TopBand: Re: baloon vertical feedline

[km1h @ juno.com]

I would suggest scrounging up CATV hardline in 3/4" diameter....a very
common size. This cable is generally free as reel ends of 150-300'.
You can easily homebrew splices that will be fine at HF. Many articles
published over the years on how to do it.

The loss of RG-8 type cable is about .25db/100' on 160M so a 1000' run
will almost burn up half your power. 
OTOH the hardline has only .1dB/ 100' at 5 MHz ( the lowest my chart goes
is .1db/100') so at 160M a 1000' run is almost lossless. Even 1/2" CATV
hardline is under 1dB for a 1000' run and with 1/2" you can use PL-258
double female barrel splices.   Cheap and effective.

Have fun.....Carl   KM1H


On Sat, 29 Nov 1997 23:24:24 -0600 "Mike Michon" <michon@eatel.net>
writes:
>We are setting up an antenna up on a hill about 900 feet from an old
>farmhouse.  A quarter wave balloon vertical for 160 meters.  Past 
>years we
>used open wire feed.  
>
>We want to try coaxial cable this year, but don't quite have 900 feet 
>of
>RG-8.  I have scrounged 600 feet, and  I have 300 feet of RG-22 which 
>is 95
>ohm and a pair of wires in the center and will handle 1000 volts.
>
>We will be using about 1200 watts output to antenna.  Anybody have a 
>clue
>as to whether I can use the RG-22 with the pair inside connected, 
>along
>with the RG-8?
>
>I know people use combinations of different impedance feedlines to 
>match
>antennas.  We were going to put up the antenna and about 50 radials 
>and
>then raise it over a quarter wave to try and get a 50 ohm match with 
>no
>capacitors and coils.  It we use this 95 ohm line, what happens, and 
>is it
>a good idea?
>
>And I don't have enough money to go buy 300 more feet RG-8.  Nothing 
>in my
>life is simple.
>
>Going to coax was to not have to use baluns, which are like black 
>magic to
>me as far as building one is concerned, and to e,iminate a Nye Tuner 
>we
>don't think will hold up.
>
>Mike Michon
>AB5XP
>44033 Hwy. 42 
>Prairieville, La 70769
>michon@eatel.net
>
>
>Mike Michon
>AB5XP
>44033 Hwy. 42 
>Prairieville, La 70769
>michon@eatel.net
>
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