Homebrew Portable 2-Meter Antenna Project

[W6SAE]

I recently built an antenna that I think would be of interest to others, especially new hams who are looking for an easy-to-build first project. Simply put, it's a 5/8-wavelength vertical telescopic whip with four 1/4-wave telescopic whips serving as a ground plane at the base. I found the plans on Page 32 of VERTICAL ANTENNA CLASSICS (published by ARRL). My intention is to use it during SOTA activations.

There is more detailed information posted in my blog:
http://callingfrequency.blogspot.com/2016/04/my-first-homebrew.html
http://callingfrequency.blogspot.com/2016/04/my-first-homebrew-in-action.html

 

[NDRADIONUT]

HOW S THE SWR ??

 

[teufler]

should be adjustable for a flat swr.

 

[W6SAE]

HOW S THE SWR ??

I haven't checked that yet. I hope to have an SWR meter soon.

 

[krokus]

A little anti-seize could be useful, to prevent corrosion issues

Sent via Tapatalk

 

[majoco]

A 5/8 wavelength whip requires a matching coil or other tuning device to match into 50ohm coax.

Just make a quarter wave centre section - works just as well.

 

[nd5y]

A 5/8 wavelength whip requires a matching coil or other tuning device to match into 50ohm coax.

It looks like he is using a Smiley 5/8 wave antenna. The shrink wrapped spring is a matching coil.

 

[W6SAE]

It looks like he is using a Smiley 5/8 wave antenna. The shrink wrapped spring is a matching coil.

As mentioned in the blog post, it's a Diamond RH-205 base-loaded; the coil is inside the shrink tubing.

This antenna is meant for portability, to go into a pack and be used for light duty like a SOTA activation.

 

[W6SAE]

A little anti-seize could be useful, to prevent corrosion issues

Sent via Tapatalk

Would this be for the telescoping sections?

 

[nd5y]

As mentioned in the blog post, it's a Diamond RH-205 base-loaded; the coil is inside the shrink tubing.

I didn't read it, I just looked at the picture and thought it was one of these: Super Stick II 2 Meter.
They are probably the same. I didn't know Diamond made them but I bought a Smiley about 30 years ago.

 

[W6SAE]

I didn't read it, I just looked at the picture and thought it was one of these: Super Stick II 2 Meter.
They are probably the same. I didn't know Diamond made them but I bought a Smiley about 30 years ago.

They do look quite similar.

 

[W6SAE]

I conducted a brief test of the antenna yesterday. With it on the ground in my backyard, and with several two-story structures nearby to the north and south, I was able to hit a repeater almost 69 miles away to the south-southeast with a favorable signal report. I also logged a simplex contact 56 miles to the northeast.

 

[W6SAE]

Update: SWR Results

I tested the antenna at 5 watts with my Yaesu VX-6R, which my usual setup for SOTA activations. I tested it on a range of FM simplex frequencies, with the SWR ranging from a low of 1.2:1 at 146.415 to 1.5:1 at 147.585.

 

[W6SAE]

Update

My longest contact so far (SOTA) with the antenna is 122 miles--Vallejo to Forest Ranch, California (northeast of Chico) on 146.520 MHz FM. It's been getting good signal reports.