by Michael Martens | Jan 12, 2013 | Amateur Radio, Antennas, UHF, VHF
A common question that I receive is what type of coax cable should I use for my J-Pole antenna. This is a great question, as the coax you select can make a dramatic difference on the performance and range of your antenna system. There is a wide variety and choices of...
by Michael Martens | Oct 21, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, Antennas, slidedeck, VHF
On my site you can find both the all copper 2 meter J-Pole antenna and an all copper 2 meter Slim Jim antenna. Both are great antennas, I don’t have a problem recommending either of them as the foundation for a amateur radio base station. But I often receive...
by Michael Martens | Oct 14, 2012 | 2 meter, Scanner, UHF, VHF
Antenna range is a common question that I receive from ham radio operators and scanner buffs looking to purchase my antennas. I wish there was an easy answer to this question, but unfortunately there are plenty of variables to consider when analyzing what kind of...
by Michael Martens | Sep 25, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, VHF
Daniel, W2GRK of Brooklyn, NY had an APRS packet digipeated during a recent pass of the International Space Station. Reported on Reddit.com: I was able to send an APRS packet off the ISS on 09/22/12 at 03:50 EDT with only 5 watts (a Yaesu VX-170) and a j-pole (The 2...
by Michael Martens | Jun 17, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, Antennas, VHF
I love reader questions and I had a great question this past week that I wanted to share with the rest of my readers. I’ve recommended installing antennas in the attic if you don’t have an adequate location outdoors or if you have to deal with homeowners...
by Michael Martens | Jun 10, 2012 | 2 meter, Amateur Radio, Marine, Railroad, VHF
Here’s a common, and sometimes confusing, question that I get asked: “Do I need to do any special tuning, or need a tuner for my J-Pole antenna?” The easy answer to this question is: No. Now for a little background to the answer. The J-Pole and Slim...
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