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Posted: 7/7/2019 10:05:58 PM EDT
[#1]
J pole is larger, heavier, and performs worse than a simple 1/4 wave ground plane or vertical dipole. A 5+ feet tall a J pole will be a challenge to install in an attic. J pole will also be crap on 70cm if that is important to you... a 1/4 wave will work better on 70cm, and with a little nuancing that can even be improved.
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Posted: 7/7/2019 10:12:12 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
J pole is larger, heavier, and performs worse than a simple 1/4 wave ground plane or vertical dipole. A 5+ feet tall a J pole will be a challenge to install in an attic. |
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Posted: 7/7/2019 10:24:35 PM EDT
[#3]
Depends on the attic. I have a Tram 1480 in mine. About $50 shipped from Home Depot.
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Posted: 7/8/2019 4:30:30 AM EDT
[#4]
as long as you dont have a metal roof, a VHF/UHF antenna will work fine
Try to keep it away from wiring and the higher the better. Get a 1/4 or 5/8 or 7/8 wave with ground radials at the base. Use the shortest piece of coax as possible for less loss or spend the bucks on LM400 |
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Posted: 7/8/2019 7:23:30 AM EDT
[#5]
I use a Larsen mobile whip and base with a ground plane kit, works great.
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Posted: 7/8/2019 7:39:29 AM EDT
[#6]
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Posted: 7/8/2019 7:43:40 AM EDT
[#7]
I've used mag mount 2m/440 antennas in my attics for years. Go to Home Depot and get a piece of sheet metal to put it on.
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Posted: 7/8/2019 12:38:11 PM EDT
[#8]
I'm a fan of hanging a diamond X50 in the attic with a piece of string as high as you can get it. Assuming you don't have a metal roof or something like that, that would impede the RF.
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Posted: 7/8/2019 12:55:18 PM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
I've used mag mount 2m/440 antennas in my attics for years. Go to Home Depot and get a piece of sheet metal to put it on. Quoted:
I'm a fan of hanging a diamond X50 in the attic with a piece of string as high as you can get it. Assuming you don't have a metal roof or something like that, that would impede the RF. |
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Posted: 7/8/2019 5:53:55 PM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'm a fan of hanging a diamond X50 in the attic with a piece of string as high as you can get it. Assuming you don't have a metal roof or something like that, that would impede the RF. I put a Jetstream version of the X50 in my dads attic as a backup station for me, it works fine. It was a stellar improvement over a copper j pole. I also used an Ed Fong when in my condo, I was on the 3rd story. I also went with the jetstream and it made a huge difference. |
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Posted: 7/8/2019 8:36:05 PM EDT
[#11]
I have one of the Ed Fong roll-up j-pole antennas zip-tied to a piece and tucked into a corner of the room. No issues hitting local repeaters and great reception.
Link: https://www.ebay.com/itm/DBJ-2-VHF-UHF-Dual-Band-Roll-Up-portable-Antenna-/122702461531 Best to you. 73, Mike K5CWO |
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Posted: 7/9/2019 5:08:58 PM EDT
[#12]
loop antenna like mfj on a small rotator?
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Posted: 7/9/2019 8:07:41 PM EDT
[#13]
DIY horizontal dipole could be made for dollars or free if you have some Romex and string and a spare plastic cutting board laying around. It will be zero gain though.
I’ll probably go that route or ground plain in the rental house I’m in now. Unfortunately (for Ham) my house in FL has a metal roof, so I’ll have to come up with a tree antenna or a tower of some sort when I finally get to move back. |
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Posted: 7/9/2019 9:29:57 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
J pole is larger, heavier, and performs worse than a simple 1/4 wave ground plane or vertical dipole. A 5+ feet tall a J pole will be a challenge to install in an attic. J pole will also be crap on 70cm if that is important to you... a 1/4 wave will work better on 70cm, and with a little nuancing that can even be improved. I ran tests side by side with a Fong, the 1/4 wave ate it's lunch. |
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Posted: 7/9/2019 11:11:59 PM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
loop antenna like mfj on a small rotator? |
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Posted: 7/9/2019 11:37:06 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I'm a fan of hanging a diamond X50 in the attic with a piece of string as high as you can get it. Assuming you don't have a metal roof or something like that, that would impede the RF. |
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Posted: 7/11/2019 5:15:39 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I was going to suggest a small yagi if you have the room. I could talk very long distances on 5W with my 4-ele. Worked great with an inexpensive Channel Master rotator. DM me with the Yagi name? |
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Posted: 7/11/2019 6:23:17 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: With my situation, that wouldn't be a terrible idea. DM me with the Yagi name? 
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Posted: 7/11/2019 6:46:25 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Looking at these options now and I do NOT have a metal roof Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
I've used mag mount 2m/440 antennas in my attics for years. Go to Home Depot and get a piece of sheet metal to put it on. Quoted:
I'm a fan of hanging a diamond X50 in the attic with a piece of string as high as you can get it. Assuming you don't have a metal roof or something like that, that would impede the RF. |
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Posted: 7/11/2019 6:48:59 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: This also applies to foil backed insulation. 
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Posted: 7/12/2019 9:37:49 AM EDT
[#21]
Quoted:
With my situation, that wouldn't be a terrible idea. DM me with the Yagi name? Quoted:
Make it 2, I wanna link Cushcraft A124WB Best price (current) price I found. It was a beast. Seriously. Jax is huge and I could reach all over the city and outskirts on 5W. I can't find the rotator I used to have and the only Channel Master I see now is pretty spendy. I'll try to find the model # to see if it's still available. Heading out of town in a few hours, though, so might not be til next week. ETA: Just realized the OP mentioned dual-band. This only covers 2M.  Hope it's still helpful. I only used my Moto on 440 to keep it digital so never used an external antenna.
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Posted: 7/12/2019 9:39:55 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Sorry, guys. Haven't been on much this week. Cushcraft A124WB Best price (current) price I found. It was a beast. Seriously. Jax is huge and I could reach all over the city and outskirts on 5W. I can't find the rotator I used to have and the only Channel Master I see now is pretty spendy. I'll try to find the model # to see if it's still available. Heading out of town in a few hours, though, so might not be til next week. ETA: Just realized the OP mentioned dual-band. This only covers 2M. Hope it's still helpful. I only used my Moto on 440 to keep it digital so never used an external antenna. |
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Posted: 7/12/2019 2:03:38 PM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
DIY horizontal dipole could be made for dollars or free if you have some Romex and string and a spare plastic cutting board laying around. It will be zero gain though. I’ll probably go that route or ground plain in the rental house I’m in now. Unfortunately (for Ham) my house in FL has a metal roof, so I’ll have to come up with a tree antenna or a tower of some sort when I finally get to move back. I also never recommend a J-Pole as a good choice antenna. Your choice of an attic antenna will depend on how much space is available in the attic, although it's always better to mount antennas externally, if possible. A simple 1/4 wave vertical can be made for pennies, from a coat hanger or a piece of wire. There is no wind or rain in the attic to affect the antenna in any way. You can also mount a mobile antenna on a base with radials. Something like this mounted on this may work for you. Get a good quality, low loss coax cable, like LMR400 or similar. Also, keep the antenna as far away as possible from any wiring or metal conductive objects in the attic. Try to keep the top of the antenna spaced away from the wooden support beams or the roof top plywood. |
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Posted: 7/12/2019 4:15:47 PM EDT
[#24]
And remember, you can hang the antenna from the roof if that makes mounting easier, it just needs to be vertical.
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