[TenTec] OT: coax versus parallel wire, insulated wire for aerial

[Marinus Loewensteijn]

Jerry wrote:
A balanced line,  if perfectly balanced and closely spaced should have
little pickup


Yes, this is what others have mentioned using balanced wires. Rather than addressing the symptoms it's better to address the cause. If the antenna is not balanced then we better try to balance the antenna. Often this is due to one part of the antenna being closer to some surrounding objects. The leg that is close to the surrounding objects should therefor need to be slightly shorter than the other leg. 

One thing I found usefull is to use a "rat tail", a short piece of wire at the centre of the antenna where the antenna is connected to the feeder. Which side it is connected to depends on which side is unbalanced. 

Sometimes the antenna is just a tad too short and then both sides can use a little rat tail but then you'll have a problem with the weather moving the rat tails close and further away frome ach other. (rat tails were something I came accross when working with end fed zepps which I have now abandond: when I was living in the country I considered it a wonderfull antenna yet on the small city plot it picked up too much noise). Using rat tails on both sides in a centre fed antenna is not a good idea, at one side is fine provided it does not interfere with the feeder.

73
Marinus, ZL2ML


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