[TenTec] bill orr article

[Stuart Rohre]

Bob McGraw makes good points on using a dipole fed with parallel 
(balanced) line.  This will work for twin lead or for either the open 
wire line, or coated ladder line.

I successfully use some pipe insulation, slotted for my balanced line 
and placed under the metal sash and on top of the metal frame of the 
window unit.  The balanced line is about an inch from the metal in each 
direction, supported by the slot in the pipe insulation and crosses it 
at right angles.  A screw on window lock and insulation stuffed into the 
top of the sash insulates the window and the lock restores security of 
that window.  The window sash slightly compresses the pipe insulation to 
hold it in place across the width of the sash.

For bringing parallel line down from the attic for an operating position 
on an interior wall, you can just drill two holes the spacing of the 450 
ohm line, or even a bit one way of the other apart, in the ceiling above 
the tuner.  Use long bolts or all thread to make attachment points in 
the attic and at the top of ceiling for the parallel line.  This makes a 
direct drop to the back of the tuner, and if you ever want to 
discontinue use of the operating position, close the two holes with 
spackling compound, and you are done, unless you have to paint the 
ceiling points with color.  The holes don't have to be exactly the 
spacing of the feedline, because using a tuner, you tune the line and 
the antenna for a match.

-Stuart Rohre
K5KVH