Holy crap it works! I made this flowerpot antenna and I'm picking up things I've never been able to pull in before! Previously with the whip antenna I'd bought, I would get nearby airborne planes. Now, with the flowerpot on the ground, I'm picking up the tower, planes on the ground and ATIS 6 miles away. There's some noise but it's not overbearing. Tomorrow I hoist it up into an oak tree. Hoping for even clearer signals. Woohoooo! Thank you Ray!

I believe most of us like the way you do your video's I'm still hopeing you will have cups Made so we can support you channel Cheers from the USA

Fabulous! Why have I not seen this style before? So simple. Love it!

I had a go at making one of these for the airband, and it work incredibly well, I'm extremely impressed with it!.

Thank you Ray for taking the time making this video for us newbies. I followed your instructions and I’m using it on my uniden bct15x the signal is great thank you.

Carry on waffling Ray, we all love your videos and I for one have learned a lot over the years.

I could listen to this fellah all day, even if I thought a dipole was some kind of hair colouring implement.

Just spent half hour making one of these works a treat, thanks very much.

Thank you so much for helping me achieve a decent air band antenna. I have wasted so much money on shop bought ones but I have to say that this antenna does the job so much better and at a fraction of the price!! Thank you so much buddy

This is one of the best explanations I have ever listened to....so calming and understandable.....great work....

Part of the enjoyment of receiving a radio signal is the building of one's own antenna. Whether a 1/2 wave antenna or loop antenna.

Thanks so much! Just made one of these according to your instructions and WOW! Great reception on civil airband even in the house! Using a Uniden 125 XLT. Mine went inside a glass fibre telescopic fishing rod!

Hi mate I have followed your video and I have now got me a perfect antenna for the air band after buying a couple of naff ones online. A big thank you to you for providing this diy video. Keep up the good work pal

I love your videos Ray, very informative and funny in places. Never change! I built a dipole for Airband with some steel coat hangers but I’m going to give this one a go because it can be made waterproof and go outside 👍🏼

Love the simplicity of this aerial, Ray. Shall certainly give it a try. Many thanks! 73s from Charlie...

Just built one today for airband and mounted on a pole 20 feet off the ground. Very impressive results - signals much stronger (even compared to plugging in my 2m antenna) Tuned to 123Mhz and pulling in plenty of strong signals now on Uniden 125xlt. Thank you for the guide on how to build - enjoyed this project with excellent results. 73 de Mike G0AMO

Hi… I saw your video last night and today I made the antenna. It works very, very, very well. Easy to make, like you show in the video, the calculator is very useful too. I have made, previously, the Slim Jim and dipole antennas but the “flower pot” is the winner. Thank you for sharing. 73’s from Spain.

It's the waffle we tune in for! :-)

Great to see you Ray! Nice video I’m definitely trying this. Now we just need some air traffic!

I love your videos, mainly because I don't know everything, and in some cases I need a gentle reminder. What I don't need is the "super experts" who know everything there is to know about everything.

Top of the day Ray..glad to see your still making videos..cheers and 73s..

Thanks. Simple to the point. Loved the humour too. I am making one tomorrow. Very helpful

Nice project Ray and thank you for sharing! I made one for fm broadcast and it works great!

I am just getting into the part of my hobby where I am starting to think about making my antennas.. Thanks!

Love the videos. Don't stop digressing from the subject its so entertaing while learniing, great!

Nice to see you back Ray...👍.

Hi Ray, thanks for the info, don't worry about waffling, we old radio hams are all like that. Very best regards from Ray GW6IYP the old sod from North Wales.

Hi Ray, another great video. This is an antenna I will try to build as soon as I can.

Very enjoyable, and informative. I was somewhat distracted by the lovely Grundig Yacht - Boy sitting on the bench. What a very iconic receiver, I love the push/pull tone control feature on this radio, capable of some quite extraordinary bass response for a relatively small set. Take care.

Perfect explanation and exactly what I was looking for, thank you and well done

Thanks for me I very much like the stories and longer content.Thanks Gary

I do enjoy your videos, I find them relaxing to listen to, and informative Thanks.

Hi Ray.Thanks for another very informative video.Catch you on the air again soon.73

I am in Worthing on the South coast and have just built one of these antennas, it was quick and easy. I have fixed it to a fence post and the top of the antenna is about 10 feet up and working a treat, I have Shorham by sea Airport about 6 miles down the road and the tower is booming in like never before. It is on 129.150 mhz I can also hear Hurn West Swanwick on 129.425 and Hurn Swanwick on 135.050. I am using the Grecom PSR-282 handheld scanner. Many thanks. Paul

I've all ways been fascinated about making antennas been doing it for over 40 years my 1st home made antenna was out of old BT wire it was GPO then in 1979 on AM CB radio it was illegal then I made one 18 foot I put in the loft I had it V slope people call it 9 up & 9 down it works very well I did cause some TVI on old valve tube so I had to wait for TVs to go down I end up nigh owl good days then I've just made J pole antenna for 4 metres with 450 Ohms ladder line for my friend it works very well just under 6db gain saved lot's of money. Great video

Superb Ray. I learn a great deal from you as I am a novice. Waffle and technical detail much needed. Keep up the good work. 👍⚡

Keep up the good work Ray...you make it sound simple. Well Done Roger G4SEF

Hi Ray, I’m going to give this a go. Nothing wrong with the video at all. Perfect thank you for sharing

This is the funniest description of an antenna I'm yet to watch! :)

Great little starter antenna. I've had mine up on my trident mast for about 5yrs now. Mine is a dual band version for 2&70 and works great. I can hit gb3ls from my home qth 60 miles sth.

I always watch your videos, never know what ideas you' throw out. This looks very useful to be scaled for other bands and I do have a 10m fishing pole.....

Brilliantly explained ,Highly Amusing presentation as always Ray. I call this a T2LT (Tuned Transmission Line Trap) and have built one for 11m a few years ago- brill worked a treat and tuned in lovely. Fine Business. PS. love the Beatles Haircut. Barnie M7PBX.

Great stuff. This was my first antenna project, albeit specifically for 2m but it also receives 119-136 really well. I have it in the attic and monitor my local major airport 50 miles away with ease at +20 or thereabouts! Also, I personally love the waffle.

Hello Ray, I am absolutely staggered as to how good this antenna is! I have been using the D 777 antenna which is mounted on the roof of the house as high I dare climb up the ladder and connected to my Uniden UBC 125XLT Airband receiver. The setup I find to be excellent. However, this flowerpot coaxial dipole antenna that I made following your instructions isn’t even on the roof of the house, yet I am getting perfect reception and full signal strength. I don’t quite understand what’s going on here! I’m going to spend more time performing tests and hopefully going to roof mount it soon. Thanks very much for producing this video and I’m blown away as to how good this Flowerpot coaxial dipole antenna is. It took 30 mins to make and is my first antenna. I'm planning to make another one over the weekend, using a small diameter tube.

Hi Ray, just made an airband one myself. Once you have drilled the initial hole if you carefully turn the drill on one side at 30 degs the cable sits very nicely to tape to the conduit. Thanks for the great video, looking forward to trying it out. Cheers

I use something similar to one of these for SOTA. Didn’t know they were called flowerpot antennas. Great video!

Another great video well presented and they do work well I use one myself.

Happy to see you Ray :) from Australia.

Thank you for the Information on that Flowerpot Antenna I built one for the 2-meter Band I cut it for 146.0 MHz I used a 3/4" PVC pipe the Antenna worked perfect the first time I'm going to use that Antenna for SHTF for My Bug-Out setup. Keep the good ideas coming 73 from KB8UGP Gary in Shinnston, WV USA.

Good morning Ray I followed your instructions and made this antenna and it’s brilliant so clear it’s like they are sitting in the shack with me 😂 We live about 10 miles from RAF coninsby get the take off clearance and all the control tower coms and the Battle of Britain flight Lancaster and spitfire etc Great videos keep them up and a merry Christmas to you Thanks Mike

I was finally able to make one a few days ago out of some H155 coaxial. It works very good on the Air band and also on the 144-146Mhz ham bands. I am using it with a RadioShack Realistic PRO-2023 scanner. Thanks!

Made one of these and put it in loft. Its connected to a Quansheng uv-k5 vastly improves reception . Thanks

Thank you for your very informative videos, more please.

Hi Ray, just made a VHF airband antenna and it works much better than the £70 'Stick' i got from a Ham store !! Love the 'waffle' as well .... Thanks

Keep on waffling sir love to hear your knowledge really helpful for us noobs

Great video Ray, I followed your instructions and made one. It has taken my airband listening to another level. I am 8 miles from Manchester airport and can clearly hear all the tower transmissions as well as aircraft on the ground speaking to clearance control and to the company offices. Watching this led me to also check out your other videos which I find highly entertaining especially the ones about you and your mates, sorry not you, just your mates broadcasting as pirates with Echo Charlie BITD.

God, I love living out in the country. I could put up anything I want here and nobody could even see it.

I'm going to make some I listen to marine band and air band all the time thanks for the info iv done radio for years and not a ham I'm 40 now and still mess but always learning thanks ray

Great job Ray just what I need

This is exactly what I use on my balcony for 2m and 70cm bands. A pot, this antenna, and plastic flower on it. It work nice (I'm at the last floor of an 8 stages building).

Great to see you again Ray, it's been a while! I have my length of coax prepped and ready to make this antenna but cannot get the tubing due to all non essential shops being closed! Keep the videos coming. 73s de EI5GN

Keep doing what you do Ray, don't change a thing. I like the Yacht Boy on the bench, I have one just the same, bought back in the 70s, must get around to fixing it. Luckily Grundig always supplied the circuit back then! 73 Graham M0OLM

That was marvellous. Thank you very much.

Good video Ray. A good club project . Also

Another great video Ray!! Cheers, VK6LB.

Great video Ray. I have bought the conduit £1.50 each from Wickes. I bought 4! Plan is to build several antennas mounted on a quick release mount outside. Subscribing now👍

Great Video - Thanks for sharing - I appreciate your style and information :)

Just made one and it's works, thank you for the how to :)

I am going to make one of these right now for airband. Since I am going to plug it into a RTL-SDR (which is really more of a TV tuner as originally created) I am going to try building it with RG-59 style cable TV coax of which I have a ton laying around. Since it is receiving only, I have heard that the 75 ohm nature of this cable really doesn't bother the RTL-SDR. What I can't see yet is whether the calculator (see description link) cares what kind of cable is used (RG-58 versus RG-59). And yes, like the French talking about love, you UK types could read the phone book and it would sound charming and educated. Had the pleasure of playing a carillon concert at the War Memorial Tower at Loughborough a decade ago and enjoyed the hospitalityof the British people. Enjoyed the video. Subscribed!

Great vid thanks Ray. Regarding the coaxial coil winding you called a choke but I believe it might form the impedance matching network. Given the theoretical impedance of a half wave dipole is 73 + j 42.5 (~75 ohms) and the coaxial impedance is 50 ohms, an impedance matching network is required. In this case a 1/4 wave coaxial Q section implemented via the coil. Tweaking the coil turns will tweak the matching impedance for minimum VSWR (return loss) as you mentioned.

Thanks Ray Another good video

Finally an antenna that I can make. Thank you very much!

Waffle as much as you like Ray, we, your massive group of fans, really enjoy your Waffling! Who the hell gave you the thumbs down? Don't worry, it wasn't one of us.....honest. thanks for the video, keep 'em coming.

Hi Ray, I’ve been using the Flowerpot Antenna for almost a year now with excellent results. It’s externally mounted using the same conduit as in your video and when checking it recently I found it to be full of water despite having end caps top and bottom! Not really sure how the water is getting in but we have had some intensive rains storms of late. The conduit does work well but I’m sourcing “Fibreglass” tubing that’s thinner than the conduit which will improve in terms of less wind resistance and planning to increase the height of the antenna by I hope another 3m By the way I also made another Flowerpot Antenna this time using RG213 Coax, I found it no better that the RG58 Mil spec that I use, so staying with RG58.

Hello to you!! I build this antenna for receiving the noaa satellites on about 137 mhz. It works very well even the signals from the satellites is circular. Before i used a groundplane antenna from kathrein wich received not so good like this one.Thanks for your nice video! The radio in front of you looks very nice!!Greetings from germany!! 73 Dominik

Thank you very much, you explained everything so well. Have a great one.

Thanks ,made one myself and it works great

Awesome Ray. Thanks

What a great video and well explained will have to give it a try. Subscribed and liked.

I made one of these this afternoon. I used a five foot length of white pvc pipe, 21mm diameter and a scrap piece of UR43 coaxial cable of about 9 foot in length. Screw-on BNC connector for a quick finish and test. It's remarkable how well such a simple aerial works. I connected it to my Uniden UBC370XLT scanner and I could clearly receive the Pole Hill VOR from approximately 30 miles away. Full squelch setting and with the aerial just leaning in a corner. I expect it will perform even better in the loft or outside. BTW, I used a nylon cable tie to secure the coax to the pipe where it comes away from the coil. Stops it unravelling the electrical tape (I've also run out of suitable heat shrink sleeve).

Love the videos Ray

Just made one & that works so much better than the rubber duck on my scanner. I might make a military air band one now. Thanks for the video & keep up the good work. Oh & the waffle makes it a better video.

Excellent video. Well explained for us beginners

Just saying thank you, antenna works great

You are a very interesting person and I’ll try to make make one of these antennas

Great video Ray, I made the 5/8 design for VHF airband works equally well for broadcast FM 👍

Waffle city With First Class Info. That is why I love it.. Good Work.. Cheers...

Brilliant. Thank you sir.

Congratulações Sul do Brasil

Hi Ray, love your videos. Especially your stories. I can listen for hours. I'd love for you to make a how to build a simple fm transmitter video (for limited use obviously) but would be great.

Hi Ray hope you are well. Enjoyed the video I am going to make one for the marine band. As I live near to Dublin Port. I currently use a1/4 wave wire ground plane in the attic. All the best and keep the videos coming

iam glad you explain its why i watch.

Hi Ray - I often get moaned at for rambling, but I feel there is a need to try to explain things properly and that takes time. I've tried to keep videos shorter in the past but then I get comments that I've glossed-over certain elements! All the best and keep the videos coming 👍

Keep the waffle. Its part of the charm of the channel.

I thought I would add some details on air band frequencies, the total civil VHF air band is 108mHz to 136mHz in most parts of the world, in some parts it extends to 137mHz. Air band coms occupies from 118mHz to the top of the band and are vertically polarised, the frequencies below 118mHz down to 108mHz is used for navigation systems such as VOR and ILS and are horizontally polarised so receiving them with a vertical isn’t going to work very well. If designing for coms I would calculate for 118 to 136mHz.

You are right yet again Ray the discone is terrible and going back tomorrow. Very weak all round specially air band. I swear by your flower pot design it is truly amazing and beats the discone hands down on HF/VHF and UHF (DAB, DAB+). I might try out a Moonraker Sky Scan. At least I can take that anywhere if needed and they are good indoors as well according to the reviews but that remains to be seen. Good luck and keep safe Ray and once again thank you for your input.

I love a waffle, cheers Ray.

Hello Martin, I made a similar purchase of a wideband Discone antenna and like you found Airband reception poor. But of course having an antenna coving such a wide bandwidth I would suggest doesn’t excel at any one frequency, hence an antenna specifically designed for a particular frequency provides the best reception. The Flowerpot Antenna as shown in Ray’s video which I have made to Ray’s exact specification provides “outstanding” performance. I have the Flowerpot Antenna externally mounted which is picking up frequencies that I haven’t heard before. There is something very special about the Flowerpot Antenna its easy to make, reception and the distances it can reach is excellent. It’s also very discreet when externally mounted and withstood storm Eunice with ease. You said “the discone is terrible and going back tomorrow” did you manage to get your money back?

Great vid and very helpful Thank you and waffle on it's all.part of it.. no waffle nothing learnt 😊

Very nice video Ray, I am glad you are ok. Always enjoy your videos 73 de KC9NUW