"POG" Stick portable 2m/70cm antenna

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I had been looking for some time for a portable antenna that I could use on my walks as well as when out with RAYNET.  The antenna supplied with my handheld works well enough, however when in difficult terrain or that little bit of extra distance is needed I wanted something I could easily carry on a ruck sack, mount on a pole or in a tree.

Then I saw a design by Graeme Boull G4NVH based on an "Off-Centre Fed, Coaxial Shielded Dipole" found in "Practical Antenna Handbook".  His website gives full build instructions which are very clear and even I could follow them. I'm no antenna designer I can assure you!

I only changed one thing from the design sheets.  That was I supplemented the alluminum foil and braid for some self adhesive alluminum aircraft foil, I just happened to have lying around.  I felt it easier to apply and would electrically provide better performance.

As you can see from my photos below, I am very pleased with my efforts.  I have yet to finish it off with some outer heat-shrink protection, but have left it off for the photos so you can see the component parts.

Click photos for larger size.

Initial testing on 2m and 70cm in my front garden showed a dramatic increase in performance.  On the supplied hand held antenna I could hear some repeaters, but not others.  Change over to the "POD" Stick and not only could I hear and work stations and repeaters further away, but an overall 3-4 S-Point increase was observed.  VSWR averaging around 1.2:1 across the bands.  The telescopic element needing shortening by 1 section for 70cm.

So it's early days, but continuing field trials hopefully will confirm a usefull peice of kit.  I recommend you have a go yourself and build one.