HAM RADIO: Flower Pot Antenna, Perfect Stealth Antenna for 2m/70cm 

Hopefully Mike gets this _pinned_ to help Elmer others, as my other reply buried deep in the bowels of another old comment solved the riddle for a number of folks newer to radio, who didn't quite get how a _section of foil_ over the other antenna elements magically gives you 70cm use?!🤔 If you notice at 3:53 Mike measured and marked the dead center of the dipole elements on the outside of the PVC... then at 11:30 that mark ends up being used and I guess several people didn't catch the connection. The coax portion of the antenna _inside the PVC_ is just like a simple "dipole", _until_ you wrap the foil around the outside with it perfectly centered in between those two 2m dipole elements, making a sort of Frankenstein combination of a collinear/Yagi parasitic antenna element. The foil acts similar to the parasitic elements used in Yagi-Uda antennas, the unpowered/parasitic metal elements of a Yagi-Uda interact as either a reflector or director, a sort of "metal RF mirror" if you will to bounce, funnel _and amplify_ the RF as well, like an old school analog megaphone does with soundwaves, those are waves too right! (like one of these...) media.yourobserver.com/img/photos/2022/10/18/403586_standard_t600x900.jpeg?3735229c1eac3ea66532f06aed1ba359424f7682 The foil in this case also acts as a quarter-wave matching stub/sleeve, it's blocking the RF coming from the center of the "2m" dipole elements which when you use a 70cm wavelength "stacks" them into opposing 70cm elements. Take two 70cm J-poles and "glue them together" at their bases where the coax normally connects, then make the short matching stub out of a tube of foil instead... Make sense now?!

Hi Mike, just to let you know that I have constructed one of these flower pot antennas using Ultraflex 7 with Messi and Polaolini connectors. Made to 123 Mhz which is 54cm each leg with 87cm wrap as per Ray G4NSJ instructions and yours. I didn't use the foil because I don't transmit. The results are truly amazing! But not just on air band. I have a Uniden UBC125XLT for VHF and a Tecsun 501X for HF. I can receive all of the Amateur HF band with good signals and the scanner gives me a full 5 bars signal strength for the Tower and Approach frequencies and I am 11 miles from B'ham Airport. I also have a SDRplay RSPdx receiving on a Radio World HF discone and the flower pot far exceeds the discone performance and it's in the same place. I can't seem to get a definitive answer from anybody as to why this performs so well when it's supposed to be just for air band. Maybe you could shed some light on it please. Never the less thank you, thank you for posting your construction. It's a wonder the antenna makers don't go out of business with these flower pot antennas being so good and dirt cheap. Hope you can come up with some comments as I am really intrigued to get an answer. Thank you again.

I made this for the 1/3/22 for FMAC contest to go on the side of my bag out portable. Only use a 5 watts handheld got down to Cornwall 138 miles from the Malvern hills and gave me a 55 report. A fantastic antenna, also worked some SOTA stations in north Wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Saturday morning . Great video Mike keep them coming. 73’s M7HFD

Inventor of this antenna unfortunately passed away this year. RiP John Bishop

Whatever Antenna Projects Im Looking For - Always Pops Up Mike With His Cool Videos :)

I've made several flowerpots, for 2m/70cm and for 4metres - Great antennas, I tested the vhf/uhf one at 6feet off the floor and during testing managed a 40mile contact. Probably the same performance as some shop bought white sticks...

Thank you very much for making it seem so easy! It was enough to convince me to attempt and lo and behold, several hours later I could finally join the Essexham Monday night net @ the Danbury repeater! Should have seen me with one hand out of the window holding it and the HT in the other. I wonder whether I might get a better perf with a dipole though, guess only way is to build one. :)

I made it toooo😇 And worke just super. Thanke you Mike

Nice idea with the tape measure as a helping hand. Thanks for the video.

Nice project and one for me to do in the spring. Could you do a video for a 6m version please Mike?

Great job. Like your multiuse workbench

Great job Mike! Thank you for your clear tutorial very well done! I will do it soon, I'm just testing the new Popovic dual band antenna realized with poor material but now, I will realize your Flower Pot Antenna! Great, I just have a couple of doubts on the measure you show between the tail and the end of the mass of the coax...I will see again the tutorial doing the job! Thank you again, BRGDS 73 IZ0AIO - Angelo

Good project Mike, keep em coming 👍

Question: In the video, your coil has 9 turns. On your website, in the photo of the final version, the coil has 13 turns. Why did you increase the number of turns in the final version?

Very nice! The part I don't understand Mike is how you get away with using the kitchen counter for your workbench :)

What size is the red cable . Thanks

I'm assuming a non-rigid version where the pipe is only used to form the coil, is possible. The whole thing would be suspended from the top of a kite-pole, with the pipe possibly sliding over the pole. I'll know soon enough anyway.

I think this is the first antenna build video that I watched that is not about some form of dipole. Weird not to see the coax braid connected to it. Good one though!

Really enjoyed your build of this antenna. Just past my foundation exam and only allowed 10 watts. Is there an antenna that I could build that would satisfy 10 watts? Only able to pick up GB3HN from my handheld at my location.

Thank you for the build such a great antenna and very budget friendly 73s from 9Z4APA .

How many watts have you pushed through it?

I see the red wire is 1mm “18 gauge”. Could I use 16 gauge instead or would it change too much

Hi. Nice video! I am not clear why you add 2cm on 45.7 to find the midpoint. Could you please explain? Thanks.

What is that bright yellow and green striped tape that you use to wrap and mark with? Is it available in the U.S.?

Well done!

3:12 Genius ;]

hi mike great video mate im ready to build one but my pipe is only 21mm wide that won,t matter will it

Hello Mike, Im delighted to report that using the "Real Baco foil" and not the tape after a few tries with a cheaper brand baco foil?then with some of that tape you used! afellow ham friend came up with a better idea! that actually works? for the would be makers of the flower pot, ask the wife for the "Branded Baco Foil ,measure the amount needed has per video! rap it around in the suggested position! and secure with elastic ands at each end?this is to allow for adjustment of SWR on both bands from 144.500 and thru to far end of band,plus also on 70cms either end both with me @ 1.3, im very pleased with the advise given to me by2E0PAF phil in Bromley Kent for that suggestion, ive also made a Square aerial with the driven element made into a Quad Aerial from Antenna Workshops and a little modification by phil again! his antennas are in his roof space the square one is on a rotator and the performance is better than any white stick i know of. from 2E0GMD mick

Thank you Mike, 7X2CX

You show a vertical inside your room. But you did not show it as a flower pot antenna. Why would you do that?

Hope your wife was out if you have one! i would have been murdered if i did that on the kitchen worktop! Nice easy antenna ..Thanks x

Hi Mike can you please make me one of these ...happy to pay for it. If you are around the London area? E17

Good project sir JZ13AAP

☘️73

Had to stop after that hideous solder joint..... a mechanical connection is a must! I don't care what kind of yourube video it is... nobody solders like that over here

Mike, I have to make this myself with that grey tubing and some of that fancy heat-shrink.. Then give it away!

What kind of wire stripper do you use? I've never seen a stripper that strips wires and coax with no adjustment. Please guide me to purchasing one for myself!

I just found out the hard way that Australian 2m and 70cm bands are different by using the instructions from the source (now sadly silent key) seems mine is hmm, okay but resonant frequencies on both bands a little high. SWR is great just OOB. Oops! 😂

Excellent video, I have made one of these for when I pass my exam. Thank you for showing us newbies how things are done properly

Fantastic video! I was licensed in February 2020, and really wanted to build this antenna. I was finally able to do so today, and opened a repeater 30km away with my UV-5R! 73 de VE3GKT!

I have a loft antenna , my intention is to run the coax down the wall inside the plasterboard (trying to keep the Mrs happy by not having surface mounted cable or trunking) is there a so239 mounted on a blanking plate available or will I need do make up my own?

What a brilliant idea Mike. 73 Mike M1KEY

I bought a very similar collinear antenna for GMRS from Ed Fong. Great video, looking forward to building one!

Parabéns aqui Robson do Brasil bem explicado a construção da antena

Hi ! What gauge is the red cabled wire please sir ?

Excellent table top project Mike, thanks for your time. Alan G0SMD

Now that impressed me, but I think I missed something along the way. The coax from the coil went back through the pipe to the radio, yes? How did you use the foil to get the 70cms. Sometimes you speed up your video just a bit to much and it is easy to miss something. If you were new to this and just got your licence it might be hard to follow. The only bit I didn't quite get was the 70cms bit Mike. Have you a Website it is on? Or can you explain it here or the next time you are on Discord? That is an excellent aerial for someone that is in a flat with a balcony. I like it and might have to result to it myself. Now can you build one for 80 meters? Only joking!

The red cable that you used, I could not see any detail on the gauge. Is it critical to get that matched?

How far it can hit that antenna ?

I want to make a wire aerial for walking up high ground. Would this do for 446? Or would it need to be a little shorter? Thanks, Craig

Whats the size of the red cable!! 73!!

This cleared up many things for me...thanks!

it's cool, but why would you need one?

What are the measurements in inches

That is the best videoed construction project I have seen. Thankyou so much.

What are your thoughts on sliding a couple foam pucks with a center hole down the pipe to keep the coax and wire centered inside the pipe? Do you think it would affect the performance like resonance?

What is posible happen if we made flowerpot antenna without coil?

What a great tutorial, I've seen plans for this antenna for a few years now and always thought I will have a go at that. Your video inspired me to build one too, it's turned out great, I am looking for a bottle cap to seal up the top end, so I can mount it on a pole outside. Cheers 73's. Idris Mw1abz

Nice one Mike! I was intrigued by the phasing sleeve and must give it a go. Is the sticky back foil a building /DIY item?

That is a brilliant home brew antenna. Great work!

What kind of strippers do you use? Mine only do standard wire and dont grip enough to do that well!

Does the diameter of the pipe matters?

Made one, works great.

Any advise on tuning it if not quite the swr Im looking for?

Brilliant thorough build demonstration. I will be sharing your video around as it's one of the best I have come across. 73 Ray G7TQT

Thank you for sharing 👍🏻

Fantastic Chris/ Natalie thank you very much for the video look forward to the next one best 73 stay safe de.M1DHA..

I build one for my Boafeng and tested it against the 2 other UV-5R antennas I had. It had the lowest SWR of any other antenna we tested.

I cringe every time I see you soldering over that nice countertop. I can only conclude that you are single. My wife would use my cast iron skillet across my head if I was ever caught doing that.

Hi Mike, Thanks for the video. Just made my first antenna ;-) Question, Can the tinfoil section be wrapped with tape to save it from peeling?

I like this. I made a 2 meter ground-plane but it measures out between 1.3 and 1.4 swr, I think your project might be a better solution. I need it to run reliable winlink messaging.

I replaced that fan in the 991 that i owned, it was a pain to listen to..

if the paralon pipe reaches a length of three meters, can it or not? thank you

Great antenna Mike took the one i made the other night out on a SOTA trip and worked my mate over a path of 70km. I had the flower pot about 3 m up my sqid pole vx8 at 5w and vk5is was using his handy rig with its own antenna. Half scale sigs on both rigs. vk5cz ..

Hi mike Do you sell them

Is this considered a half wave antenna on both bands?

Good project for people to try and excellent results 👍🏻

Brilliant!!!!! Jolly good show!

Superb video and explanation Mike. I now know how to hide/disguise an antenna from my neighbours. Hiding the feed line is the next problem.

Nice job, Mike! Can You tell me, please, - how many turns I have to wind for balun if I will use rg-8 or rg -213?

Nice video again Mike..... cheers

Great job Mike 73

Another project! Can’t keep up 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 73 de M0AZE Mike

Thanks, worked a treat. Swr was super low and both bands.

Buat antene 136/174 tuk rpu

Hi, comparing flowerpot dual band, flowerpot dual band high gain and the ground plane dual band you built, which one perfomed the best?

Very cool build. I just ordered a cheap 2m radio off of Amazon, and I thought a better antenna would greatly improve the performance. There is just one thing I don't understand. At about 11:45, where you're putting the metal foil around, centered at the center point of the PVC, the metal foil is not connected to anything? It just wraps on the outside of the PVC? The antenna can work with 2m and 70cm without any kind of switching? Forgive my questions, I've been studying antenna theory for about 2 hours now ! Very little experience of knowledge.

Hello. I saw your antenna project and i would like to make a antenna for a fm stereo reciever, from 89 to 104,8 Mhz. Could you please calculate the measurments for my aplication. Tnx

Rather than use fishing line to hold the top end in place, I soldered a small loop at the top, drilled a hole through the pipe, and passed a cable tie through. Well, I had cable ties on hand but no fishing line. Excellent antenna, sir.

Would this work good on 315 mhz?

Thanks for the build so far I've built a 5/8 hy gain and a t2lt for 11 meters great reports now I'm going to build me a flower pot antenna hats off to you sir from Trinidad 73s.

hi mike just finished my flowerpot 2m 70cm and it works a treat mate im getting into gb3pt in liverpool and im 20 miles away in skelmersdale west lancishire and it was just on the floor against a bush lol works well 73 M7BYF ILL be trying the 6m one next because realy enjoyed that

Hi Mike. Sorry for being noob, but i like to know how the alu tape for the 70cm works. Its not attached to the coax in any way.

Nice project Mike, thanks, regards,Carl.

Cheers Mike, another lockdown project to tinker with. Anything to stop this one being made "suitcase packable"? I.e. without the conduit? Foil tape wrap direct on the cable & the same "air core" choke position & dimensions?

Nice video and nice antenna :D 73 de SP7ELO!

Put one of these together this evening. Literally 25 minutes work. Didn't have any 25mm pipe so used 22m. Works perfectly first time, no tuning at all needed. Thanks Mike. 2E0RSC

I'm a new ham from Texas. I've been looking for a way to get the most out of my HT as it's the only radio I have, so I followed your instructions and built this! I appreciate the detail and antenna analysis; I don't have the equipment to properly test mine, so I'm trusting your work. The signal reports I've received so far suggest that it works great. Thanks for the quality instruction.

Thanks for the video. would it matter if I used 1.5mm solid single core instead of the 1mm and could you tell me what type of coax did you use? Thank you.

Might try that at the weekend Mike. Many thanks