Need some advice

[W5LZ]

About keeping that 'J'-pole away from things, in the clear.
It isn't just a 'J'-pole that benefits from that, but all antennas. The 'classic' radiation patterns are for antennas not close to things which can affect how it radiates. May not be much, or a noticeable difference in that pattern, but it is affected. So is the input impedance of an antenna, which can make a difference in what you hear, and how people hear you.
You've already made the biggest 'jump' in performance, so if the thing were moved outside the differences won't be as 'huge' as what you've already seen. But, there really would be some differences.
Good for you!
- 'Doc

(At VHF/UHF, higher IS better.)

 

[CDX-007]

Hey Adam,
I wonder if he thought you were asking to erect a 20' CB antenna and bleed all over everyone's toaster ovens?

Maybe if you were to show him that itty-bitty J-pole with the explanation that it is nowhere near CB frequencies and does not affect any TVs, stereos, etc.. maybe, if you talked real nice, he might give you a thumbs up...???

Maybe worth a try?

 

[Master Chief]

J-Pole Antennas

You didn't state if you lived on a second floor or if you have a balcony.

You could buy a wood or plastic trellis, put it outside, and hide a roll-up j-pole in it. Buy some fake plants to decorate/camouflage.

 

[KC9NTO]

J-Pole Antennas

You didn't state if you lived on a second floor or if you have a balcony.

You could buy a wood or plastic trellis, put it outside, and hide a roll-up j-pole in it. Buy some fake plants to decorate/camouflage.

I do live on the second floor, but our apartment doesn't have a balcony.

Right now I've got the antenna towards one corner of the room. So far I haven't had any problems with it being there; I'm able to hear things even my scanner antenna can't pick up and I'm definitely able to hit all the area repeaters (and a few that aren't quite in the local area) without any problems.

 

[KC9NTO]

Hey Adam,
I wonder if he thought you were asking to erect a 20' CB antenna and bleed all over everyone's toaster ovens?

Maybe if you were to show him that itty-bitty J-pole with the explanation that it is nowhere near CB frequencies and does not affect any TVs, stereos, etc.. maybe, if you talked real nice, he might give you a thumbs up...???

Maybe worth a try?

With my landlord there's not a chance in hell of him giving a thumb or two up, no matter how much I'd sweet talk him. :thumbdown: .

Oh well, like I said in the post right above this one, I'm getting pretty good performance with it where I have it for the time being.

 

[CDX-007]

Adam, I'm glad you're able to at least enjoy the hobby, even if you aren't busting S-meters.

I used to live in Reno, in the inside corner apartment of the bottom floor of a 3 story quad complex, and the only open side faced another 3 story complex and the Sierra Nevada mountain range so HF was a total cluster f, uh, a non-possibility for me, and did I ever hate it.

Fortunately, Reno is bowl shaped and I would often drive up to the top of the hill nearby and enjoy the view of the lights of the city & casinos while enjoying the performance of the Imax 2K when I spent the 5 minutes it took to set it up alongside the car.

I typically trickled in everywhere in town with a measly 50 over 9... Three group31 batteries & that 667-V mobile amp also seemed to help a bit.

Got cold up there in the Winter though.