----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom W8JI" <w8ji@w8ji.com>
To: <topband@contesting.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 10:49 AM
Subject: Re: Topband: 2 wire beverage question
ON4UN states in his book that the wires for a 2 wire reversible beverage
must be installed side by side, but also may be placed one above the
other with satisfactory results.
Did someone try this? How satisfactory is satisfactory?
There is no difference at all.
If the feed system is right, and the line is properly constructed, it
would all work virtually the same. It does not matter if one wire is above
the other, or if they are side-by-side.
Absolutely the best construction method would be a twisted or transposed
line, twisted or transposed at fractions of a wavelength, but even using
the best twisted or transposed installation it would be difficult to tell
from an untwisted line if the conductor was very close spaced (a few
inches or less).
What does make a difference is the wire used, and how the line behaves as
a transmission line. I would not use telephone, insulated wire twisted
pair, or field phone wire, because they are very poor transmission lines
that are lossy and heavily affected by water.
** Ive noticed no difference in any weather using field phone wire which
happens to be in wide use by many very competitive contesters and lowband
DXers. With 5 2 wire reversibles here and 750' of 1/2" feedline there is no
need for a preamp.
The galvanized thin fence wire you often champion is also lossy.
Carl
KM1H
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