu tubing), as they are inherently at DC ground when mounted directly to a properly grounded mast, so that static buildup can naturally drain off to the ground rod, which makes them safer when the T-storms roll through. I stress "safER", because as Dave says, under a direct strike, all bets are off. I do wonder if Dave's J-pole is commercially available, because I really like how the 50 Ohm matching feedpoint is implemented on that particular model, and it'd be ideal on one of those 20' masts made of Top Rail :D
Everybody Ed Fong tonight!
You can put a car mag mount on a pizza pan for the ground plane and have a good indoor antenna. AA4EZ
Or use aluminum foil. Works really well and you can make a large plane if you have the room.
What about HF antenna for apartments? Do you remember W4MPY “The QSLMAN”?
Gone are the days of the good ole metal coat hanger then lol
I live in a DC high-rise 12 floors up. The multipath is fierce not to mention multiple high power TV antennas within a mile or so. With my whip (Nagoya NA-771 VHF/UHF) I can barely (1x1) contact the repeater in Greenbelt (10 mi./16 km. line of sight) using a Radioddity GA-510 (Baofeng). Should I invest in a Yagi (stacked?) or just find/build a remote station out in the weeds? A cabin might be nice!!
The Tampa club station building is still there. TARC. They have a little ham fest a few times a year.
Hi Dave, thank you for all the excellent videos. I got my license VE6COR in 2016 and many of your videos have been and continue to be very helpful to me. As I reside in a place with limited means to put up antennas, I have a variety of antenna projects, mostly in the portable variety such as the Chameleon F-Loop which I use, the MFJ-1979 which I got after getting their apartment antenna MFJ-1622 and tripod mounting with the Wolf River coil, and now to get higher power, going to try the MFJ-936C, ever tried this loop tuner? Thanks again. 73.
David, I live in an apartment in PR, could I use that J Pole antenna inside my apartment? BTW, any idea for an HF antenna for small apartments?
I notice you have an Alpha Delta Delta-4 with integrated lightning protection.
If using this lightning protection, why would you need any other?
I use the copper tape on a window.
Can an old TV antenna (tower) be used to attach a C.B or Ham antenna to?
What antenna is best for the home? I've given my kid's some old C.B radios I had in my trucks, they live in rural areas and I figured this would be a fun way for them to communicate or the grandkids to talk back and forth
At some point in time you were also mentioning or showing the metric system for foreigners viewing your channel. Not anymore. Is it for a reason and if possible can you reinstate this feature of your channel :-). I watch every episode and appreciate everything you do. I am also an ARRL member and also have a US callsign. 73 de Bert, PA5BM / WA5BM.
Hello Dave KC1MVX here, from Groton CT. That's right a KC1 calling. I've barely had my license for over a year and I've been doing a ton if stuff. Many local clubs, ARES, Red Cross, Skywarn and local events such as triathlons. I am also active duty in the US Navy and I found that I quickly over extended myself and that's not even included the HF contesting I've done. I live in military housing so I get constant flack for my antennas and have found that all the things I've join require my constant attention. Did I mention I joined AFMARS? How do I dial it back as my military obligations gain traction?
Hello David I have a question for you since you seem to know plenty of the Ham Radio equipment, it has nothing to do with this video. I Just purchased the TYT TH 9800plus I know I need to purchase the power supply if I plan on using for home station BUT! can I get away with purchasing a T-Shape connector to cigarette plug AND! AC TO DC converter one end cigarette female the other 110v wall outlet to power up the TYT 9800? if not tell me why?
Is that a Yaesu FT-101 transceiver behind you?
Let's not forget that a 1/4 wave at 2m will work fine at 70cm.
I just built a simple 1/4 wave ground plane
To me the J-Pole looks like a trombone.
I thought Colorado Springs was the lightning capital of the world?
Check out the COMPACTenna. Interesting design, but I've made good contacts with it.