Thanks, Rick.
I'll get back off the forum about buying the spreaders. I didn't mean to imply
that weather affected the performance of 450 ohm line, but you expressed it
much better than I did. It's just that weather causes constant re-tuning with
450 or 300 ohm line while 600 ohm line does not.
Always enjoy your comments.
73
Scott
-----Original Message-----
>From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick@DJ0IP.de>
>Sent: Dec 29, 2014 6:02 PM
>To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec@contesting.com>
>Subject: Re: [TenTec] Antenna help
>
>Scott,
>
>If you need any assistance in placing an order with DX-wire, let me know.
>I have a business relationship with that company: it is my biggest
>competitor here in Germany! (hi)
>But the owner and I are in the same contest club so we're friendly
>competitors.
>I buy lots of stuff from him that we don't sell.
>Peter (the owner) speaks good English.
>
>Contrary to a lot of what you read, snow and ice build-up does not have a
>huge impact on performance, it just changes the velocity factor of the
>window line and requires you to re-tune your matchbox. After that it will
>work fine - until the snow thaws and you must retune again.
>
>In contests, re-tuning matchboxes due to changing wx is something I try to
>avoid. Therefore I take the time to build my own feedline for home use.
>But for portable, it's just so much easier working with the window line.
>
>73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Scott
>Harwood
>Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 11:51 PM
>To: Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment
>Subject: Re: [TenTec] Antenna help
>
>
>Rick:
>
>Thanks for the info on the open wire spreaders. My supplier of 600 ohm
>parallel line recently passed away and his company has been shut down. I'll
>try your www.dx-wire.de site. The spreaders look very nice. I totally
>concur with your comments on the 450 ohm (or even 300 ohm) twinlead line.
>I've found that rain, snow, ice, etc. affect that type of plastic coated
>line much more than the 600 ohm line.
>
>73
>
>Scott K4VWK
>
>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick@DJ0IP.de>
>>Sent: Dec 29, 2014 4:52 PM
>>To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec@contesting.com>
>>Subject: Re: [TenTec] Antenna help
>>
>>Curron,
>>
>>As with all similar questions, you will need to give us more
>>information before we answer.
>>
>>Jim's answer might be right but it might not be.
>>It all depends on several factors.
>>
>>Up front, my opinion of this antenna is, if I could have just one
>>antenna for the rest of my life, this is exactly the antenna I would
>>choose. IMO, no other antenna covers so many bands in so many
>>directions as well as this antenna.
>>
>>Scott's article is excellent. I strongly recommend you download and
>>read it. Pay particular attention to what he says about antenna
>>tuners. There is a lot of mis-information floating around about how to
>>match openwire fed antennas. Without a doubt, a symmetrical tuner is
>>by far the best way to go.
>>If you are going to run more than a couple hundred watts, it's the only
>>way to go.
>>Otherwise you may find yourself up to your antlers in common-mode-current.
>>
>>If you use an asymmetrical tuner, it is much better to use a 1:1 balun
>>than a 4:1 balun - even if you have to play with feedline lengths.
>>This assumes you have a fairly decent ATU. Most auto-tuners won't work
>here.
>>
>>If you must use an asymmetrical tuner and want to run high power AND
>>your matchbox won't get by without a 4:1 balun, then you must insert a
>>1:1 Guanella between the matchbox and the 4:1 balun. Otherwise you may
>>find yourself up to your antlers in CMC.
>>
>>450 Ohm windowline (i.e. Wireman) will work and is what I usually use
>>for portable work, but for home use it is better to build your own
>openwire.
>>Use spreaders that snap in place; something like this:
>> http://www.73cnc.com/product_p/ls250.htm
>>
>>My favorite (by far) are here:
>>http://www.dx-wire.de/lng/en/huehnerleiter-spreizer/?language=en
>>They come in 4 different widths. He will ship to stateside.
>>
>>I have seen a couple other similar products in the states.
>>Don't fool with spreaders where you must thread the wires through the
>holes.
>>You'll end up as crazy as me.
>>
>>Curron, here are some questions:
>>
>>>> What bands do you intend to work with this antenna? (list them all,
>>don't just say other bands)
>>>> Will this be your only antenna? If not, list the others you have or
>>>> plan
>>to have.
>>>> When working 80m with this antenna, is your main interest DX? Or do
>>>> you
>>wish to rag chew all around the states?
>>>> Which antenna tuner were you planning on using (make and model) How
>>>> much power will you be running.
>>
>>Again, if at all possible, you should use a symmetrical matchbox.
>>There aren't a lot of these on the market.
>>I have compiled a fairly comprehensive list on my web, divided into low
>>power and high power matchboxes.
>>> www.dj0ip.de/antenna-matchboxes/symmetrical-matchboxes/low-power-atu-
>>> s/
>>> www.dj0ip.de/antenna-matchboxes/symmetrical-matchboxes/high-power-atu
>>> -s/
>>
>>If you can find an old Johnson Viking Matchbox (either the 275w or
>>Kilowatt version), I strongly recommend installing the modification I
>>show on my web
>>site:
>>www.dj0ip.de/antenna-matchboxes/symmetrical-matchboxes/j-viking-upgrade
>>/ This will significantly improve its matching range and provide a
>>better match on several bands.
>>
>>In summary, if you are looking for an @ss-kicking DX antenna for 80, as
>>Jim said, there are better antennas.
>>But if you're looking for a good performing omni-directional antenna on
>>80 that will also work well on all other bands, this one is perfect for
>>the job.
>>
>>73 - Rick, DJ0IP
>>(Nr. Frankfurt am Main)
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: TenTec [mailto:tentec-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Curron
>>Sent: Monday, December 29, 2014 7:51 PM
>>To: tentec@contesting.com
>>Subject: [TenTec] Antenna help
>>
>>
>>
>>Need some help folks...
>>
>>I would like to get some input on building an 80 meter sky loop antenna
>>that I will use on 80 and other bands with an antenna tuner. I have
>>some nice tall pine trees to run the corners to and I plan on joining
>>the loop to the house with 450 ohm ladder line. Just under the edge of
>>the house I will install a balun and bring it into the house with low
>>loss coax. Please make any comments or offer any advice you can. I am
>>hoping to learn from your experiences. Some questions I have are:
>>
>>- What kind of wire should I use for the loop antenna
>>
>>- What type of rope that will hold up to the UV and time (so much just
>>falls apart these days)
>>
>>- What balun, 4:1, 1:1 ?
>>
>>- Is 450 ohm feed ladder line the best to use? This part will be about
>>80 feet long. Will this length be a problem?
>>
>>- Has anyone ever had any issues using
>>delrin for the insulators? Is there a better?
>>
>>- I am thinking about placing a screen door spring on each corner to
>>allow the trees to sway in the wind. anyone ever tried that. Or should
>>I just counter weight to opposing corners of the loop?
>>
>>- How's the best way to protect this
>>setup from lightning?
>>
>>Thanks in advance for any help!
>>
>>
>>
>>73
>>
>>Don kb3drw
>>
>>
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