2m/440 Antenna

This is my version of the project first printed in the August 2006 QST. Below is sketch with antenna dimensions. Shown at right are pictures of my version during construction and after it was enclosed in a 3/4 inch PVC pipe. I used 1/2 inch copper pipe for the radiating elements and a nylon spacer for the center. To secure the spacer in place I used a brass machine screw and polyurethane glue. Performance of this antenna is as advertised in the QST article. The SWR stays under 2:1 for all of my repeater operations thus far (I do not yet have a 440 radio to test it on that band). I especially like the size advantage it has over a J-pole as well as its performance and toughness advantages over the 1/4 wave groundplane (made of solid 12AWG wire) I had been using.