by Michael Martens | Jun 6, 2012 | Amateur Radio, News
It’s a good thing when two hobbies intersect. Last night our amateur radio club met out at the location where we will be holding our Field Day event to do some planning and logistics. Gary, WD9CPY graciously offered to bring his telescope so we would also have a...
by Michael Martens | Jun 1, 2012 | 6 Meter, Amateur Radio, Antennas, VHF
June is here, and now that the days are getting longer and warmer, my attention turns to VHF propagation, most notably the 6 meter band. Six Meters really starts to heat up in June, just in time for the ARRL’s VHF QSO Party. June marks the opening the...
by Michael Martens | May 26, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, emcomm
On Thursday May 22 a confirmed tornado was sighted within the city limits of the Wausau, WI area. Fortunately the EF-0 tornado only had a five mile path and caused minimal damage and no injuries as it skipped along the countryside. This weather event could have been...
by Michael Martens | May 24, 2012 | News
At KB9VBR J-Pole Antennas we’ve overhauled our website and added a new shopping cart and merchant system. A new merchant system doesn’t sound like a big deal, but for our customers it means faster, easier checkout and increased security and reliability....
by Michael Martens | May 19, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, Antennas, Scanner, UHF, VHF
A common question I get asked is ‘What is the best VHF/UHF amateur radio antenna?’ There’s no simple answer to that question since there’s countless antennas on the market, but in reality, the best amateur radio antenna is the one that works...
by Michael Martens | May 14, 2012 | Amateur Radio, News
This weekend marks the open of the 2012 Dayton Hamvention. The Hamvention is the world’s largest amateur radio exposition and flea market covering hundreds of acres in and around the six buildings of the Hara Arena in Dayton Ohio. This year’s Hamvention is...
by Michael Martens | May 4, 2012 | Amateur Radio, Antennas, emcomm
A very common question that I receive from people inquiring about my antennas is “Does a J-Pole antenna need to be grounded?” Of course there is a very easy answer: no and yes. J-Pole antennas are half wave antennas by design. Actually they are a half wave...
by Michael Martens | Apr 27, 2012 | Amateur Radio, News
April 27 marks the birthday of Samuel F.B. Morse, the inventor of a single-wire telegraph system and co-creator of Morse Code. Thanks to his efforts, communications systems worldwide increased in speed exponentially. Morse still has a visible mark on today’s...
by Michael Martens | Apr 21, 2012 | Amateur Radio, Antennas, UHF, VHF
Most of the instructions and plans you see online for J-Pole antennas often include the admonition to use a choke balun with the antenna. The purpose of the balun is to limit the amount of RF radiation coming back down the feedline and into the radio. Even though...
by Michael Martens | Apr 18, 2012 | Amateur Radio, News
On April 18, 1925 the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) was founded. On the 18th of April the founding event is commemorated with the celebration of World Amateur Radio Day. There are over 700,000 ham radio licensees in the USA and about 2 ½ million worldwide....
Recent Comments