Next you will need to solder the vertical element of the 2 meter antenna. A helpful tool for this is what is known as a Third Hand, or a helping hand. I believe you can get them on Amazon. If you don’t have one, I suggest you get one. They are very helpful when you are doing such things as soldering.
After you are done soldering, your connector for your 2 meter antenna should look like this:
Then slide the coax through the other end of the pipe and through the adapter. I was using RG-8U coax on my 2 meter antenna, I suggest you do the same. Then take the 3/4″THD Dome Cap and slide on to the end of the SO-239 connector, and connect the coax to the antenna like in the photo below:
As you can see, since I used a screw type PVC connector, it is easy to take it back apart to service the antenna if need be.
After the 2 meter vertical antenna is assembled, bend the radials down 45 degrees. Now its time to trim it into the 2 meter amateur radio band. To do this, I used my workmate to hold the antenna in place. For me, I wanted to tune the antenna for the middle of the 2 meter band. Usually there is enough bandwidth for the antenna to cover almost the entire 2 meter band.
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