CB Radio J-Pole Antenna

How to build a J-pole antenna for the 11 meter CB Radio band. For more information visit http://www.amateurradio.bz/cb_radio_j-pole_antenna.html.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

/25 Comments/by
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25 replies
  1. Cor Blaak
    Cor Blaak says:

    After connecting the coax and SWR is good, fil the gap on the coax
    connection with silliconpaste, so its waterproof and prevents shorts

    Reply
  2. Tom Smith
    Tom Smith says:

    Hi Dave i have watched all your you tube clips and think their brilliant, i
    love them hi, favorite is the J pole antenna for CB, i am a licenced Ham
    G4VVQ, UK amateur, have you thought of doing clip for Doublet antenna, i
    gave one made from 2 pieces of wire, no joins, spacers are about 3 inches,
    goes to ATU with 4 to 1 balun, it’s 115 ft long, that’s as long as i ca get
    it, works on 40 and 80mts, prob on 160 as well, prob all the hf
    bands…Fred g4vvq Nr London.

    Reply
  3. kd4adv
    kd4adv says:

    Did you paint the exposed aluminum section with rustoleum paint to keep out
    the elements? How high did you mount that antenna? That is a Long J-pole CB
    antenna. What kind of wind load resistance does it have?

    Reply
  5. pollock870
    pollock870 says:

    Hi Dave great video I was just curious if I were to make this antenna out
    of copper tube would I use your same lengths for the two sections or would
    I start with the full 18′ for the radiator and 9′ for the short side and
    adjust it from there?

    Reply
  6. Resteman Sebastian
    Resteman Sebastian says:

    hi dave, my name is Sebastian and I am from Romania. I want to ask you
    something: can you give me an example of a cb sky wave antenna? I live in a
    mountainous area in a mountain valley and I operate with an ground wave
    antenna and does not work very well. Thank you in advance and I expect your
    answer (sorry for my bad english)

    Reply
  7. 313inthegarden
    313inthegarden says:

    Very nicely and expertly done video Dave. It shows the true old fashioned
    way on how to make an antenna. Anyone can go out and buy a CB antenna but,
    when YOU can easily instruct John Q. Public on how to make their own
    antenna from scratch will give them 2 life lessons: (1) It gets them on the
    CB radio and most important (2) They will have bragging rights telling
    CB’ers that they built their antenna which can lead to bigger and better
    things, even becoming hams like us! 73, “313” aka KD2AKQ

    Reply
  11. radiozendermerel
    radiozendermerel says:

    hey dave, I was wondering if the distance between the two wires has an
    influence on the hight of the coax feedpoint. This because i’m building
    this antenna but then with wire instead of the ladder line. The distance
    between the wires is about 5cm (2 inches). I was hoping you could tell me
    how high the feedpoint should be with this distance between the wires. Many
    thanks, Nick

    Reply
  12. helvis66
    helvis66 says:

    Thanks for this video. Now all I have to do is convince my girlfriend and
    her landlord to install this antenna. Hey forgiveness is easier to pet that
    permission. Im doing it!

    Reply
  13. 69Markowski
    69Markowski says:

    Would it be possible to make this antenna with twin lead only and install
    it pvc pipe in one piece? No parts made of aluminum..

    Reply
  15. awizardalso
    awizardalso says:

    I wish I had more time to devote to radio and inventions. Now I’m obsessed
    with this low priority mission to launch two mini-video cameras on a
    rocket, and I don’t seem to have much time for that! It might be
    faster/easier to just buy a rocket. I get more satisfaction doing the
    research, experimentation, and then building things myself. Now I’m working
    on a test stand to measure motor thrust! It never ends!

    Reply
  17. Dave Tadlock
    Dave Tadlock says:

    @kd4adv The aluminum does not need to be painted. A 1/2″ plastic or rubber
    cap should be used on the end of the top section. An aluminum antioxidant,
    available in the electrical section of your local home improvement store,
    can be applied to the areas where the tubing is fitted together to avoid
    oxidation between the sections. A wood stiffener should be used in the PVC
    pipe as mentioned in the video to help with wind resistance. More
    construction details are posted on my web site. 73 🙂

    Reply
  18. Dave Tadlock
    Dave Tadlock says:

    @imbadwrench Probably no. The PVC pipes houses the lower part of the
    antenna. The lower part of the antenna also radiates part of the signal and
    transmits the signal through the PVC pipe. The antenna is basically a half
    wave over a quarter wave length and the signal radiates from the very
    bottom edge of the twin lead cable all the way up to the top of the
    antenna. This gives it more gain than a 1/2 wave antenna or a 5/8 wave
    ground plane antenna.

    Reply
  19. TheZeke1974
    TheZeke1974 says:

    Ex CB ops beocome hams are the best kind of hams IMHO. They dont have this
    smugness like the regular hams have, LOL.

    Reply
  21. djtazR6R
    djtazR6R says:

    hi dave, from SANTIAGO DE CHILE, my name is IGNACIO, manufactured your
    antenna and this excellent roe
    The manufacture of PVC 3 piece 3 meters each ….. thanks for the tutorial,
    Greetings

    Reply
  23. hess400
    hess400 says:

    How do I get the best signal if im down in a valley using A uniden 510 ? (
    im using a 96” fiberglass mobile antenna 40 feet off the ground) ?

    Reply

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