RESULTS of the RUNNING CABLE QUERY

Wed Jul 6 13:26:00 EDT 1994

First, I'd like to thank everyone who sent suggestions; about
two dozen responded to my plea for help!

Those who favored burying the cable outnumbered the run-it-above-
ground set by a three-to-one margin.

Despite this, I have decided to run all of my cables above ground,
for the following reasons:

   1) I don't want to do a direct burial, because then I can't easily
add more cables.

   2) I don't have the $$$ to properly implement the conduit idea: Not
only would I have to buy some fairly large stuff (4" was commonly
mentioned), but it would have to be buried deeply enough to be protected
from vehicles driving over it.  I also don't think that I'd be
 very successful pulling new cable through 400 foot runs of  conduit.

Actually it was a few comments about back-guying the support posts
which got me thinking that I was thinking one dimensionally:
I HAD been thinking of running straight out from the house to the towers,
more or less down the middle of the property.  I realized that if
I took the runs down the EDGE of the property, I wouldn't have to
concern myself as much with them getting in the way of lawn mowers
and the like. It also would not look quite so bad. The only cost is
in the additional cable required to go from the shack to the side of
the property, and from there back to the towers. Another possibility
I thought of is that with above-ground runs, I could use Twin-Lead.
While I have never used the stuff, I know one big-time contester who
swears by it.  By running above the ground, I at least maintain the
potential for using it.  Does ANYONE use Twin-Lead at their place?

The question of whether to physically separate the control cable from
the hardline and coax brought mixed response; I have decided to run
them separately - it can't hurt, and might help, especially if I
ever get suckered into going multi-op.

I want to thank everyone again for your thoughts!

Despite how useful everyone's ideas were, I am withdrawing from the
CQ-CONTEST reflector for now; unfortunately, I must pay for received mail,
and it's just getting too costly to pay for messages like: "In case
you have been wondering where I've been, my server's been down, but it's 
fixed now, so, I'm back !", not to mention the classic "me too!" comments, 
and the ever-popular,
but never out-of-style "subscribe".  I'll be back when I can find a
cheaper way to receive messages, because the there is some real solid
information and discussion going on between the drivel.  And when I return, 
I'll let
everyone know: "Hi everyone!  I'm back!  I found a way to get mail
cheaply!  Thought you all (even the ones who paid to receive this
amazing bit of new) would be very interested!!!"

73,

Steve KC2X
Narcoosee, Florida
ssacco at attmail.com

>From K9VV - Fred Kleber <0006636049 at mcimail.com>  Wed Jul  6 15:42:00 1994
From: K9VV - Fred Kleber <0006636049 at mcimail.com> (K9VV - Fred Kleber)
Date: Wed, 6 Jul 94 09:42 EST
Subject: 3V8RR - Knowledge?
Message-ID: <33940706144233/0006636049PK2EM at mcimail.com>

Worked 3V8RR last night on 40 (1kHz below 1A0KM!) CW around 0130Z.  Anyone
know anything about this operation?  Romeo perhaps? Op chit-chatted with
W2GD a bit so suspect he may pulled off another rare one.

Fred Fubar, k9vv at mcimail.com

>From ken.silverman at atlas.ccmail.AirTouch.COM (ken silverman)  Wed Jul  6 19:16:26 1994
From: ken.silverman at atlas.ccmail.AirTouch.COM (ken silverman) (ken silverman)
Date: Wed, 06 Jul 94 10:16:26 PST
Subject: Summary: Enameled Wire Solutions
Message-ID: <9406067735.AA773514986 at atlas.ccmail.airtouch.com>

Many thanks for all those who responded!  

Question:  How do you clean enameled #18 stranded wire so you can solder to it? 

And the Top Four Answers are:

4:  Use your teeth  (I guess you won't have to floss that day)

3:  Use a tool with 2 opossing blades made of spring steel.  Squeeze the blades 
together and pull towards the end of the wire, scraping off the enamel 
(shouldn't this should be left to the surgeons?)

2:  Torch the wire untill the enamel burns off 

1:  Use Strip-X (please use in the privacy of your own home)

On the serious side, number 1 and 2 seem to be the concensus.  I tried heating 
one wire, and it burned off the enamel quickly and took the solder well.  But 
while attempting to bunch a few wires together, it didnt take too tell.  It may 
be that I didn't have wires hot enough.  Flux should help the situation. 

With regards to the Strip-x:  people suggest that you will need to go to a well 
supplied electronics store (not Radio Shack).  You dip the wires in, and then 
wipe them off.  Seems easy, and just the ticket when you are trying to do mass 
production of radials using this kind of wire.

Hope this helps.  

Best Regards, Ken WM2C  

(and I'll keep to contesting, comedy is just a past time)

ken.silverman at atlas.ccmail.airtouch.com