I'm impressed. I note the "reviews" (there are only two posted) are (1) unsigned and unnamed and then (2) from Worldradio magazine, who accepts advertising from Maxx-com. QST tossed them many years a
I use the RadioWorks B4-2KX 4:1 balun. Seems to work, haven't blown it up yet. $49.95, I think. WB2WIK/6 "If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough." - Mario Andretti
Deal with the copperweld. It's only hard to work with when you're handling it. Once it's up in the air, it'll stay there a very long time unless a support rope breaks, or tree falls down, or whatever
That explanation doesn't make much sense to me. Are you sure this discussion is not relating to VHF "repeater" systems, which are transmitting and receiving simultaneously at each site? Then, the RX
Yep, in a simplex system, I agree with you. It is certainly unusual that an antenna mismatch creates RX problems that are found sooner, or are more severe, than TX problems. Of course "SWR problem" c
Wow, what a writeup. I guess my only question would be, "Why are you using LMR400?" Are you, ummm, going to rotate that stuff? -WB2WIK/6 "If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast
Jim, I questioned the LMR400 for an "over-engineered" system, but you already explained that for some reason it costs less than RG213/U where you are. (This is a mystery, but I don't live in Canada!)
I'd presume the actual VSWR is higher than you're reading, since it's being improved by the loss of 350 feet of 52 Ohm coax..... -WB2WIK/6 "If everything seems under control, you're just not going fa
Hi Kent, All coax, like all conductors, have Ohmic (resistive) loss, regardless of the frequency of operation. It's this loss that takes over when frequencies used fall much below 30 MHz. You'll note
Yep, you're right, Mike! I realized right after I hit the "send" key that the return loss improvement is 2x the cable loss... And a 6dB return loss improvement will take a 3:1 VSWR right down to clos
The 2-piece Andros type N connectors are intended for use with solid center-conductor coaxial cable such as 9913, 9086, LMR400, etc. The center conductor does NOT need to be filed down in any way, th
The problem with RG8 "foam" cables is the same problem that all "soft" cables have, that being it's mechanically fragile. If handled with care, it should last a long time. But it should not be clampe
John, I wouldn't recommend elevated mounting of the Challenger DX. As I've stated before, if you had one on hand, and lifted it off the ground, you'd know pretty quickly why this isn't recommended. I
Hi John, Experiment! However, there's no reason to logically assume that the "counterpoise" you refer to would work -- since, again (I stated this last time), the three 25' long radials required by t
Interesting comments, Jim. I don't have a 40m beam, myself, but we do at the contest station (K2XR) and always maintain some vertical antennas to supplement the beam. The 2L 40 at 90' works well; how
Good comments, Jim (below). However, it seems to me the SteppIR approach probably requires as extensive a radial field as any other multiband vertical, and that's most of the work for many of us (inc
Hi Jim, Oh, I'm a firm believer in elevated verticals and resonant radial systems. I use one myself, at home, to supplement my beams and also to work DX on 40m, for which I have no beam. It's a simpl
Hi Jon, The "misapplication" is per Andros' data sheet, where they stipulate the connector is for single-conductor coaxial cable; but also, if you use the common 19-strand, 9.5AWG cables such as CXP1