Author: Gary Slagel via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Sat, 2 Dec 2017 22:00:59 +0000 (UTC)
I'm hoping to get to Belize to work ARRL DX CW contest this year and I'd like to take my Elecraft KPA500/KAT500 and operate 500 watts. I will be at a friends house and not next to the ocean so I'm th
I would suggest that you buy the wire ( I would use gauge 14 solid copper PVC coated THHN, readily available and reasonably priced at Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) and put up the antenna at your qth and s
If you can get vertical antennas within 1/2 RF wavelength of the tide line, you will outperform any dipole by many db's at low DX angles. I used the longest MFJ telescopic whip and two tuned radials
Physical strength is probably the main factor. I successfully ran 1500 watts into an inverted V made of a single conductor from of WD-1A field wire. I believe it is slightly larger than 20 AWG. It ha
Gary 14 gauge will more then handle 500 watts. Tell me how much wire you need and I'll donate it seeing I'm an electrician I have plenty laying around Sent from my iPhone ____________________________
Author: Gary Slagel via TowerTalk <towertalk@contesting.com>
Date: Sun, 3 Dec 2017 14:53:12 +0000 (UTC)
Thanks Paul.... that's the info I needed. Have used some pretty small wire with 100 watts before but I wasn't sure if I needed something heavier just to avoid some kind of electrical failure with th
Are there any trees on the property? I think multiple dipoles fed with RG8X would work better. I always use 14ga because it's cheap, easy to use and plenty strong. The 500watt power level is not an i
HRO sells a stealth antenna wire. I used it for our RCV pennant at V3M. It is super lightweight. Multi-stranded. I suspect it would handle the 500 watts ok. I used a 40/80/160 antenna trapped an
I agree that it's mostly mechanical for strength. The electrical limitation is I squared R, and current along an antenna is pretty well known. It's forced to near zero at the ends, and peaks at one o
I agree. But trees can be in short supply in some localities. 73, Jim K9YC _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ TowerTalk mailing list Tower
I remember that 50 trees on my place were destroyed by hurricane IKE. I had a burn pile going for three months. The remaining trees (mostly yellow pine) constantly drop "tree poop" and create a const
I thought stranded came out the winner in the great wire discussion here a few weeks ago. I remember the THHN from Lowes part, but I forget if it was stranded or solid. BTW if the weather is bad enou
Hi Dave, I used to use stranded years ago Wireman #13 Poly, but the constant flexing (from the wind) weakens it and it broke a lot more often than solid. Solid was also a lot cheaper, more readily av
Back in the day as a novice I used Door Bell Wire for 80M wire antenna. They come in convenient 65' rolls and around 20 guage. 500W would be no problem. --Original Message-- From: TowerTalk [mailto:t
I know that this discussion started with a question about wire for an antenna to be used in Belize, but people are reporting what they have used in the US. Does anyone actually take note of the NEC (
I've never worried about any 'NEC regulation', but, now I'm confused. What size is required for an antenna EXACTLY 150 feet long? That's not addressed in your posting. 73 Don N8DE I know that this di
I was quoting from a description of the NEC requirements rather than from the NEC itself, and you are correct: that description does not cover the situation where the antenna is exactly 150ft. long.
The NEC requirement is based on the need for physical strength, the concern being that it does not break and land on power conductors. Which seems silly -- you gotta be crazy to run an antenna above
On 12/5/17 7:47 AM, Alan NV8A wrote: I know that this discussion started with a question about wire for an antenna to be used in Belize, but people are reporting what they have used in the US. Does a