Ed Fong GMRS J-Pole Antenna

Overview of the Ed Fong GMRS J-Pole antenna kit.
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[@EverydayATV]

Update: I reached out to Ed Fong and Ed recommended that if you have the antenna in the same room, that the radio should transmit no more than 5 watts. Anything higher than that and the antenna should be in a different location and that with a 50 watt radio, the antenna must be located outside. Also I misstated….it is a +5dB gain antenna, not a +3dB gain as I stated in the video.

[@ml.2770]

You don't need to worry about a j-pole getting struck by lightning. That is the main benefit of the design, no ground plane required, the j-pole is a dc short circuit that won't build up charge at a point to attract a lightning strike.

[@kidvision564]

Good no nonsense straight to the point content

[@jbates1463]

Edison makes a darn good antenna. I have been using them for years!. Thanks for sharing.

[@centralfloridagmrs]

A great Antenna. We use it on our Central Florida GMRS System

[@EverydayATV]

Great to hear that other people are loving this antenna too 👍 Checking out your videos too. Thanks for commenting and for watching.

[@jaybarr3307]

I have the same antenna in my attic. I use an HT into an amplifier that pulls it up to about 37W. Works like a champ, as does my Ed Fong j-pole for 2m/70cm which is connected to a 50W radio and is also mounted in the attic. Great antennas for sure.

[@EverydayATV]

Good to hear 👍. Mine’s going in the attic soon so that I can run my GMRS at the full 20 watts without worrying that it’s 6’ away from me. Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@6.5_shooter48]

Do you have a link to the amplifier?

[@johnthomas3897]

I’d like to get this but found my attic has the metallic lined insulation. Not sure how well it would work in the attic now

[@jaybarr3307]

@@6.5_shooter48 I bought it used off of QRZ sometime back. Has an odd brand name and I was unable to find anything online about it. I do know there's versions of 'em (separate ones for UHF/GMRS and VHF/Ham) available on Amazon. Think they were a bit pricey, over $100, if I recall. I paid $50 for the used one.

[@brink788able]

Must be great. Sadly not available in de EU, and the risk of a alibabba antenne from Amazon if you chose to go there :(

[@DePalma.]

Your ERP with 20w in, 10’ of rg58 & antenna gain of 3.85dBd = 38.6w 😎

[@keithd.glasgow809]

A PL259 female is an SO239

[@EverydayATV]

Ah yes you are correct. It’s all coming back to me from the old CB days. Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@worldwide_wes]

Which is really dumb and confusing!

[@humaxf1]

PL= plug SO= socket

[@worldwide_wes]

@@humaxf1 ahhh

[@EverydayATV]

@@humaxf1 thanks, makes total sense now. Never knew that and it’s an easy way to remember that from now on 👍 Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@johnpelszynski6646]

PL 239 DUDE. RG 8X DUDE.

[@markg3913]

Is the antenna safe to be around being you're transmitting from the same room as the antenna is in? I want one for my attic but from what I'm reading people say to make sure it's not close to people when transmitting from indoor antennas. Thanks.

[@EverydayATV]

Great question and you know, I never really gave it any thought. When you’re on a portable GMRS radio, you’ve got 4-5 watts coming out right next to your head. The Radioddity mobile that I use as my base is a 20 watt and the antenna is about 6’ away from where I sit at my desk. 99% of the time I am just listening unless it’s my turn to host our weekly Net. Then I’m transmitting off and on for about a half hour. If I had a 50 watt radio indoors, I would definitely not have the antenna in the same room. I’ve heard of a lot of people putting them in their attic. I will reach out to Ed Fong with your question and let you know what he says. Thanks for commenting and watching.

[@markg3913]

@@EverydayATV Thanks for your quick response. Yes with a 50 watt base station I definitely would create some space between the antenna and people that may be close to it. Not sure how a 20watt radio would affect a person near the antenna. Hopefully we can get a definitive answer. I just want people to be safe while enjoying GMRS or HAM communications.

[@EverydayATV]

@@markg3913 I received a response back from Ed Fong. He said that for any radio that is over 5 watts, he suggests that the antenna not be in the same room and for a 50 watt radio, it definitely needs to be outside. Looks like I will be moving mine to either the attic or outside.

[@TheHsan22]

Uggg. Yes put the antenna outside, better for you , and antenna performance.

[@mitchh6702]

What kind of coax can I use on one of those? Want one in my attic too! Are you reaching the repeater?

[@EverydayATV]

Here is the coax I’m using. MPD Digital... www.amazon.com/dp/B00TC0OBB8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share Yes I can hit my local repeater without a problem but I can also hit it with my HT with my rubber duck antenna, as the repeater is only 4 miles from me.

[@mitchh6702]

​@@EverydayATV thanks for the reply! I am replicating what you have going on there! I really appreciate your GMRS posts. Very helpful and educational!

[@buz375]

So 239 connecter

[@DePalma.]

I think that this antenna has a 6dBi gain (3.85 dBd)😋

[@lanzecki]

PL259 is goo up to 100Mhz. I thought GMRS was around 430Mhz? en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UHF_connector

[@EverydayATV]

GMRS is 462 Mhz (467 Mhz when transmitting to a repeater). The antenna socket on the backs of GMRS mobile radios are SO239’s, so you have to use a PL259 connector. .

[@WW5RM]

RF exposure! Put it outside!

[@EverydayATV]

Already put it in the attic, thanks. In the meantime I was only running the radio at 4 watts. No worse than my handheld with the antenna next to my head.

[@bulldogbrower6732]

Antennas like that are made to be placed on the roof or outside. You are endangering yourself or other family members by transmitting so close to your head. The FCC doesn’t require any testing for the GMRS license, perhaps they should.

[@EverydayATV]

You are absolutely correct. I pinned an updated comment a month ago after talking with Ed Fong regarding the placement of the antenna for different GMRS power levels. Until I can get the antenna outside, the radio is now set to 4 watts and used mostly for listening. I use my Wouxun Kg-935G HT the majority of the time. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@joshuamorin2762]

Cell network and WiFi is more likely to harm you. That being said, yes having it away from you is definitely wise lol

[@greenyonline]

You probably have aluminum foil in the kitchen. Just make hats! 😆😆😉😉

[@jaybarr3307]

My attic installation means it is always at least one floor and 30' from any person. I run about 30W into it and have no qualms.

[@kidvision564]

Yes. And have you measured all the wifi and 4g5gcell phone network radiation in your house? And your neighbors wifi signal in your house 24/7?