Couple Questions Lumped into One

[Dealer]

Dealer - if you do wind a choke for keeping RF off the outside of the shield, you might want to keep the diameter fairly large. A good rule of thumb is to shoot for a bend radius of 10x-12x the cable diameter. For RG8, which has an OD of 0.405", that would be a 4" radius, or an 8" diameter. In hot weather, if you flex a piece of coax too sharply, the center conductor can migrate right through the dielectric and contact the shield. This is generally considered ungood. Keep it loose!

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The choke is at the antenna end, wound appx. 5 1/2 inch I.D. using RG8X.

I left about 20 to 24 inch length to hang it under the 4 to 1 balun using
a messenger line at that junction.

Feedline to start with is 100ft. RG8X and brings up another question..

Will I need to consider these chokes as added length to the feed line ?

Guess I need to do some calculations of V factor on that one, however not sure
what frequency to figure since it is more than a one band antenna.

Dont want to get feed line at a No No length.

Spoon feeding is not necessary..

I hear get ready for work calling


Regards,
John

 

[W5LZ]

The choke does add a bit to the feed line, but since the feed line isn't 'tuned' to start with (why, for a multiband antenna?) I wouldn't worry excessively about it.
Just for grins, remove the 4:1 balun, another one of those "for a multiband antenna thingys?". The '4:1' thingy may help on the higher bands but is a total waste on 80 meters, for instance (and it ain't a 'balanced' antenna to start with). If you just have to have a balun, use a 1:1. Has to do with that OCF part.
All kinds of options as an alternative to the OCF antenna, so you're not completely out in the cold (yeah, well, substitute 'hot' for 'cold').
- 'Doc

 

[Dealer]

The choke does add a bit to the feed line, but since the feed line isn't 'tuned' to start with (why, for a multiband antenna?) I wouldn't worry excessively about it.
Just for grins, remove the 4:1 balun, another one of those "for a multiband antenna thingys?". The '4:1' thingy may help on the higher bands but is a total waste on 80 meters, for instance (and it ain't a 'balanced' antenna to start with). If you just have to have a balun, use a 1:1. Has to do with that OCF part.
All kinds of options as an alternative to the OCF antenna, so you're not completely out in the cold (yeah, well, substitute 'hot' for 'cold').
- 'Doc

____________________________________________________________________________

Well Doc, things looking up, how is that you ask ?

Found the demon lurking in the so called great room, No I am not speaking of
the better half

The one air choke at the antenna end is doing its job, I never put one at the
transmitter end as I just had a feeling...

The TV was the culpert as it was, and is until November when this Old Big Screen
will go away.

I put a bit smaller TV in its place and no problems at all . The big screen is ready
for the dump anyways.

Next project since I dont do code is to prune 12 inches off short end and 18 off
the long end and also remove a couple suspect limbs from trees and see what if
anything I can do to improve what I have to work with.

The TS530S seems to like it fine and with the MFJ-269 I can see changes and plan
to do a antenna plot from 80 to 10 meters. I dont do 6 meters at all at this time.

Like the dummie I am, put the wrong wall wart into the 969 versa tuner and blew
a couple of caps so I need to fix that. I dont know why I did that as a 9 volt was
already in there )_(&*^&^$%)(.... O well

Still open for suggestions if any on this one, and thinking next try will be a
Full Wave 80 Meter Loop using home made ladder line, I think I can do that one..


Regards,
John___ KD5WJY

 

[W5LZ]

Don't get me started, I like loops and ladder line. Depending on the tuner used, you ought'a be able to use a loop just about anywhere/band, including 6 and 2 meters (not sure about '440, haven't tried that one).
And if you think you have all the RFI problems licked, just wait.
- 'Doc

Only thing I can say about home-made ladder line is that if you ever turn it lose, it'll swarm on you. Sort of 'stretch' it first, less swarming that way .

 

[Beetle]

Don't get me started, I like loops and ladder line. Depending on the tuner used, you ought'a be able to use a loop just about anywhere/band, including 6 and 2 meters (not sure about '440, haven't tried that one).
And if you think you have all the RFI problems licked, just wait.
- 'Doc

Only thing I can say about home-made ladder line is that if you ever turn it lose, it'll swarm on you. Sort of 'stretch' it first, less swarming that way .

Especially if you use Copperweld or hard-drawn copper. Great antenna wire; great wire in general -- BUT it can coil back on you like a rabid rattlesnake.

And if you say, "But snakes don't get rabies", I have to tell you that in this case only, they do.

Wear eye protection if you're using either of these types of wire for your ladder line.

 

[Dealer]

For Joy, For Joy

It wasnt the TV after all, which means I dont have to wait till end of November
to do 40 @ 80 meters.

Being off of work today and its way to hot to be outside, that Old TV caught my
eye again and after a couple cups of java, I said to myself that I can solve
this thing so after it I go.

Just Jake and myself, btw Jake is a Quaker and he is a bird. He is my buddy
however he belongs to my wife. Really Cool Dude.

Lots of things attached to this TV, so again I sorted thru the mess when a light
came on. It has never been said that I was the brightest bulb burning.

I noticed that two 18 inch wires hanging from the receiver ? a funky FM antenna
of sorts and the Real Kicker a birds nest (sorry jake) of speaker wire, and I mean
a lot of it all back there and its the heavy guage stuff but not coax or shielded..

I said to myself you know what, WHY had I not noticed that before now..

Removed all the excess wire and a redo of that mess.

Is there a problem now ? Nada not a bit and just goes to show what having all
the lights turned on will do.... Its a age thing thats what I blame everthing on now.

Works pretty good too


Regards,
John.... KD5WJY