The Best J-Pole Antenna? Ed Fong, N9TAX, Nelson, Radiowavz

Ed Fong recommended a new approach to testing these J-Pole antennas. Here is the result!

FInd these antennas here:

📻 Support Ham Radio Crash Course Content 📻
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

★ FOLLOW ME HERE ★
📨 Physical Mail...........►Josh Nass P.O Box 5101 Cerritos, CA 90703-5101

Music by Sonic D:

#HRCC #hamradio #amateurradio

[ToolFan]

Crazy timing for me. I just got into HAM, just got my Tech license, and was searching for an antenna when I stumbled across Ed Fong's J-Pole. I called to order and was surprised when Ed himself picked up. For the next 25 minutes we talked about all kinds of radio stuff and even current events and his teaching position that he still has after 40 years. Great guy! Oh, and my order went out the next day! I should have it tomorrow.

[skppr]

I actually use Ed's antenna exclusively. Partly because when i asked a question way back when i first started in amateur radio he called me and shared great wisdom with me unprompted. I tend.to gravitate to those that like me, "leave no one behind". So even though there are likely some great antennas out there - for the ranges it supports - Ed's antenna will forever be my antenna for his passion in sharing his talents and secondly it works perfectly all the time.

Thank you for sharing your results.

[plemieux]

I have the N9TAX version. Love it. I made a 600 mile FT8 contact on 2m using 10w and my Icom 705. Nuts!!

[Aimsport-video]

A Dr. Ed Fong livestream is a must watch. Thanks for the all the work you put in to videos like this.

[pigman]

N9TAX build quality is by far the most robust if been able to find. That man knows how to build them to withstand heavy field use.

[davidg]

Should be a good livestream! We had Ed at one of our club meetings and he is a wealth of great info. I also have a few of his and a N9TAX as well. My Ed Fong Tri-Band is my main UHF/VHF at the house and it works great on all 3 bands.

[NickFrom]

I've been quite happy with my Ed Fong antenna. Had a few emails with Ed and he was quite helpful and overall a very personable guy. Glad to see some real world comparisons.

[LifeAtTerminalVelocity]

I love real world tests instead of laboratory claims. Thanks for the matchup Josh.

[floydteter]

Great video - thanks for putting this together. And you're spot on - Mr. Fong is a great guy and very knowledgeable. A few years back, I ran a similar test to yours: Tried both the Ed Fong antenna and the N9TAX antenna. Hung 30 feet in the air from a horizontal tree branch. Encountered similar results: the Ed Fong was just a touch better on 2M, but the N9TAX was substantially better on 70 cm. Living in a suburban setting, the 70 cm performance was the deciding factor for me.

[norrinradd]

Solid test. Dr. Fong is a great guy. Can't wait to see him on the live stream.

[brandonporter]

It's actually pretty amazing what you can do with these J-poles and a really good deployment. There is a teacher at a local high school who wants to get the kids involved in ham radio, but they've been having trouble making contact because all they have is a Baofeng HT. So, I conducted an experiment of my own this past weekend while I was out at the high school for an astronomy night to show them what could be possible. I took my Ed Fong J-pole and attached it to a fiberglass pole and sat on top of the high school football stadium bleachers. I'm sure the metal structure made an excellent ground plane. I was using my Anytone AT-878UV II Plus on 5W and I hit our club repeater, which was almost 20 miles away. I talked to a guy on nearly the complete opposite side of the repeater at his QTH who was probably another 20 miles away. He said I was clear as a bell with only a little static. I had probably 60' of elevation and the repeater antenna is 100'. No idea what elevation the guys QTH is. Just being able to hit the repeater with only 5W and have nearly crystal clear audio both directions was pretty incredible for me.

[NTAX]

Saw the last video. I do like the methodology that Ed suggested for testing better. I am not sure what to make of the differences in tune with height. In my own testing getting them away from the ground improved the match. Are you sure that the antennas were not getting closer to the pole when higher up? I have found that while metal and carbon fiber do affect the antennas more. All materials affect them to some degree. Anyway, great video and what seems like a fair test of some great antennas. Incidentally my choice of heavier ladder wire was not only for durability. I also felt that since Ed was already making a very lightweight antenna I would offer something different. I feel like there is room for all of us in this business and did not want to compete directly with his product.

73, Joe N9TAX

[GentiluomoStraniero]

Thank you for running these tests and showing us data we can easily digest. I opted for Ed Fong antenna because it is compact and i support local suppliers. His j pole antenna has worked well for me and as with any antenna, placement will have an impact. Keep up the good work!

[HOAHamRadio]

I always appreciate your approach to gathering empirical data for decision making. Looking forward to the follow up as I have the Ed Fong J-Pole in my Go Bag.

[hypnosiscenternyc]

Thanks ... I ordered an Ed fong antenna right after watching your video From Ed Fong himself. Talk about quick service .. In less than 2 hours Ed had it in the mail ... Faster than Amazon... And included some nice correspondence emails regarding using it .

Always appreciate your vids. Thanks

[vaelenorg]

I love these comparison videos. Very, very helpful, thanks!

[UDXPalmSprings-yhmv]

In the early 30's my Father (SK) amateur extra class, enlisted in the U.S.Navy's ZP-12 Squadron (lighter than air "blimps") and said that J-poles were designed specifically for blimps at the time and were mounted horizontally behind the Gondola and weren't the greatest performing antenna but worked well in the application.

[Zyn]

I love my N9TAX J-pole for my 2m/70cm work. I have it inside on a second floor and I can get quite a ways away from where I'm at. I normally hit repeaters 20-25 miles away, but it's also gotten me 145 miles before with some good band conditions

[GeorgeAdams]

I use the N9TAX in my go box with an arborist throw weight. It’s been great, especially as a cross band repeater.

[DerekMurawsky]

I have a dual band J-Pole from Arrow that I've had for a decade. It's rock solid. Different use case for sure, as it's not ultra portable, but... It's great for emergency base station operations and semi portable scenarios. It's light, just a bit bulky.