I bought an Ameritron RCS-10 antenna switch at Dayton, and in reading the manual (please, no giggling) I note that it calls for a two-turn loop in each antenna coax line just before entering the rela
Amen to this, though I've never felt the need to use split bolts. However, I used one in one side of my Carolina Windom, which is under quite a lot of tension due to the weight of the balun and unun
I've heard, as a rule of thumb, that you can try cutting off one foot on each end for each year the coax was exposed to the elements, and see if you can get down to clean. 73, Pete N4ZR Check out the
Indeed - I've been using them since 1995 and they have always been DC. 73, Pete N4ZR Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network web server at <http://beta.reversebeacon.net>. For spots, please use your
It's amazing what antennas hams take for granted these days (those who don't have to contend with HOAs). That 4-stack was a big deal in the 80s. 50 years ago W3AFM wrote a seminal 2-part QST article
I recall back maybe 20 years ago that PVRC members put together a group buy of fiberglas guy rod from the manufacturer. Instead of risking used Phillystran, or paying $2.05 a foot from DXEngineering
I was not suggesting that he use fiberglass rod instead, because I'm well aware of the problems people had with spontaneous deterioration. My only point was to suggest he explore the possibility of
For the last time, I was not advocating Polygon rod. Of course, it is possible to incorrectly apply big-grips to Phillystran, and if you're building a couple of 160-foot towers it makes sense to spen
One of my antennas has a problem on receive, where the strength of signals will abruptly drop for a second or less and then spontaneously return to normal. However, when I transmit on the antenna, i
It's the latter, John - thanks. 73, Pete N4ZR Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network web server at <http://beta.reversebeacon.net>. For spots, please use your favorite "retail" DX cluster. On 9/16/
I know that many Towertalkians are aware of using the RBN for antenna testing, but thought you might find my latest blog article at <reversebeacon.blogspot.com> interesting. It addresses specificall
Anybody remember Gotham antennas from the 1950s? Or all of the fanciful claims emanating from various mainstream antenna companies before Force 12 came on the scene and let in some much needed fresh
From another angle, I note that Remote Ham Radio and W2RE uses (used?) these antennas at the Eastport, Maine station. An after-action report on how they performed and particularly how they stood up
Frankly I'm wondering more about the physdcal durability of the antennas, if they weigh (as some have said) only about 2/3 as much as the equivalent product from JK or Opti-beam. Thinner-walled tubi
I may be suffering from a case of too much information, but I'm puzzled by my new 160-meter inverted L, about 60 feet vertical with 8 on the ground radials each about 65 feet long My old inverted L b
I hope that's not the case, Mike. There is already a two-toroid common mode choke between the coax and the antenna, wound with RG-400. 73, Pete N4ZR Check out the new Reverse Beacon Network web serv
Thanks, everyone, for a lot of thought-provoking advice. A couple of specific comments. At the base of the antenna I have 2 #31 cores each wound with 12 turns of RG-400, in series. I think that may
Thanks, Rob, but I'm trying to keep things in some sort of proportion. I'm currently redeploying my K9AY (which was down for the summer - yeah, I know it's overdue) and then I'll see about more radi
Since my earlier posting, I have learned that since February, 2021, groups.io has charged for groups larger than 100 members. While I think donations could easily cover these costs, and would be will
$ 20/month for up to 500 members. Additional members $0.44/member/year. I have no idea what the total membership of towertalk is, but suspect it's a couple of thousand, which suggests another $700