so, you are saying that a wrap of tape coated with Scotchkote to seal it
followed by a UV shielding protective wrap of 88 is overkill, now?
what is amazing to me is the number of guys who appear to be successful
marketing dipole kits on the internet! The get an arm and a leg for
something that a "real ham" certianly should be able to handle...if you can
NOT build a dipole you are in really bad shape! Of course some of these
guys are paying what I will pay for a used three element tribander for a
dipole...funny how that goes, eh!
hope everyone will look up their beam headings for Florida....its only 26
days until the Florida QSO Party, no foolin'!
73,
Jim, K4OJ
----- Original Message -----
From: <K7LXC@aol.com>
To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Monday, April 01, 2002 8:47 AM
Subject: [Towertalk] More LXC Observations
> Howdy, TowerTalkians --
>
> Here are a couple of things for the group:
>
> 1 - Had a chance to see the effects of UV on the Liquid Electrical Tape
that
> I have used and recommended in the past. It was at 6700' in Nevada where
they
> get 320 days of sunshine a year - basically your worst case scenario for
UV.
> The result was that the LET had completely dried out and was flaking off
> after about 2 years.
>
> So what was left was good old black electrical tape. In ALL CASES use
> either Scotch 33+ or 88; they're the premium electrical tapes and the ONLY
> ONES that are LXC approved. They're available at some hardware stores
> including the big box ones and electrical supply houses.
>
> What to use for a joint top-coat? I don't have any problem with just
33
> or 88 electrical tape since it'll handle the UV pretty well. (88 is a
little
> thicker - 11 mil vs. 7 mil) so some guys like W0UN prefer the 88 for
hostile
> environments. Even if the top layer of tape dries out, there are still one
or
> two more layers in beautiful shape underneath it (Right!?!).
>
> The trick to minimize 'flagging' is to let the tape relax before you
put
> the end bit down. The end should have a nice clean edge from cutting or
> tearing carefully. DO NOT pull the tape until it breaks - you're just
asking
> for trouble and then it WILL flag.
>
> 2 - US Tower is completing a new manufacturing facility in the Midwest - I
> don't know the exact location or when it'll be ready. Suffice to say there
> are LOTS of crank-up buyers and owners out there to keep them busy.
Currently
> delivery at UST is 12 weeks so this should help.
>
> They and Force 12 are two of the only current success stories in the
ham
> radio marketplace - business is down for most other ham radio companies.
>
> Anyone with other interesting news please feel free to post it.
Inquiring
> minds wanna know.
>
> Cheers,
> Steve K7LXC
> TOWER TECH -
> Professional tower services for amateurs
> _______________________________________________
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> Towertalk@contesting.com
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