Dual Band Base Antenna

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Posted: 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??

Posted: 12/10/2013 2:24:33 AM EDT

[#1]

I am going back to the Ed Fong jpole.

Posted: 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??

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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.

Posted: 12/10/2013 4:54:39 AM EDT

[#3]

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Quoted:
I am going back to the Ed Fong jpole.

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

I have 2 base and a roll-up.

Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile

Posted: 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

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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

Posted: 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

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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.

Posted: 12/10/2013 6:54:23 AM EDT

[#6]

I have one of these in an upstairs bedroom.

Posted: 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.

Posted: 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.

Posted: 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

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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.

Posted: 12/10/2013 9:41:26 AM EDT

[#10]

Tram 1480.

Posted: 12/10/2013 10:48:46 AM EDT

[#11]

Not a single complaint about my Diamond X200.

Posted: 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

Posted: 12/10/2013 4:12:58 PM EDT

[#13]

Comet GP-9. It works very well.

Posted: 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.

Posted: 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.

Posted: 12/12/2013 8:39:47 AM EDT

[#16]

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Quoted:
I built a Jpole out of some extra steel I had around. Don't over think this one.

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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

Posted: 12/12/2013 10:21:07 AM EDT

[#17]

Another homebrew design: http://www.n7qvc.com/amateur_radio/copper.html

Posted: 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

Posted: 12/13/2013 5:42:58 AM EDT

[#19]

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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

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Another vote for this.

VERY nice antenna for the money.

Posted: 12/13/2013 5:53:18 AM EDT

[#20]

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Quoted:

Another vote for this.

VERY nice antenna for the money.

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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.

Posted: 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.

Posted: 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.

Posted: 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.

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Those are horizontal polarization at the horizon, and circular straight up. So would be a poor choice for general FM operation.