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AR15.COM
12/10/2013 2:19:38 AM EDT
I am looking for an inexpensive dual band base antenna that I can use with Icom ID-880H DStar radio.

Any suggestions??
12/10/2013 2:24:33 AM EDT
[#1]
I am going back to the Ed Fong jpole.
12/10/2013 3:28:46 AM EDT
[#2]

Quoted:


I am looking for an inexpensive dual band base antenna that I can use with Icom ID-880H DStar radio.



Any suggestions??
View Quote


EBAY Sellers have them usually for 90$-ish from comet.



However, I wouldn't low-ball it unless you find some gear with a good reputation.



I've had a DIAMOND X300 ( I think it was 140$ ) on the roof of my house on a 10 foot pole since 2006 and it's still going strong. No problems. No leaks, etc.



DIAMOND makes smaller less expensive ones as well with less gain in dual-band.



I'm A diamond fan, as you can tell.  Also Check for TRAM.



 
12/10/2013 4:54:39 AM EDT
[#3]
Quote History
Quoted:
I am going back to the Ed Fong jpole.
View Quote


Nice guy.
Great product.
Hard to beat the price!

I have 2 base and a roll-up.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
12/10/2013 5:02:55 AM EDT
[#4]
Quote History
Quoted:


Nice guy.
Great product.
Hard to beat the price!

I have 2 base and a roll-up.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
View Quote View All Quotes
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Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I am going back to the Ed Fong jpole.


Nice guy.
Great product.
Hard to beat the price!

I have 2 base and a roll-up.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile


Here is the Link to Ed's antenna

I have two up at the Barn, and have been WELL pleased with them (2m/440 & 220)  

I also have the Arrow down at the house which serves me well.  Lastly I was gifted a Cushcraft 11 ele 2m Yagi that does the Job too!

I'm needing a MURS antenna down here at the house and I plan to start shopping for those after Christmas
12/10/2013 6:41:05 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Quoted:


Nice guy.
Great product.
Hard to beat the price!

I have 2 base and a roll-up.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I am going back to the Ed Fong jpole.


Nice guy.
Great product.
Hard to beat the price!

I have 2 base and a roll-up.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile


I have one at on the balcony of the apartment. Works pretty good with me being on the 2nd floor of the building.
12/10/2013 6:54:23 AM EDT
[#6]
I have one of these in an upstairs bedroom.  
12/10/2013 7:01:45 AM EDT
[#7]
Arrow Antennas J-pole. Made from aircraft aluminum, runs about $45, takes about 5 minutes to put together. I have two since 2007 and they work very well for me.
12/10/2013 7:06:34 AM EDT
[#8]
Diamond X30A for about $60 to $70 or a NMO dual-band mobile with a radial set up.
12/10/2013 7:08:41 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote History
Quoted:


Nice guy.
Great product.
Hard to beat the price!

I have 2 base and a roll-up.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I am going back to the Ed Fong jpole.


Nice guy.
Great product.
Hard to beat the price!

I have 2 base and a roll-up.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

.
I have an antenna from Ed Fong and I like it.  I did find an issue when using the lower end of the 2 meter band.  It could have just been mine.

You can see the discussion here.
12/10/2013 9:41:26 AM EDT
[#10]
Tram 1480.
12/10/2013 10:48:46 AM EDT
[#11]
Not a single complaint about my Diamond X200.
12/10/2013 11:33:52 AM EDT
[#12]
+1 for Diamond base antenna

A few years ago a friend and I made copper Slim Jim antennas from online plans - IIRC they were ~$25 each and worked pretty well.  I gave mine to my son when I bought the Diamond..

http://www.ac8gy.com/dual_band_slim_jim_antenna.html
12/10/2013 4:12:58 PM EDT
[#13]
Comet GP-9. It works very well.
12/12/2013 7:39:48 AM EDT
[#14]
The Jetstream JT3B is a good option, it has gain and works very well. It is a huge improvement over my Ed Fong j-pole. Nothing wrong with his antenna, it does what it is suppose to, but an antenna with gain is the way to go.

They can be found for around $44.95

Highly recommended.
12/12/2013 8:09:21 AM EDT
[#15]
I built a Jpole out of some extra steel I had around.  Don't over think this one.
12/12/2013 8:39:47 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote History
Quoted:
I built a Jpole out of some extra steel I had around.  Don't over think this one.
View Quote


Good idea, wish I had went that route. I spent $140 on a Diamond X300 vertical & it does work great, but I simply don't use it now. A  sturdy J-Pole or small yagi pointed at local repeater would have handled my needs easily. If you are pointing toward a specific repeater & don't need to rotate, the yagi's gain may be better choice. For omi directonal the J-Pole would be  a great choice.



HS
12/12/2013 10:21:07 AM EDT
[#17]
Another homebrew design: http://www.n7qvc.com/amateur_radio/copper.html
12/13/2013 5:33:53 AM EDT
[#18]
I bought this one for $33 shipped. It was a group buy where we ordered 10.



http://www.arrowantennas.com/osj/j-pole.html






12/13/2013 5:42:58 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote History
Quoted:
I bought this one for $33 shipped. It was a group buy where we ordered 10.

http://www.arrowantennas.com/osj/j-pole.html
View Quote


Another vote for this.

VERY nice antenna for the money.
12/13/2013 5:53:18 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote History
Quoted:


Another vote for this.

VERY nice antenna for the money.
View Quote View All Quotes
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Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I bought this one for $33 shipped. It was a group buy where we ordered 10.

http://www.arrowantennas.com/osj/j-pole.html


Another vote for this.

VERY nice antenna for the money.


2nd.
12/13/2013 6:15:50 AM EDT
[#21]
I'll third the Arrow J pole. I home brewed mine from online plans I found. Although I had most everything to build it I didn't save a lot. I just like building stuff.
12/13/2013 8:44:06 AM EDT
[#22]
I run these as my base antennas for 2m/440   http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/msq-satpack1

If you want something that can do a bit of everything it works awesome.

It is circularly polarized so I use it for FM and sideband... also has 5.5dbi gain straight above it so it is awesome for satellites also, the price isnt bad considering I dont need an az/el rotor.

If you ever want to work satellites it is a good choice... and it get out pretty far on 2m ssb with my 160w amp considering it isnt a beam, and on FM can key up repeaters from columbus, to lexington, to indianapolis from cinci area.
12/13/2013 11:09:32 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote History
Quoted:
I run these as my base antennas for 2m/440   http://www.dxengineering.com/parts/msq-satpack1

If you want something that can do a bit of everything it works awesome.

It is circularly polarized so I use it for FM and sideband... also has 5.5dbi gain straight above it so it is awesome for satellites also, the price isnt bad considering I dont need an az/el rotor.

If you ever want to work satellites it is a good choice... and it get out pretty far on 2m ssb with my 160w amp considering it isnt a beam, and on FM can key up repeaters from columbus, to lexington, to indianapolis from cinci area.
View Quote

Those are horizontal polarization at the horizon, and circular straight up.  So would be a poor choice for general FM operation.
12/13/2013 11:12:17 AM EDT
[#24]

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Quoted:


Not a single complaint about my Diamond X200.
View Quote


Some here. Mine works better than I expected.
 
12/13/2013 7:53:16 PM EDT
[#25]
Diamond x50 is what is standard around here.