The DBJ-1: A VHF-UHF Dual-Band J-Pole
The DBJ-1: A VHF-UHF Dual-Band J-Pole
The DBJ-1: A VHF-UHF Dual-Band J-Pole
dipole because it is end fed; this results in virtually no disruption to the radiation pattern by the feed line.
antenna on my roof since 1992 and it has been problem-free in the San Francisco fog. The basic configuration of the ribbon J-Pole is shown in Figure 1. The dimensions are shown for 2 meters. This design was also discussed by KD6GLF in QST .1 That antenna presented dual-band resonance, operating well at 2 meters but with a 6-7 dB deficit in the horizontal plane at UHF when compared to a dipole. This is attributable to the antenna operating at its third harmonic, with multiple out-ofphase currents. I have tested single-band J-Pole configurations constructed from copper pipe, 450 ladder line, and aluminum rod. While all the designs performed well, each had shortcomings. The copper pipe J-Pole matching section would be exposed to the
1
J. Reynante, KD6GLF, An Easy Dual-Band VHF/UHF Antenna, QST , Sep 1994, pp 6162.
Figure 2This EZNEC plot shows the difference in the radiation patterns between a vertical half-wave radiator operated at its fundamental (146 MHz) and third harmonic (445 MHz). At the fundamental, most of the energy is directed at right angles to the antennaand to distant receivers.
Figure 1Basic diagram and dimensions for the original 2-meter ribbon J-Pole.
to a low feed point impedance suitable for coax feed. This is done with a wave matching stub, shorted at one end and connected to the wave radiators high impedance at its other end. Between the shorted and high impedance ends there is a point that is close to 50 . This is where the feed line is attached.
Figure 3The 2 meter J-Pole modified for both VHF and UHF operation. These measurements are approximate (see text).
air, raising a durability question. The aluminum design would be faced with a similar issue in the salt air of the San Francisco Bay area. I favor the use of 300 twin lead because it is easily obtainable and inexpensive. An advantage of the copper pipe design was an 8 MHz bandwidth about twice that exhibited by the twin lead version. That was expected, since the copper pipe had a much larger diameter than the twin lead elements used in that version. My final decision was to be based on aesthetics, cost and durability...but the antenna had to be a true dual-band design.
The 16 inch matching stub of 300 twin lead works like a wave stub at VHF and a wave stub at UHF with virtually no penalty, except for a slight 0.1 db loss from the extra wavelength of feedline. By experimentation, the 50 point was found to be 1 inches from the shorted end of the stub. Although the impedance at this point is slightly inductive, it is still an excellent match to 50 , with an SWR of approximately 1.3:1. Connected to the open end of the matching stub, the radiating element for UHF is 11 inches long. The stub and radiator are constructed of a single piece of twin lead, separated from the matching stub by a inch notch in one conductor, as shown in Figure 3. The extra wire in the twin lead radiator sections radiates along with the driven wire, creating a thick element that is shorter than its free-space equivalent. To terminate the UHF radiating section, a shorted stub, using RG-174 coaxial cable, is used. As with the input matching stub, the open end presents a high impedance and is connected to the upper end of the UHF radiating section. Note that the stub is only an open-circuit at UHF, acting as a small inductance instead, at VHF. The RG-174 stub connects to the upper section of 300 twin lead and that completes the VHF radiating element. Note that the total length of the UHF and VHF radiating elements plus the coaxial stub do not add up to a full wavelength at VHF because the inductance of the coaxial stub acts to shorten the antenna slightly.
Construction Details
The dimensions given in Figure 3 should be considered a starting point for adjustment, with final tuning requiring an SWR analyzer or bridge. During the antennas construction phase, I started at the feed point (see Figure 3) and after each section was assembled, the input SWR was checked. After the wave VHF matching section is connected to the 11 inch UHF wave section, check the SWR at UHF. Then add the wave UHF shorted RG-174 stub. The stub will require trimming for minimum SWR at UHF. Start with the stub 1015% long and trim the open end for lowest SWR. As a last step, add the 17 inch section of twin lead. Again, this section should be trimmed for the lowest SWR at your frequency of choice in the 2 meter band. To weatherize the antenna, enclose it in inch schedule-200 PVC pipe with end caps. These can be obtained from your local hardware or building supply store. When sliding the antenna into the PVC tubing, I found no need to anchor the antenna once it was inside. [If larger coaxial
From February 2003 QST ARRL
DBJ-1 J-Pole
23.5 dBm +1.2 dB
Table 2 Measured Relative Performance of the Dual-Band Antenna at 445 MHz VHF Wave Mobile VHF Flex Antenna Reference (Rubber Duck)
Received Signal Strength Difference from Reference 38.8 dBm 0 dB 45.3 dBm 6.5 dB
DBJ-1 J-Pole
38.8 dBm 0 dB
cable is used for the stub, it is likely that the top of the antenna will require some glue or foam to hold the antenna in place because of the additional cable weight. Ed .] The 300 twin lead is sufficiently rigid so as not to bend once it is inside the pipe. Install an SO-239 connector in the bottom end cap. Once the antenna is trimmed to the desired operating frequency, glue both end caps and seal around the SO-239 connector. Presto! For a few dollars, youll have a dynamite antenna that should last for years. The antenna should be supported only by the lower 12 inches of the housing to avoid interaction between the matching stub and any nearby metal, such as an antenna or tower. The results from the antenna are excellent considering its simplicity.
Measured Results
Brian Woodson, KE6SVX, helped me make measurements in a large parking lot, approximating a fairly good antenna range, using the Advantest R3361C spectrum analyzer shown in Figure 4. The transmitter was a Yaesu FT-5200 located about 50 yards from the analyzer. The reference antenna consisted of mobile
From February 2003 QST ARRL
wave Motorola ground plane antennas mounted on an NMO connector on the top of my vehicle. The flex antenna (rubber duck) was mounted at the end of 3 feet of coax held at the same elevation as the groundplane without radials. The J-Pole measurements were made with no groundplane and the base held at the same height as the mobile ground plane. Table 1 gives performance measurements at 146 MHz, while Table 2 gives those same measurements at 445 MHz. As can be seen in the UHF results, the DBJ-1 outperforms the standard 2 meter J-Pole by about 6 dB (when used at UHF), a significant difference. The standard 2 meter J-Pole performance is equivalent to a flex antenna at UHF. Also note that there is no significant difference in performance at 2 meters between the DBJ-1 and a standard J-Pole. The flex antenna is about 6 dB below the wave mobile antenna at both VHF and UHF. This agrees well with the previous literature. The completed antenna can be seen mounted to the authors roof in Figure 5. If you do not have the equipment to construct or tune this antenna at both VHF and UHF, the completed antenna is available from the author, tuned to your desired
FEEDBACK
In The DBJ-1: A VHF-UHF Dual-Band J-Pole [Feb 2003, p 40], replace VHF with UHF in the headings of Table 2, columns 1 and 2. Column 3 remains VHF, as it refers to the use of a 2 meter VHF J-Pole on its third harmonic. Also, the area immediately to the left of the RG-174 stub should not be shaded. The decoupling stub is in series with two separate pieces of twinlead. In The DBJ-1: A VHF-UHF Dual-Band J-Pole (Feb 2003, pp 38-40), the length of the RG-174 matching stub should be shortened a bit to get the antenna closer to a 1:1 SWR. Using the formula for line length versus frequency and wavelength, L = (VF984N) / f where L = length (in feet), VF = velocity factor, N = number of wavelengths and f = frequency in MHz