Built my first antenna today....

[canav844]

I made a J-pole based off these directions.

Easy J-pole antenna by dxzone.com

Except mine is all black, heat shrink RG-58 and all, then it drops into a BNC-SMA adapter before getting into my VX270. Rx it's more than S-5 better, waiting for Universal Radio to ship out my SWR meter before I do much Tx-ing though.

Cost me $12 in new parts, that I have a ton of extras of plus what I already had lying around in supplies, but I've got to say the DIY satisfaction is much higher than had I spent $15 for something similar, and it was less than an hours worth of work.

Now to find an afternoon 2m Yagi plan that I can complete with my meager tools, in my apartment, for low cost, than can with stand some significant weather. I'm planning on putting a funky looking flower pot on the deck to disguise some amateur equipment.:lol:

 

[elk2370bruce]

Buiding your own antennas is a great way to start. You can also easily (and cheaply) experiment with yagis out of wood and coat hangers. Dipoles for hf bands are also easy. You can save big bucks building your own and its loads of fun. Keep on experimenting.

 

[mrweather]

I built a copper pipe 6M j-pole this past weekend. Since the antenna is over 13 feet tall it cost a bit more in parts but it tuned up great!

It IS satisfying building something on your own once in a while.

 

[canav844]

I just took a gamble and made it 27miles into a local net with the 5 watts on an HT, I was a little weak so not quite able to Rag chew with this, but a dipole or Yagi might just fine do it if I don't get base station radio first.