2 Meter foldable antenna Plan

[NightProwler]

Wouldn't it be easier to move house?

[Agent 48]

I wish... maybe I will at some point soon its definitely something I am considering. If I do move I want to get out of London, maybe move to Wales or Scotland.

[NightProwler]

Aye tidy butt, Come to Wales boyo

I do know the hassle you are having though because I used to live on the 4th floor of a high rise block of flats about 20 years ago and that only had a small balcony, I got around that by using wire dipoles, Not the best but it worked.

[Agent 48]

I'm often reminded of why I almost gave up on radio... I set up a two meter radio today, half wave dipole just hung outside of the window... I hear somebody calling CQ on 145.500 I'm bearing receiving them only to find out he is less than 2 miles from me. This happened not once but twice 2 locals and I mean very local and I barely hear them but here is where things get interesting. I get a contact 20 miles away and I hear him and he hears me... I can access a few distant repeaters.... I would really like to see what a coverage map of my station looks like.... its probably very sparse and spotty. It can get really disheartening tho when you've done everything within your means to barely get somebody less than 2 miles away.

I expect my dipole is only a little bit better than a handheld with a rubber duck antenna, I do get that feeling sometimes but then again I can make some distant contacts so very likely my signal coverage is extremely sparse and spotty. I am in a built up area after all.

[DX-Digger]

What coax are you using? please dont say RG58 its crap on 144 and terrible on 430MHz

[Agent 48]

Its RG8 its only a short run.