DIY 300 Ω twin-lead J-pole antenna for the 2 m band offering efficient VHF performance, easy coax feed, and portable installation without radials
DIY
“DIY” on DXR Electronics Bits is where practical ham radio projects come to life. Here you’ll find buildable circuits, antennas, receivers, preamps, audio tools, and experimental rigs designed for real‑world shack and field use. From compact HF antennas for small spaces to regenerative receivers, QRP transmitters, and uBITX add‑ons, each article focuses on parts you can actually source and solder on the bench.
Twin-Lead J-Pole Antenna for VHF and UHF Amateur Radio
Build a simple twin-lead J-pole antenna for VHF/UHF using 300-ohm ribbon cable. This end-fed half-wave vertical with quarter-wave matching stub delivers omnidirectional coverage, low noise, and reliable FM/repeater performance without ground radials
Multiband Dipole Antenna for 10–80 Meters
Compact multiband HF dipole covering 10–80 m using symmetrical loading coils and coax matching section. Single-wire antenna for small spaces enabling 80, 40, 20, 15, 11, and 10 m operation with an antenna tuner.
3 x 5/8 Collinear antenna for 435 MHz UHF Band
High-gain 435 MHz UHF collinear antenna using three 5/8-wave vertical sections with inductive phasing. Provides ~6 dB omnidirectional gain and low-angle radiation for repeater, base, and long-range 70 cm band operation.
VHF Collinear J-Pole : The DIY Super J-Pole Antenna
Build a VHF Super J-Pole (collinear J-pole) antenna by stacking two half-wave elements with a phasing stub for ~3 dB gain over a standard J-pole. Omnidirectional, low-angle radiation vertical ideal for 2 m repeaters and long-range VHF communication
Housing the LARCSet: A Community-Designed 3D-Printed Enclosure
Ready to move your LARCSet off the workbench? Discover this community-driven 3D-printed enclosure project featuring STL files from Peter Marks and builds by VE3WMB.
20–40–80 Meter Loaded Multiband HF Dipole Antenna
Operating on 80m, 40m, and 20m from a small backyard is no longer a challenge. Learn how to build a compact, loaded multiband HF dipole that uses precision-placed coils instead of traps. This high-efficiency design offers resonant performance on three major bands using a single 1:1 balun
4:1 UN-UN Transformer for End-Fed Antennas
Build a 4:1 un-un impedance transformer to match end-fed wire antennas to 50 Ω coax. Ideal for long-wire, vertical, and off-center-fed antennas, improving SWR and RF transfer in multiband HF installations.
9:1 UN-UN Long Wire Transformer for HF Antennas
This article explains the construction, operation, and real-world usage of a 9:1 impedance transformer (UN-UN) for long wire and random wire antennas, making it ideal for SWL listeners and amateur radio operators.
5/4 Wave VHF Antenna for 145 MHz Using 450-Ohm Ladder Line
Build a 5/4-wave VHF antenna for 145 MHz using 450 Ω ladder line and a choke feed. Shows how to mount, feed, and match this high-gain vertical for FM, repeater, and simplex operations on the 2 m band