Hello L.C.,
Dang,
And I thought I was the only crazy book writer here. lol! Just kidding.
Hey! first I want to sincerely thank you for all of this good advice. And I appreciate it greatly.
Yes, you did say it already & yes, I did remember you said to unhook the mast ground cable. But I had a question, Although this may help me, wouldn't this be a careless thing to do? I know nothing electrical is hooked to it, but trees also have nothing hooked to them but they still get hit. High objects are very prone to hits by lightning. Dry weather also creates positive electrons to form on steel masts, etc making these items very prone for hits whether you have anything electrical or not hooked to them. So I'm just kind of torn a bit on your advice.
What I'm getting at, is that my mast alone at the tallest point is a cool 39' from the ground, and it's a rigid 1 1/4" conduit. Very likely to get hit maybe? Well, that's what I have learned throughout the years. So I just wanted your further input on that situation if you could please. But I will remove it as you said to do. And yes, the cable is quite long. Although the coax from the feed point may be grounded as you stated for me to do, the mast is still at high risk whether or not it's below my antenna or above it. But like I said, I'm not selling you or anything short here & I will try it soon.
OK, Back to the coax, I will try unhooking the coax from the radio and see if the noise goes away. Can't remember if I tried it or not, but we'll see soon enough.
Yes L.C. you did specifically state to have the supplier install the Pl-259's, but I bought from a place that only had the 100' bundles. And I don't think they even carried connectors because I looked to see if they did & they did not. So I figured it must come with PL-259's already on the coax, but it did not, it came with the (N) connectors. So I had to purchase my two PL-259's separately. That's why I am doing it myself.
However, when I said I torched the connectors, it was perhaps an over statement to some extent. It was just the first time I had ever done it, that's all. I am confident they were soldered & will hold up, but as I said, it was (my first time) for me. Also, I just didn't go ahead and do it without studying up on it first. I read quite a bit on how to do it before I began. If I may say so, I think I did one h_ll of a job, but again, since it was the first time, I came across a couple issues, "solder seemingly not flowing into the holes like I expected it to, although it did go into the holes, I was left to wonder to, and to what extent.
Besides, everyone knows that 60/40 solder is crap when it comes to capillary flow action. Too bad acid core cannot be used. It flows like honey compared to 60/40. Besides the sluggish characteristics of the 60/40, there really weren't any other issues about my workmanship. And no L.C., it really wasn't that hard as everyone is cracking it up to be to install your own PL-259 connectors. Even for my first time, it was really relatively simple if anyone has just a little patience & common sense. I think the hardest part of doing it, was just that, "deciding to do it". And for everyone else out here, let me tell you it's really not that hard at all. You just have to know what your doing & have a little faith in yourself. And if you fail, do it again & again till you get it right.
Anyways, I did a pretty decent job on it. And we'll see just how good a job I did after I install the new coax. As far as the coax goes, Well, I thought the solid Dielectric was the best. Yes, it does have the foam, but no plastic housing around the core before the foam. From what you've stated, I suppose it is a fairly good grade, but it's just not what I wanted. But I got what I paid for. But let me assure you, that this is not the reason things are not going my way and yes L.C., I do trust my work. And if it doesn't, I learned from it. But I think my solder job will be just fine.
Again you were right L.C., with all the headbanging I've been doing, I just might have hung that whole 1' of the 8" pvc balun out there on my antenna mast. 
You're right, I have seen pictures of how some cut off what they don't need, so it's a big relief that you reminded me before I went ahead and did it. 
I do have a table saw. I will try setting it up to size down my Delrin. I thought that was a pretty good idea actually. But there is this place nearby that I know of that could put it on a lathe for me. That way it will not be wavy & it will be done according to measurement of the inside diameter of the mast. I will be using verniers to measure it soon, perhaps just a .001 under size so it will slip into the pipe, but not be too loose. Besides, it won't cost me hardly anything because my Brother in-law knows the owners. But if not, out will come the table saw.
But I think you misunderstood me about the ground cable of my mast. Yes, I know I have the Delrin isolating my antenna from the mast, but what about the mast itself? Yes, I heard you 10 times already, but a mast 40' up in the air, Isolated from the antenna or not, to me, is like BENJAMIN FRANKLIN revisited. And after all, as long as the antenna is isolated with the Delrin, what diff does it make? Shouldn't a person be as safe as possible? Does that make sense? And how could you disagree with this? Are we on the same page or am I still not understanding you.
Just answer this one question please, Isn't removing a grounding cable from my mast, a cable that is constantly grounding any stray electrons from my mast into the ground, ( and let me tell you, electrons can build up in any material if the conditions are right for it) such as trees? Is this a safe thing to do L.C. ??? And if I'm still missing something or if you have your reasons why this would be a safe practice, please explain so I know where your coming from. Do you not think Lightning would ever strike a steel conduit pole 40' up in the air at one point or another? H_LL, trees get hit even more. So I'm having a hard time understanding your theory here. And yes, remember, I know very well that the antenna is isolated with the Delrin. If you ask me, it really makes no difference, A pipe up in the air, is still a pipe up in the air. Don't you agree? or no? and if not, please, please explain.
Geez, don't you just love me? :wub:
Quote:
yes, that is what im saying.
dont use it.
dont need it.
dont do it.
got it?
Yes, I did get you L.C., Chuckling.....
That's the only issue I have with you. All the other grounding will be done as you said eventually, and as soon as I get a Poly-phaser.
Hey! You know what L.C. your a great dude to put up with this greener than green, greenhorn! lol!
BTW,
Don't sell us CB'rs too short L.C., Actually, there is quite some talking going on in my area from local cb'rs every single day & night. It's really starting to make a comeback. And if I'm being thought of as an Idiot, more power to me & those who are keeping CB alive. After all, isn't this the foundation of amateur radio? Shame on you! LOL! but I understood what you meant. Yeah, there is a few screw faces out there from time to time.
Thank you L.C. for all the time & patience you have shown to me. You are greatly appreciated. I am learning here. That's why I question your tactics. Please don't give up on me, I'm really eating up all of your advice. I cannot ever thank you enough.
73's
J.
