[TenTec] OT: Openwire/Window Line and Bad Wx

Mon Jul 29 12:34:10 EDT 2013

You raise some good points about power levels, but ya know, sometimes its just fun to try and work with a qrp rig. Lots of times, I get 5/9 reports until they find out I'm only running 5 watts. Oh, well if I really need it I can fire up the 100 watt rig and the AL82. Then they complain about having to use the attenuator!!!!

> Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 11:17:59 -0500
> From: tvman1954 at gmail.com
> To: tentec at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] OT: Openwire/Window Line and Bad Wx
> 
> As my Old Elmer always said " Life is Too Short for QRP " When you care
> enough to send a readable signal ! It should be QRO............ QRP has
> it's place in the Outback and Power Limited situations. Sitting at the
> house and hooked to 200 Amps or more of AC Service. Why worry about QRP? It
> sort of reminds me of the New Technicians who buy a 5 watt Handi with the
> Rubber Duck Antenna. And that is the last radio they purchase for the next
> 10 years. Because of this, I limit my time on 2 meters and 70 Cm. My radio
> does QRP too! And with the twist of a control 100 Watts. Then the flip of a
> switch .... more.... ! In my world it is better to have it and not need
> it.... Than to need it and not have it! SB-200 for the Nets and an SB-220
> that collects dust....
> 
>                                                 73
> from  Wade/KJ4WS
> 
> On Mon, Jul 29, 2013 at 10:56 AM, k6jek <k6jek at comcast.net> wrote:
> 
> > I'm surprised you're burning the tree at only 30' from the feed point. I
> > wouldn't be surprised at a quarter wavelength out but 30' on 160 meters is
> > maybe .05 wavelength out or something. Should be high current, relatively
> > low voltage. I'm doing this in my head which is not a reliable way to do
> > calculations.
> >
> > Ham lore around here is trees matter at high voltage points not current
> > points. This may just be of those things we know that isn't true.
> >
> > Maybe you aren't exclusively QRP.
> >
> > Jon
> >
> >
> > On Jul 29, 2013, at 8:20 AM, Bob McGraw - K4TAX wrote:
> >
> > > One end of my 160M antenna being #12 hard drawn copper, about 30 ft from
> > the feed point runs through the top of a Maple tree.  The only thing I've
> > noticed is the leaves and limbs burnt at the point the wire contacts the
> > tree.  {Saves the cost of a tree triming service.}  Wind, snow, ice and
> > rain have little to no effect on the operation.
> > >
> > > As Will Rodgers said "it's not what folks know that concerns me, it's
> > what folks know that isn't correct, that gives concern".  This I find to be
> > largely true with baluns and openwire line and balanced line.
> > >
> > > 73
> > > Bob, K4TAX
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Sussman" <psussman at pactor.com>
> > > To: "Scott Harwood" <scotthsr at earthlink.net>; "Discussion of Ten-Tec
> > Equipment" <tentec at contesting.com>
> > > Sent: Monday, July 29, 2013 8:20 AM
> > > Subject: Re: [TenTec] OT: Openwire/Window Line and Bad Wx
> > >
> > >
> > >> I also use openwire feeder with 4" spacing. Rain, snow, ice, wind, hot,
> > cool,
> > >> the tuner usually doesn't have to be adjusted. (Unless it's unusually
> > hot or
> > >> cold)
> > >>
> > >> 73 de Phil - N8PS
> > >>
> > >> PS. I agree with Scott. I had a tree limb brushing the wire antenna and
> > I
> > >> didn't notice it -- until my XYL pointed it out. Seemed to have no
> > effect,
> > >> however.
> > >>
> > >> ---
> > >>
> > >> Quoting Scott Harwood <scotthsr at earthlink.net>:
> > >>
> > >>> That was a great article.  I'm a huge fan of open wire also.
> > >>>
> > >>> Last year I had a contractor doing some work in my side yard and he
> > actually tied back my open wire line to an aluminum gutter using  plastic
> > cable ties.  I did notice I had to re-tune one day, but the  guys I talk to
> > on 75 meters said my signal had been as strong as  usual!  I didn't
> > discover the tied down line until a week later  while checking out his work
> > in the yard.  Go figure.
> > >>>
> > >>> Scott K4VWK
> > >>>
> > >>>
> > >>> -----Original Message-----
> > >>>> From: Rick - DJ0IP / NJ0IP <Rick at DJ0IP.de>
> > >>>> Sent: Jul 29, 2013 4:54 AM
> > >>>> To: 'Discussion of Ten-Tec Equipment' <tentec at contesting.com>
> > >>>> Subject: [TenTec] OT:  Openwire/Window Line and Bad Wx
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I extracted this topic from the other thread on the Model 238.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> How does bad weather affect openwire compared to its effect on window
> > line?
> > >>>> Lots of opinions, lots of myths.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Bob Allison (WB1CGM) and Joel Hallas (W1ZR) tested this to find out.
> > >>>> Their results are reported in the November 2009 issue of QST on page
> > 66.
> > >>>> See: http://www.dj0ip.de/spiderbeam-1/spiderpole/pole-base-mount/and then
> > >>>> select "W1ZR" as author and "2009" as year.
> > >>>> Unfortunately you have to be a member of ARRL to download this and it
> > is
> > >>>> copyrighted, otherwise I would post the download on my web.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Summary, for 95 ft. of feedline (the length they tested), the change
> > is
> > >>>> negligible in both.
> > >>>> It is ever so slightly worse with window line, but less than 0.2dB.
> > >>>> NEGLIGIBLE!
> > >>>>
> > >>>> The real difference is, true openwire changes it impedance only
> > slightly
> > >>>> when wet, whereas the window line changes more and generally requires
> > >>>> re-tuning the matchbox.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> One word of caution, which should be obvious:  Neither are suitable
> > for
> > >>>> running along the ground, whether wet or dry!
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Being an operwire fanatic, I personally found this to be one of the
> > most
> > >>>> useful articles ever published in QST.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> 73
> > >>>> Rick, DJ0IP
> > >>>>
> > >>>>
> > >>>> _______________________________________________
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