You could solder just a corner of the connector to the pipe but I would suggest soldering the coax onto the antenna itself.
It is important to use an SWR or an analizer (ask the guys in your local club) to help you tune the antenna. We spent over two hours, cutiing the antenna and adjusting the coax placement for a perfect SWR ratio.
So to answer your question about how the coax was attached, as mentioned in my first sentence, I slodered them directly onto the antenna.
We made a nice choke using a few turns with the coax and noticed that even the position of that in relation to the J-Pole, the SWR ratio varied.
I will see if I have photos of the soldered connection.
The J-Pole is a great, cheap, simple and mauntenance free antenna, the difficulty you will face is aligning everything and being able to solder the parts togeather without melting the solder on another joint. I was using a propane torch and had to be careful, I do have have soldering and welding experience so that helped.
One of the disadvantages of soldering the coax to the feed points is the fact that you can melt the soler on the joints. You will also melt the coax too by that time. I made a simple jig and everything went OK.
If you need anymore info let me know but many examples and pics are on the net as well.
73
Trprc, so right on all of your last post. My complaint with these soldered jpoles is that you dont have to solder a thing in the first place. This whole deal has taken off over the years to the point of being ridiculous. I guess I am gonna have to draw, build and photograph a project and send it to the group files on how to build a solderless jpole for cheaper money. Also, you dont have to solder the coax on if you use hose clamps on each side of the feedpoint. Just weatherproof the whole assembly well.
I have built ground plane antennas for 2 meters and 440 mHz from old coathangers, and they perform just as good as a jpole built for much more money. How about a 50 cent 2 meter groundplane? A scrap of PVC pipe, some wire, and a few plastic cable ties? Weighs about 1/2 a pound, can be attached to a mast with duct tape, will last for years.
How about a jpole made out of old curtain rods? The rods are cheap steel and rust easily, so all you do is buy a can of rustoleum spray and zap it good after you finish. So what if it rusts up too much after 10 years? Anyway, every ham should have a couple of cans of rustoleum on the shelf.
It seems to me that there is a trend toward lock step building. I mean by that to say that some folks get the idea that if it isn't done like on the internet it won't work. Well, all I can say is that if you think like that just remember that you are making yourself poorer and Home Depot richer.
Just get in touch with me off the group and I'll give you plenty of simple ideas for antennas. Antennas are my obsession. All my antennas are homebrew, and I have worked the world with 25 watts. Email olekeykollekter at yahoo dot com and put antennas in your subject line.
73 Wu