Product Review
DBJ-2
Dual Band Roll-Up Antenna
2.1 dBi gain (VHF and UHF)
Featured in: QST Mar 2007
Reprinted with Permission of both
Edison Fong and the ARRL
Review by: John 'Miklor'
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What's in the Package The DBJ-2 package includes the pre tuned antenna, ready to unroll and install. The package includes: - Roll-Up J-Pole, terminated with a BNC-M connector. - 6 foot RG58 jumper, with BNC-M and BNC-F connectors. - BNC-F to SMA-M adapter - SMA-F to SMA-F adapter This combination of connectors should attach this antenna to virtually any handheld transceiver.
Assembly There is no assembly necessary. I simply unrolled the antenna and hung in place. The power rating is 50 W, which is more than sufficient for a handheld or mobile transceiver. Individually Pre-Tuned The ham version that I received is tuned to 144-148 MHz and 440-450 MHz. There's also a Commercial/MURS/GMRS version tuned for 152-157 MHz and 460-470 MHz. Performance The specifications state a 1.3 to 1 SWR on both bands. When tested with a commercial meter (Bird 43 Thru-line), the antenna held true to its specifications. These are the same confirmed parameters as the DBJ-1 base Station antenna.
BTW: I mentioned a commercial SWR meter, as many small VHF/UHF meters tend to add currents to the antenna line that can impact the readings. They can come close, but I wanted total accuracy for this test. Installation The antenna has a loop on the top end allowing me to easily hoist into a tree for field operation. I recommend Installing the DBJ-2 as far from metal objects as possible, such as an antenna or tower. The antenna can also be used inside the house or apartment. Temporarily. I have one located in my computer room/office with the top looped around a curtain rod. The window frame is vinyl so there is no interaction with the antennas tuning. So where do I get one? You can get one by searching DBJ2 on eBay, or the direct price is around $40 (for quantity of 4 or more) with a 10% discount for orders over $200. Ed can be contacted directly at: edsantennas@gmail.com 1163 Quince Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94087 408-245-8210 Conclusion The antenna is lightweight, efficient, and comes with everything you need to rapid deployment from your Go Box or for Field Day operation. I can give this antenna a two thumbs up. Note: This equipment was received for the purpose of a fair and unbiased review. All findings are factual based on the equipment I received. Any issues found have been reported both here and back to the seller or manufacturer.
From Ed's Desk More info about the antenna from the developer, Ed Fong WB6IQN
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