I needed to replace my old 2 Meter vertical antenna for the 146 mHz. amateur radio band. The old one had lost its radials and I wasn’t able to hit the various amateur radio repeaters around. So being one who likes to build antennas, here is what I came up with. The Image below shows the materials you will need to build a 2 meter vertical antenna for the 146 mHz. amateur radio band.
Here is the list of parts needed to build a 2 meter vertical antenna:
- 3/4″ PVC pipe – Length to suit
- 3/4″ adapter 8xMPT
- 3/4″THD Dome Cap
- SO-239 connector
- 6ft. 14 GA Romex wire
- qty. 4 4-40 stainless screws
- qty 8 4-40 stainless nuts
- 50 ohm coax Length to suit
An inexpensive and readily available way to get 14 ga. copper wire is to go to the hardware store and buy some Romex wire. The first thing to do is to strip the copper wire out of the Romex wire sheath, then you will see a bare wire, a black and white wire. then strip off the insulation from the black and white wires as well. When you are finished, you should have three bare copper wires 6 ft. in length. 12 GA. wire might have probably been better, as it is bigger and stiffer, but I used what I had on hand. Cut 5 pieces of wire, each 22 in. long.
I then straightened each wire as best I could, but they still weren’t straight. So I laid a piece of wood on the floor a bit longer than the wires, laid one wire on the board, and placed another board on top of the wire. Then I stood on the board and rolled the wire between the boards. This made them pretty straight without any of those annoying little kinks in the wire.
Next, I took the 3/4″ THD Dome Cap and drilled a 5/8″ hole through it. I started out with a 5/32″ drill as a pilot hole, then finished off with a 5/8″ speedbor spade bit.When you are done, it should look like the photo on the left.
i recently obtained my foundation licence and am intrested in making anttenas, i quite like the one here so will be attempting to copy it. i also bought the book simple and fun antenas for hams by chuck hutchinson and the first anttena is very similar to this, so anyway im quite excited to have a go at this. the instructions are easy to understand and after all ham radio is all about experimenting.
thank you for posting this.
Your column is fantastic!
I am new to ham and learning a lot as I go. We live in a very remote area, I want to provide assistance to travellers. I will be building this antenna soon.
Thank you for sharing
Thank you for your kind words. Have a great day!
— Mike WB8ERJ
Hi Mike, thanks for this manual. I will start with the project soon. I want to use the antenna for the 2 meter band and the instructions for the 2 meter band are loud and clear. I often see the 2 meter and the 70 cm bands combined in one antenna. Is that also possible with this design?
Keep up the good work!
regards, Job (Netherlands)
Hello from Netherlands!
Since the 70 cm band is approximately the 3rd harmonic of the 2 meter band it will probably work ok. It is certainly worth a try. If you build this antenna, feel free to post another comment letting me know your results on 70cm.
— Mike WB8ERJ
Already did (25 years ago.. ). It loads fine from a SWR perspective, but it’s no that good because, working in the 3rd armonic, radiation stops being sideways and starts being upwards, making an excellent “sky heater”. This said, I would always carry it in pieces in the trunk of my car and use when possible. Made quite some contacts on both 2m and 70cm
You are correct about the “sky heater” on 70 cm due to the high angle of radiation.
— Mike WB8ERJ
I gotta tell you – thanks for these instructions. I built this antenna this weekend – with hopes of putting it in my attic, as our HOA doesn’t allow for antennas.
I finished it Saturday, and before I could get it in the attic, I temporarily set it up attached to the top of our 5′ fence, so it’s probably about 7′ in the air, largely between two 2-story houses.
With my little 50W mobile, I was able to reach a repeater about 50 miles away, and they had a great copy. I’m hearing repeaters 60-70 miles away clear as day.
I think VHF conditions are prime now, so that helps, but this is an amazing little antenna for the less than $20 I have invested in it.
Thanks for the step by step.
Nice!! Glad it worked out for you.
— Mike WB8ERJ