Flower Pot Dual band Antenna

Home brew dual band ham radio antenna

[@W5NEH]

This was the easiest to follow instruction video I have found for this antenna yet. Was able to build it with extra stuff laying around on a lazy Sunday. Lost nothing, gained a well working antenna and some knowledge. Thank you sir

[@mikemcdonald7441]

Great to hear!

[@LU7ACN]

Nice one Mike, I am going to make one myself soon. Thanks. 73.

[@timothysexton6800]

I’m going to try this myself a see how it goes. Thanks for your advice and demonstration

[@Scif64]

great idea Mike, i live in compromised location with no outdoor antennas permitted and i was thinking of making 450 ladder line slim jims, but this look like a good idea also for me situation. 73s

[@mikemcdonald7441]

the thing about this one is you can paint it to look like a plant if you want!

[@drewby4563]

Yeah I used the same thing 's & it came out perfect ...but with the shrink wrap it made it waterproof but heavy as well...

[@peterwilliams5597]

I made one of these a few years ago It tunes well and works well mounted above the roof line on my house. The only downside is that the pipe wall is thin and it does flex in the wind. This causes the SWR to move during operation.

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

Maybe it would be an idea to put a cane or dowel rod in the centre to give the pipe a bit more rigidity? I don't think it would alter the operation of the antenna.

[@MarblePawn]

After placing the foil tape, you can press against it with the sharpie to smooth it out.

[@reidlanham2011]

Great video!

[@mikemcdonald7441]

Thanks!

[@johncranford2891]

good job !

[@washingtonstatepicker3460]

Very nicely done! I am confused at how the fold does anything without being connected to the coax?

[@mikemcdonald7441]

From what I understand it acts like a choke.

[@lordcondio1036]

Thank you for your fantastic and easy to follow video. Weekend project for me. 73 MM7EIZ

[@nativetexan9776]

I have a question. What does it look like when it is finished? Some have never seen a flower pot antenna. I see no flower pot.

[@mikemcdonald7441]

I left mine as you see them. Others I have seen Alsace places them in pots and disguised them as plants.

[@donparriott7113]

Why is the lower part shorter than the upper part and how did you know how much shorter? How did you determine 9 turns in the coil?

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

I believe the lower section is shorter to take into account the velocity factor of the radiowave in the coax. 9 turns in the resonant choke is chosen for a frequency of about 135Mhz - just below the band of use (it is an inductor).

[@kersht55]

Does the 14 gauge wire need to be solid core or will stranded wire work?

[@mikemcdonald7441]

I used stranded wire on mine.

[@naldrus6418]

Can you use that or put that on the roof for long use?... And how many watts can It handle... Sorry for my english am an Asian guy

[@peterwilliams5597]

I am pushing 25 watts thru mine (mount on the roof ... but the SWR moves about if the wind flex’s the pipe.

[@LunaErosStudios]

There is no way that it 1" pipe. It looks like 2". The paper you got the plans from says 1" (25mm) but 1" is about the length of the end of your pointer finger and that pipe looks to be double that. I really hope you did use 2" and got those results because I just happen to have a 4' long 2" pvc pipe I want to use to make this since I just got an old Kenwood TR-7800 in mint condition I want to use it on. Plus I could use it on my dual band HT as well.

[@mikemcdonald7441]

It is actually one inch pipe.

[@Mike-jy7yp]

Are these measurements for the USA band plan 146 to 148

[@mikemcdonald7441]

Yes they are.

[@GaryNaese]

Why wouldn't you just use the center conductor of the RG58 antenna cable measured out o the proper length instead of soldering a piece of 14 ga wire in? it would seem to me one less joint to possibly fail. Just curious.

[@mikemcdonald7441]

I guess you could I haven’t tried that way but it would be interesting to see.

[@G_W_B]

It turns out a vertical dipole for 144 MHz and a dipole for 433 MHz. However, there are doubts that the aluminum foil should be closed around the circumference?! If it is not closed, then it will not have a shielding property.

[@mikemcdonald7441]

Mine worked well closed, I am not sure about being open but it would be worth a try.

[@s1d3ll18]

Could this be used as a triband 146, 223, 446

[@mikemcdonald7441]

I have not tried a tri-band as all my radios are dual band. Give it a shot!

[@user-pc5hz5zu2e]

tyg

[@flpirate4565]

I don't see the flower pot?.

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

The name originally comes from the designer 'hiding' the antenna in a flowerpot so at to not annoy the neighbours.

[@stevesmyth4982]

LOL @ 4:00 get a guard for it!

[@mikemcdonald7441]

Yeah no doubt right?

[@Mike-jy7yp]

6 turns will get you rested at 1:46.000 MHz not 9 turns

[@buddhistsympathizer1136]

The resonant choke is tuned to 135Mhz (or so)

[@dwaynetruett3768]

Wtf is 17.99" I'm a machinist never heard of this is that 17.63/64 humm jest asking

[@timothysexton6800]

Just say 18 inches and don’t worry about it