JP2S 2 Meter Portable J-Pole Antenna with SMA Connector and Carry Case

I have had terrible results with this antenna so far. It comes from Gigaparts and they have a good reputation so I hope I will figure out I am doing something wrong and change this evaluation but so far, I can only recommend you do not spend your money on it as I did. My home made quarter wave ground plane antennas I made for a couple dollars work infinitely better. I had my radio connected to this antenna and I heard nothing. I thought it was either the area I am in or the radio. I connected to my homemade antenna and immediately heard abundant traffic. If I am able to achieve better results, I will change this evaluation. J-Poles are supposed to be superior to quarter wave ground planes. The one I received is yielding dramatically inferior results. EDIT #1: I have determined the problem with this antenna is the SMA connector. It isn't connecting properly, which causes my radio to behave as if it has no antenna attached. I should have just built my own J-Pole for a fraction of the cost. EDIT #2: I removed the SMA connector and put a new one on and now this antenna works like it should. Either the primary feed line wasn't connected to the SMA pin well enough, or the shielding was not connecting to the SMA connector.