Sidebar Sidebar
  • You can now help support WorldwideDX when you shop on Amazon at no additional cost to you! Simply follow this Shop on Amazon link first and a portion of any purchase is sent to WorldwideDX to help with site costs.
  • Click here to find out how to win free radios from Retevis!

IS THIS STUFF ANY GOOD?

Sonar

Sonar

Sr. Member
Apr 8, 2016
1,501
1,018
173
There were other brands available on eBay but I don't need 10 plus feet of it and I certainly don't want to spend close to $40. I will only be using it on the pl-259 that attaches to my antenna. I'm hoping to get out there within the next two weeks in order to try to figure out my antenna issues. Whatever they might be I'd like to use this or something similar to prevent future moisture issues. I'm not saying that is the issue I'm currently having, but once I figure out what it is I'd like to do whatever I can in order to reduce future issues. Thanks. 73 sScreenshot_20180123-192636.jpg
 

Sonar said:
There were other brands available on eBay but I don't need 10 plus feet of it and I certainly don't want to spend close to $40. I will only be using it on the pl-259 that attaches to my antenna. I'm hoping to get out there within the next two weeks in order to try to figure out my antenna issues. Whatever they might be I'd like to use this or something similar to prevent future moisture issues. I'm not saying that is the issue I'm currently having, but once I figure out what it is I'd like to do whatever I can in order to reduce future issues. Thanks. 73 sView attachment 22473
Click to expand...
It works
 
  • Like
Reactions: Unit 194, binrat and Sonar
dave457 said:
It works
Click to expand...
That's good enough for me. I already purchased it. now all I need to do is FIND OUT WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH MY ANTENNA (OR COAX!!!) Thanks. PS. There's no reason to use this on the inside, is there? Jumpers ect?
 
mechanic said:
I'll bite.... What is the antenna doing or not doing? Also need to know what type of antenna, brand, height above ground.... and what kind of meter are you using?

mechanic
Click to expand...
I do have a separate post as to what exactly happened with my SWR. But your input is welcomed so I'll try not to be verbose. IMAX 2000, about 10 feet off the ground from feed point. 15 feet away from my house. LMR 400 (times microwave) approximately 110 ft long. Meters used. Autek wm1. Backup meter same.
Number one. A couple of weeks ago we had 12 inches of snow and single-digit temperatures. I decided to spend some time on the air. Used both stations approximately two weeks before the day of the single-digit Temps and snow without any issues.
Number two. I turned on my Sonar FS 2340 and Palomar 350Z. My SWR started low and in a study motion begin to rise. It stopped slightly above 3.
Number four. I waited until the 1st above-freezing day to turn the radio on again. Same thing.
Number four. (Tried the stations 2340, 350z, and Uniden Madison with Palomar 300 a,) during a 50-degree plus day. Same results with both setups. With one difference. My SWR begin to drop stopping at 2.
This time a new issue showed up. The SWR begin acting erratically on both my autek wm1's (everyday user and backup) there was a slight breeze that day and took a look at the IMAX. It was swaying slightly back and forth but nothing out of the ordinary.
I have little space in my backyard and installed the antenna the only way I could without having to use guy wires. I used a non-penetrating roof mount held down with 8 standard cinder blocks. I am disabled and will need some help taking the antenna down to figure out weather it's something as simple as a loose pl-259, (which happened once before about a year-and-a-half ago) moisture got into the coax via the pl-259, or possibly one of the two and antenna sections became loose due to ice somehow getting between those sections? Or the antenna itself has been irreparably damaged. So what you say. PS. The 110 ft lmr400 is only 4 years old. I was using 3 240 LMR jumpers and 2 400 LMR jumpers between the two transceivers, 2 position antenna switch, to amplifiers, and meter. I didn't like using the different size LMR jumpers and just before the issue showed up decided to purchased five brand new 4 ft LMR 240 jumpers. I hooked them up after the issue thinking what the hell. I was going to do So eventually. SWR readings are still the same. Starting out at zero then risising with a 2-3 second DK. Then staying keyed for another 2-3 seconds the 3+ swr will begin to drop. And lowering to a 2 with, but jumping close to the 3 swr with modulation. Then the occasional erratic action of the needle on both WM 1's jumping Up and dropping from the normal 1.2 up 3+, and occasionally stopping between those readings. Thanks for your time PS. So much for being verbose. Thanks again. 73 s
5199-1507945925-9245c8d2200772751fa5777b934c7f0d.jpg
 
Last edited:
I would try and isolate the trouble using a dummy load.

Start with it at the radio and add a piece at a time. When your Swr goes up, you have found the culprit.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sonar
fonman said:
I would try and isolate the trouble using a dummy load.

Start with it at the radio and add a piece at a time. When your Swr goes up, you have found the culprit.
Click to expand...
Using my dummy load at the wm1 out +antenna position) shows a perfect SWR. That was the first thing I did as it was the easiest for me to do so. I also switched between the Uniden and sonar, and got the same results. A perfect SWR. I am assuming that's telling me the problem is at the other end (antenna or coax.) I'm getting a strong feeling that the pl-259 connected to the IMAX 2000 is loose. Very loose. When this happened approximately a year-and-a-half ago although the results as far as the SWR weren't exact they were similar in reaction. Damn! I'm hoping that's all it is. If the temps are nice this weekend I might just get a friend or family member out there with me. Lying that antenna down is very simple. All one needs to do is remove those 8 cinder blocks and without unscrewing screwing any of the u-bolts or removing any masts I can check everything from the pl-259 to the antenna itself. I have a brand new a 99 in the garage, but before I do that I also have a 11 wire dipole. If the pl-259 is tight I might just unscrew it and temporarily install the wire dipole from the top of the 10 foot Mast diagonally down to the ground. Then use that to see what type of swr readings I get. If the readings are good I can only assume my IMAX has been damaged. And a new Imax will be ordered. I gained One S unit both on the receive and transmit side between the first a99 I used and the IMAX. I also still own that one but while trying to get my swr as low as I could I'm really turned those rings so much that getting involved in trying to get it right is just to much of as hassle. After that Fiasco I just went ahead and purchased another a 99 Only to decide a few days later why not go with the IMAX. It was a good choice for me. Only 10 feet from the feed point I could use all the help I could get, and the IMAX from me did work better. As I mentioned I got one s unit better on the RX side and one on the t x side. I bought the IMAX from cheap ham. It was delivered the next day. And if I recall it was the cheapest 1 sold anywhere. I will keep you and everyone else who has been helping informed of the results. Thanks again 73. Time to hit the hay. I'm out of here like swimwear. Whatever the fuck that means!
 
Radio shack used to sell a version of that soft sealant tape in the 80's/90's. I'd use it when I had two runs of long coax and a connector in the middle. It lasted for years and was awesome at protecting the connectors from the weather. When I peeled it off years later they looked brand new....aside from all the sticky black residue :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Sonar and Unit 194
Coax Seal is excellent! I have been using the product for over 20 years with no moisture problems whatsoever.

BTW: Why is your antenna mounted on the ground?
 
Unit 194 said:
Coax Seal is excellent! I have been using the product for over 20 years with no moisture problems whatsoever.

BTW: Why is your antenna mounted on the ground?
Click to expand...
Yes Sir! When I first decided to get back on the air after a 28 year absanance I left a post asking that question on this very site (wwdx radio fourm) wheather a non penetrating roof mount would work for mounting my antenna on the ground in my backyard? The consensus was absolutely!
My second question in that same post was would my antenna work at only 10 feet from the ground?
The answer to that question wasn't as positive. Some said it would work. Some said it wouldn't work. And some said if it's all you can do in order to get on the air go for it and see what happens.
I followed the advice of the latter and my a99 had an swr of 1.3 with 2 Watts and 1.5 with 1K.
I've talked locally 70 miles, and when conditions were running wild I made contacts and held qso's from Japan to Turkey, and Alaska to Brazil.
It was either that or stop looking at the old gear I'd collected since the late 70s, and stop dreaming about getting it on the air again.
I remember thanking everyone who told me to go for it and see what happens. As a matter of fact I recall several other replies stating they've operated a 99's and 2000's mounted less then 2ft off the ground. One guy on a Caribbean Beach, during vacation used about 4 ft of bamboo pole shoved in the sand, and it worked like a charm.
I would like to have the antenna higher in the air but with that comes guy wires, and my backyard isn't that large. We have barbecues during the summer and my nieces and nephews do lots of running around. We also have the occasional deer strool through. Guy wires coul injour or possibly kill the animals and worse the children. Getting cloths lined buy a guy wire can be detrimental to your health.This non penetrating roof mount is normally used for those who have a flat roof and don't want to or can't use screws in order to mount a tripod. They also sell one for a pitched roof.
The first (brown colored mast is part of the n.p.r.m and the one above that is a standard mast I added. The antenna although not seen in the picture is mounted on that one. My antenna I actually less then 10'. More like 8'. This is what it looks like before adding the cinder blocks, another mast and antenna. Thanks. 73'sScreenshot_20180124-101351.jpg
5199-1507945925-9245c8d2200772751fa5777b934c7f0d.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: S&W357
Coax seal is a cheap thing to look for at hamfests.. If you already purchased than just a couple of pointers I've learned over time. Maybe a little wrap of high quality electrical tape first then coax seal over and above and below that. Reason being is that once the seal has been on for a while it can be a pain in the butt to get off the pl259. Pull seal off then just unwrap tape...saves you a little headache. More importantly to remember... on the Imax and A99 there is a drain hole next to so239. DO NOT get coax seal over that.. moisture needs a place to get out. Good luck on the trouble shooting.. you'll figure it out. 73..
 
  • Like
Reactions: Johnno and Captain Kilowatt
Blackcat630 said:
Coax seal is a cheap thing to look for at hamfests.. If you already purchased than just a couple of pointers I've learned over time. Maybe a little wrap of high quality electrical tape first then coax seal over and above and below that. Reason being is that once the seal has been on for a while it can be a pain in the butt to get off the pl259. Pull seal off then just unwrap tape...saves you a little headache. More importantly to remember... on the Imax and A99 there is a drain hole next to so239. DO NOT get coax seal over that.. moisture needs a place to get out. Good luck on the trouble shooting.. you'll figure it out. 73..
Click to expand...
Might the electrical tape under the coax tape be counterintuitive?
 

dxChat
Help Users
  • No one is chatting at the moment.


      Top Bottom
      Back