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Building antennas
February 12, 2020 - 13:07
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Courtesy photo by Isaiah Silcox Members of the Grimes County Amateur Radio Group proudly display their homemade J-pole antennas made Sat., Feb. 8, 2020, as part of ongoing training. The event was held in member Steve Austin’s hanger at the Navasota Municipal Airport.
Courtesy photo by Deborah Richardson Cutting, measuring and soldering lengths of copper pipe is needed to create a J-pole antenna, first conceived in 1909 for Zeppelin airships. They would reel them out while in the air and quickly retract them for landing. Their design and portability are why J-poles are still popular.
On Saturday, Feb. 8, a group of amateur radio operators, as part of their training, built their own J-Pole antennas using items purchased at a hardware store. The antenna type was first conceived in 1909 for Zeppelin airships. The workshop was held at the Navasota Municipal Airport, in member Steve Austin’s hanger and sponsored by the Grimes County Amateur Radio Group. After completion, handheld radios attached to the antennas, were able to contact repeaters in Washington and Burleson Counties.