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My understanding is a J pole is a $\frac{1}{2} \lambda$ dipole attached to a $\frac{1}{4} \lambda$ impedance matching element.

How does this dual band work? What acts as the impedance matching element and what is the radiating element? Does the smaller rod act as the impedance match for 2 m and the larger one for 440 MHz with the longest rod acting as the radiating element?

How is a feedline connected to this?

http://ve3elb.ham-radio.ch/2m70cm/ajpole.gif

From http://ve3elb.ham-radio.ch/2m-70cm%20antennas.html#:~:text=ARROW%20ANTENNAS%20DUAL%20BAND%20J%2DPOLE

Mike Waters
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rsn
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  • For the dual-band version, the feedline connects to the 19 1/4" element using a threaded stud adapter thing that has an SO-239 on the bottom and a 3/8" threaded coupling nut on top. Lemme dig up a link for that. I've built a couple of these dual-band units and found the SWR curves very disappointing. –  Aug 26 '20 at 23:15
  • Feedline connection: https://www.americanradiosupply.com/so-239-to-3-8-x-24-thread-stud-antenna-mount-adapter-for-arrow-j-pole/ –  Aug 26 '20 at 23:20
  • my friend is building this dual band J pole for 2 m / 70 cm. Should I just ask him to make a J pole instead? @TylerStone how is the antenna wired to the feedline? Where does the center conductor and the shield go? – rsn Aug 26 '20 at 23:25
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    Instead of what? –  Aug 26 '20 at 23:26
  • @TylerStone updated my comment – rsn Aug 26 '20 at 23:27
  • [W8JI on j-poles](https://www.w8ji.com/end-fed_vertical.htm). Note the common mode on the feedline's shield. – Mike Waters Aug 26 '20 at 23:28
  • Re: feedline; the driven element needs to be threaded at the bottom, and it just screws into the coupling nut part of the adapter I linked. –  Aug 26 '20 at 23:29
  • ...and your coax needs to have a PL-259 attached, and that threads on to the bottom part of the adapter. –  Aug 26 '20 at 23:30
  • It would be my guess (and only a guess) that a single-band J-pole might see a lower SWR across the band than the dual-band version. –  Aug 26 '20 at 23:32
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    @TylerStone for 440 MHz, better to use N connectors. They are waterproof, too. – Mike Waters Aug 26 '20 at 23:36
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    @Mike I am in no way endorsing or recommending these 1930s-era SO-239/PL-259 connectors, but its what Arrow uses on their J-poles and my understanding is that is part of what was asked. –  Aug 26 '20 at 23:44
  • Sorry for all the comments...I'd write up an answer if I felt I could adequately explain the fundamental question - how a J-pole works. –  Aug 26 '20 at 23:46

1 Answers1

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In the J146/440 antenna, on the right:

For 2m, the leftmost and rightmost element form the J-pole, and the center element is too short to matter very much. (It probably adds some inductance, which could explain why the left element seems a little shorter than it should be for 2m).

For 70cm, the center and leftmost element form the J-pole, and the rightmost element, being a little over 2WL long, isn't resonant and doesn't have much of an effect.

It's not super important whether a J-pole is fed at the "long" or the "short" element; since the leftmost (medium length) one is the one that both bands have in common, that's the one that gets fed. The coax center goes to the left rod (which is insulated from the aluminum angle). The coax shield goes to the aluminum angle itself, which the center and right rods are in electrical contact with.

hobbs - KC2G
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