JPole Antenna Reception

[jred184]

I have a JPole tuned for 146 MHz mounted on a 30' telescoping mast and live in North easetern Tate Co, right at the Tate/Desoto lines (where the red dot is in the picture).

At the moment, I am able to pick up the areas in green.

Is this what I should expect to be getting?


Thanks,
JRed

 

[DaveH]

Some kind of distance scale would help. Yes, I can see the state and counties but how far out do you actually hear? Your surrounding terrain and obstructions, your height above it etc. will all impact range. If you have a good clear shot to the horizon, you can actually hear a bit beyond due to bending (K factor).

The J antenna (its proper name) has a good low angle of radiation and it looks reasonable. Main point is if you're happy with it.

 

[jred184]

Does this help?

 

[Al42]

Is this what I should expect to be getting?

Unless your antenna is pretty high up you shouldn't be getting as much as you are.

 

[kb5udf]

50 mi radius looks pretty good...

I'd say you're doing just fine, considering the modest antenna gain and height, assuming you're hearing/talking to repeaters.

If it's simplex...man that's some receiver

 

[kb2vxa]

Hi JRed and all,

I would say that's pretty good for a J-pole at 30' on the average. I would expect a range of about 15-20 miles over flat terrain using FM simplex to a similarly equipped station using the normal 50W. The somewhat more gain of my tri-bander at the same elevation gives solid copy over the flat terrain of central and southern NJ with a few more miles at the fringe talking with the average ham.

Now when repeaters come into play being most are in great locations I'm all over the state with the exception of behind the mountains to the north and most of Long Island is full scale. I would expect the same for you, especially with one like we have near Trenton the state capitol. There's nothing like having an antenna at the 900' level of a 1,000' TV tower. (;->)

For reference check a map, I'm at the mouth of the Manasquan River, the border of Ocean and Monmouth counties.