Hello Nigel,

Thursday October 09 2025 00:35, you wrote to All:

What would be some good options for an extranal antenna that I can put
in my attic or on the roof to get better distance?

Have you ever heard of the Ventenna? It's an antenna that slides over your bathroom vent if you have one.

Have you tried making a J-pole? They're easy to make and can really extend your reach on 2 meter. I have one my dad made back in 2004 for me that works amazing even with a giant hill blocking many of my northern repeaters.

Also, I remember using a linear amplifer back in the CB days. Is such
a thing possible with HT devices?

Absolutely. I've seen a Tokyo Hi-Power amp made in the 80s that put out 300W from 5W input.

Getting a desktop HAM radio isn't really an option right now so I'm
trying to make the most of what I have.

I have a 2-meter mobile, a Motorola UHF mobile programmed for GMRS and local 440 repeaters, and a 220mhz (1.25m) mobile--our club is putting up a 220 repeater--sitting on my desk. All work but I need more power supplies. XD

73 DE KS4TD/WSBW961,
Sean

... "Wealth is not his that has it but his that enjoys it." - B. Franklin
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Re: Options for HT radio antenna?
By: Sean Dennis to Nigel Reed on Thu Oct 09 2025 18:25:51

Have you ever heard of the Ventenna? It's an antenna that slides over your bathroom vent if you have one.

Can't say I have and I'm not sure my wife would go for that so I'm going to have to scrap that idea.

Have you tried making a J-pole? They're easy to make and can really extend your reach on 2 meter. I have one my dad made back in 2004 for me that works amazing even with a giant hill blocking many of my northern repeaters.

I've not tried making any type of antenna yet. Just watched a video and it seems pretty easy. Almost half way to making a trombone :) The guy said he was reaching 50 miles with 5-7w so certainly interesting. I don't have any copper pipe tho but I'm sure I can find some.

Absolutely. I've seen a Tokyo Hi-Power amp made in the 80s that put out 300W from 5W input.

Also a good option but I would definitely want to have an SWR meter check before hooking something like that up. I used to have one back in England in my CB days but I'm sure it disappeared when I moved to the US.

I have a 2-meter mobile, a Motorola UHF mobile programmed for GMRS and local 440 repeaters, and a 220mhz (1.25m) mobile--our club is putting up a 220 repeater--sitting on my desk. All work but I need more power supplies. XD

My local club has a 70cm and 2m repeater along with a couple of DStar repeaters.

I did look at some mobile setup that I could sit on my desk. Amazon have them for about $150 which doesn't seem to bad but I figure if I'm going to take up more desk space, I should probably go for something with more bands since I have a general license. I wouldn't mind getting my extra so I don't have to worry as much about which bands I can and cannot use but that's not top priority right now.
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Re: Options for HT radio antenna?
By: Sean Dennis to Nigel Reed on Thu Oct 09 2025 18:25:51

Can't say I have and I'm not sure my wife would go for that so I'm going to have to scrap that idea.

I've not tried making any type of antenna yet. Just watched a video and it seems pretty easy. Almost half way to making a trombone :) The guy said he was reaching 50 miles with 5-7w so certainly interesting. I don't have any copper pipe tho but I'm sure I can find some.

Also a good option but I would definitely want to have an SWR meter check before hooking something like that up. I used to have one back in England in my CB days but I'm sure it disappeared when I moved to the US.

My local club has a 70cm and 2m repeater along with a couple of DStar repeaters.

I did look at some mobile setup that I could sit on my desk. Amazon have them for about $150 which doesn't seem to bad but I figure if I'm going to take up more desk space, I should probably go for something with more bands since I have a general license. I wouldn't mind getting my extra so I don't have to worry as much about which bands I can and cannot use but that's not top priority right now.
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Speaking of J-Pole Antenna.
Mine is a piece of 300 ohm twinline which is long enuf for Two Meters Band.
One side of the twinlead is cut to make it appear as a J-Pole.
The reinlead is enclosed in a piece of plastic tubing which has a endcap on the top.
The tubing is slightly longer than the twinlead. I allowed the extra length to allow the end to go in a piece of metal thai I turned on a lathe at work so it would fit inside the top of the mast my 2M Beam is mounted on.

On the plastic tubing (pipe) I drilled a hole to put the coax feed line just above the top of the metal mast the beam is mounted on.

Hth.
Ed
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Re: Options for HT radio antenna?
By: Nigel Reed to Sean Dennis on Thu Oct 09 2025 18:29:07

I wouldn't mind getting my extra so I don't have to worry as much about which bands I can and cannot use...

Shouldn't you already know that since it's covered on the exam? However, there are bandplan charts online you can print out and keep in your shack.
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LOL. This came to my BBS with the exciting subject of : z

What this a Typo or are there Gremlins at work?

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Re: Re: z
By: Rug Rat to Mortar M. on Sat Oct 18 2025 13:06:49

LOL. This came to my BBS with the exciting subject of : z

I think you're bugged. Came to my BBS as Re: SDR.
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Re: Re: z
By: Nigel Reed to Rug Rat on Sun Oct 19 2025 00:12:57

LOL. This came to my BBS with the exciting subject of : z

I think you're bugged. Came to my BBS as Re: SDR.

Oh I stand corrected, I see one from him that has a subject of z.
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Re: z
By: Mortar M. to Nigel Reed on Sat Oct 18 2025 12:16:42

I wouldn't mind getting my extra so I don't have to worry as much about which bands I can and cannot use...

Shouldn't you already know that since it's covered on the exam? However, there are bandplan charts online you can print out and keep in your shack.

I bet there's stuff you learned 8 years ago that you've never used and forgotten.
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On Sun 19-Oct-2025 1:29a, Nigel Reed@1:124/5016.0 said to Mortar M.:

I bet there's stuff you learned 8 years ago that you've never used and forgotten.

I forgot it all the second I learned I passed the exam!
The VE's even asked if I wanted a print out of the questons I got incorrect so I could study those..

"NO!!! I passed! I'm doing a brain dump the second I walk out this door!"



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Re: Re: z
By: Rug Rat to Nigel Reed on Mon Oct 20 2025 22:07:45

I forgot it all the second I learned I passed the exam!
The VE's even asked if I wanted a print out of the questons I got incorrect so I could study those..

"NO!!! I passed! I'm doing a brain dump the second I walk out this door!"

I'm pretty sure I scraped by the general. I attempted the extra while I was there but bombed. I am at the age when it's hard to study and retain that much information. It was easier 40 years ago.
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Re: Re: z
By: Rug Rat to Mortar M. on Sat Oct 18 2025 13:06:49

LOL. This came to my BBS with the exciting subject of : z
What this a Typo or are there Gremlins at work?

Beats me. Maybe I was asleep at thee keyboard.
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