6 & 2 meter antenna recommendations

[KR4NIV]

I just got my tech license last Friday and I would like to get on 6 and 2 meter bands but I have yet to put up an antenna for that.

I've researched the DIY antennas such as the j-pole and the slim Jm and there's also vertical and horizontal dipoles. But my question here is what you might recommend as an antenna for me. I live in the mountains of Western North Carolina. I'm nestled into a valley on a 15° slope with a lot of trees around me. I do have space in my yard to put up a longer dipole antenna if need be and I already have a tower that's about 32 ft above ground where my 11 m antenna is currently mounted. The 11 m is coming down and other antennas will go up on this existing mast.

Suggestions? Thanks in advance for the replies.

 

[popnokick]

Tough situation if you plan to work all three modes (FM, SSB, and FT8) on both 6M and 2M. Sideband (SSB) is horizontally polarized as is FT8. I do all three with a Diamond V2000 vertical, but have an A / B antenna switch that cuts my radio over to a horizontal Off-Center Fed Dipole. While the OCFD doesn’t get me what a 6M beam will do, it does handle the digital and SSB modes on 6M better than the V2000. The V2000 excels at 6M, 2M, and 70cm FM for repeaters and mobiles.
Put up another tower and stack a 6M and 2M beam at the top ;-)

 

[Golay]

Not too difficult to put together a 6 meter horizontal dipole made out of tubing. Think it's like 4' for each leg.
Or if you're crafty, you could make something like this:

6m Squalo from a lawn chair

What does an old lawn chair have to do with Amateur Radio? Now that I have a 6m rig I need to build an antenna to operate on this band. I was wavering between a Moxon and a Squalo and after a disc…

outbackofbeyond.wordpress.com

 

[mmckenna]

Not too difficult to put together a 6 meter horizontal dipole made out of tubing. Think it's like 4' for each leg.
Or if you're crafty, you could make something like this:

6m Squalo from a lawn chair

What does an old lawn chair have to do with Amateur Radio? Now that I have a 6m rig I need to build an antenna to operate on this band. I was wavering between a Moxon and a Squalo and after a disc…

outbackofbeyond.wordpress.com

I ran a copper pipe dipole on 6 meters for a while. I think the dimensions were closer to 54" per leg, but still short enough that 1/2" copper pipe, some soldered on threaded fittings and a PVC Tee as the center insulator worked just fine. Did quite a few 2-300 mile SSB contacts with that antenna and a ~20 watt radio.

 

[K6GBW]

First, welcome to the whacky world of ham radio! You're gonna have a lot of fun! Second, before you put up antennas I would recommend you get a repeaterbook account and do a search for 2m and 440 repeaters in a 25 & 50 mile radius around you. If you have a lot of 2m and 440 repeaters then start with a simple dual band mobile radio set up as a base station. Use a simple antenna like a Comet GP-1 or GP-3. This set up will get you into many repeaters and lots of simplex stuff like 146.520. You will most likely get many more contacts out of something like this set up and get your feet wet. You can get used to how hams talk on the radio, how nets work and generally get comfortable. This is what most new hams do to get started. After that you may want to venture out into other aspects of the ham world like working DX on 10m and 6m. I say this only because 6m is one of the lesser used bands and it can be weird and wonky. DX is very dependent on the solar cycle and right now it's not likely to give you much.

Be warned though, ham radio can be addicting. You may soon want to upgrade to General and experience the amazing HF bands. There is something about using a 100 radio and a dipole only 20 feet high and being able to talk for hundreds of miles with no repeaters that is just freaking cool!

check out www.repeaterbook.com and give it a whirl if you haven't done so already.

Let us know what you call sign is. With DMR systems it's entirely possible many of us can talk to you on a DMR network or something.

 

[KR4NIV]

First, welcome to the whacky world of ham radio! You're gonna have a lot of fun! Second, before you put up antennas I would recommend you get a repeaterbook account and do a search for 2m and 440 repeaters in a 25 & 50 mile radius around you. If you have a lot of 2m and 440 repeaters then start with a simple dual band mobile radio set up as a base station. Use a simple antenna like a Comet GP-1 or GP-3. This set up will get you into many repeaters and lots of simplex stuff like 146.520. You will most likely get many more contacts out of something like this set up and get your feet wet. You can get used to how hams talk on the radio, how nets work and generally get comfortable. This is what most new hams do to get started. After that you may want to venture out into other aspects of the ham world like working DX on 10m and 6m. I say this only because 6m is one of the lesser used bands and it can be weird and wonky. DX is very dependent on the solar cycle and right now it's not likely to give you much.

Be warned though, ham radio can be addicting. You may soon want to upgrade to General and experience the amazing HF bands. There is something about using a 100 radio and a dipole only 20 feet high and being able to talk for hundreds of miles with no repeaters that is just freaking cool!

check out www.repeaterbook.com and give it a whirl if you haven't done so already.

Let us know what you call sign is. With DMR systems it's entirely possible many of us can talk to you on a DMR network or something.

KR4NIV

Already studying for the general hoping to take that test within the next month or so. Yes I do know for a fact that there are a lot of repeaters in Western North carolina. Thanks for the link on those. I'll check it out. Also thanks for the recommend on the antennas. In another thread I did post more info on that 2 m antenna that I got for free from my neighbor. I might stick that up on a pole and hook it up just to see what it does.

As far as a radio goes, I acquired a Kenwood TS-2000 a couple months ago and I already have it set up on a nice base station setup along with a Radioddity QT60 pro. I really like the TS-2000. Multiple antenna inputs, built in antenna tuner and a mighty fine set of noise filters. I've been listening to nets a lot and getting familiar with how people talk and net etiquette. This is going to be such a fun hobby! I'm pretty good at holding back on buying lots of gear. I'm more into getting a decent setup and use it not so much buying something new just for the jolly of having a new item on the desk. LOL I know a lot of people fall into that trap on all kinds of hobbies.
73

 

[KR4NIV]

I built a simple 6m dipole horizontal antenna yesterday. Total cost was about $35. Copper pipe being the most expensive @ 29.95 for a 10'x1/2" piece!
I set it up on a metal pole stuck in the ground with the antenna about 15' above the ground. Got a decent VNA reading.
I mount it about 3' below my 2m vertical once I order some coax and other supplies.

 

[K6GBW]

Oh here we go! His first steps into the ham addiction of building your own antennas! At first you'll think you have it under control. You'll tell yourself you can stop anytime you want. But then you'll find yourself thinking about the next antenna...and the next. Soon you'll be hiding antenna parts and when someone asks, "is that a new antenna?" You'll tell them, "no...that's the same one." You'll have piles of wire hidden in the garage and you'll look at that kitchen cutting board and you'll see center insulators.

The first step is admitting you have a problem!

That said, there is something especially satisfying about talking on an antenna that you made yourself!

Next step....40m dipole for that dedicated NVIS antenna!

 

[KR4NIV]

Oh here we go! His first steps into the ham addiction of building your own antennas! At first you'll think you have it under control. You'll tell yourself you can stop anytime you want. But then you'll find yourself thinking about the next antenna...and the next. Soon you'll be hiding antenna parts and when someone asks, "is that a new antenna?" You'll tell them, "no...that's the same one." You'll have piles of wire hidden in the garage and you'll look at that kitchen cutting board and you'll see center insulators.

The first step is admitting you have a problem!

That said, there is something especially satisfying about talking on an antenna that you made yourself!

Next step....40m dipole for that dedicated NVIS antenna!

Not the first hobby that's gone that way!! Yes it CAN become a problem!
Over the years I've found a certain modicum of control with GAS. (Gear Acquisition Syndrome.) I did well when I was going through a time of restoring vintage saxophones and 35 mm cameras. Bought just enough gear to have fun fully knowing it was a honeymoon. I still use it all.

You're right. There is and always has been a great satisfaction in DIY projects that you use! No exception here with antennas.
Learning about the physics of antennas and RF is also a joy. I love being able to see how to quantify with numbers what I sort of know intuivively.
The equation 468/f mHz changed my life as a teen when I built my first FM radio dipole antenna. It's still just as much fun!
40m dipole is next.