[TenTec] ladder line

[Rob Atkinson, K5UJ]

I have thought about rigid vertical dipoles before but didn't do anything 
because i was afraid ground effect would unbalance them (I didn't want to 
deal with insulating the bottom of the bottom half  also) unless they were 
higher up than I wanted to go, and i knew the feedline would have to come 
away at 90 degrees for some distance.  If the feed point were 30 feet up or 
more that might be kind of tricky (a lot depends on your site and what's in 
the way).    if i were going to try one, i'd probably think about a wire 
dipole suspended from a rope between two structures if possible.

But, while we're on the subject, I'd like to put in a plug for an outfit 
here in town that should be of interest to anyone who wants to work with 
aluminum:  these antennas we're discussing are pretty basic structures and 
can be homebrewed (probably should be).  I have a guy here in my town who 
started a business about 2 years ago selling heavy gauge aluminum pipe and 
machined mounts, clamps and split sections.  Also portable antenna masts and 
accessories, stainless and galv. nuts and bolts, cable, guys, coax and 
connectors, 6061 Al tubing, custom machining, tiltover bases.  He goes to 
hamfests around here and ships.  Was at Dayton but his business has been 
pretty much word of mouth.  Saw him this morning at the Aurora IL hamfest 
and he told me he just shipped some of his product to Egypt.  If he can ship 
there he can ship to you and I've looked at his stuff and it all looks like 
high quality:
Charles Penninger KC9DAO
Penninger Radio, 619 S. 9th Ave. St. Charles IL 60174,
phone/fax 630-584-7641,
http://www.penninger.com,
radio at penninger.com

rob/k5uj

_________________________________________________________________
FREE pop-up blocking with the new MSN Toolbar – get it now! 
http://toolbar.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200415ave/direct/01/