I tried one of the Nelson antennas and now use a roll up slim jim antenna from N9TAX, also available on eBay for about the same price. The difference is that N9TAX makes a version that uses 450 ohm ladder line rather than the thinner ladder line used by Nelson (he also does the same thin ladder line style antenna). I've never scientifically measured the two side by side, but I can say that I can hit more repeaters and hear better with the N9TAX version.
A slim jim has a different radiation pattern than a quarter wave, half wave or j-pole antenna, with a lower takeoff angle. The result is that more of your signal gets out lower Vs the other antenna types that sends more of it up into the clouds. That's the reason slim jim antennas are usually described as having more gain. They don't really have more gain, they just give you more usable signal where it's needed. You should consider your specific situation, however, before deciding on what type of antenna to buy. A quarter wave, half wave, slim jim, and j-pole each have different takeoff angles. Depending on where the repeaters are that you want to use, each type will give different results. Here are a few websites with information on antenna type comparisons (i.e. quarter wave, half wave, j-pole, slim jim...):
SLIM JIM ANTENNA PROJECT
Improving the Super J-Pole Antenna
Slim Jim vs J-Pole Antennas | KB9VBR J-Pole Antennas
Slim Jim vs. Traditional J-pole Antenna
These websites are a pretty decent starting point to do your own research on antennas so you can learn what might be best for your particular situation.
So, having given you some information to give you a starting point, perhaps the best suggestion before spending ANY money on an antenna is: do your own testing. If you can borrow one of each type of antenna from ham friends (check with your local club, too) you can do your own testing to see what works best in your QTH (location).
Also, you asked about antennas for use in an apartment, but you didn't say how you planned to use the radio. Are you planning just local use to another close by ham with a HT (handheld radio)? If so, using a simplex frequency and a small antenna on your HT might be enough, i.e. you may not even need to spend money for an external antenna. If you are planning to use local repeaters that are close to you, the same applies. My suggestion is to try the stock antenna first, then decide if you need/want an external antenna. Note that the stock "rubber duckie" style antennas that come with most HTs are poor performers compared with many other antennas. Read some reviews on eham.net to get a good idea of the feedback from other hams on various different antennas. BTW, eham.net is a REALLY good resource for ham equipment reviews, and lots of other ham related information. If you search the internet, you will find lots of well done (as well as crappy
) scientific reviews and comparisons of various antennas.
Note that you should not have to "settle" for a single band antenna. There are lots of very good dual-band antennas. However, once again, do your own research before deciding. If the only repeaters you can reach from your apartment are 2 meter, then a single band 2 meter antenna may give you more gain than a dual-band 2/440 antenna.
I know I threw a lot of information at you. However, you described yourself as: "Right now, I am a dummy to all this radio stuff". We ALL started as dummies to radio stuff. IMHO, the best way to not be a dummy about antennas (or any other subject) is to learn, rather than just have someone tell you which one to buy. Hopefully, I have given you a starting point down that path.
73 - David, AG4F
