Topband: 300 ohm twin lead for bidirectional Beverage antennas

[Grant Saviers]

I agree there is much F connector junk out there.  However Amphenol does 
make a "4 hole" female F chassis jack, an excellent product. digikey 
usually has stock
https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/amphenol-rf/222146/ACX1545-ND/1989993

Unless one has the $250 D chassis punch for D cylindrical F females, it 
always seems tightening a coax to the recommended torque (15 in-lbs) 
leads to spinning the female in the chassis.

I found some Chinese knockoffs at half the price but the contact is so 
tight it bends the pins in crimp-on F connectors I use on RG179.  The 
steel wire from RG6 CCS goes in ok.

I think the cost of a quality SO238 and PL259 might be in the same 
ballpark as the Amphenol plus commercial RG6 male sleeve.

Grant KZ1W

On 2/29/2020 10:56, Artek Manuals wrote:
> Since the relevant portion of the original post was not quoted not sure 
> what the original problem was ....but
> 
> If your looking for an "easy" and reliable solution for a bi-directional 
> beverage in a single run so to speak, look at a copy of "The Beverage 
> Antenna Handbook" by Misek. He shows a Coaxial version ( I use RG6 but 
> will likely be switching to a RG58/59 variant in the future) . The 
> coaxial version shown by Misek can actually be fed anywhere along the 
> antenna ( including an end) and need not be fed in the center without 
> compromise. I have three here (a 460' Beverage and two 200' BOGs) 
> Pointing at various compass points (N/S, NE/SW AND E/W). The beauty of 
> the coaxial version is that it is a bidirectional with a single 
> wire/cable. Early on I did some side by side A/B comparison switching of 
> a classic 2 wire and coaxial 2 wire with no discernible difference.
> 
> I originally built my system with RG6 and Type F connectors. Problems 
> have arisen in that it is near impossible to find good quality Female 
> Type F connectors. the contact inside the connector either pushed out 
> the back of the connector or has the retention force of a piece of 
> tinfoil (yet another "gift" from PRC) . The net result is that I have 
> been plagued with intermittent connections and am slowing changing my 
> system over to PL259/SO239 connectors. This necessitates changing out 
> the RG6 as well since the jacket on most RG6 is steel and aluminum and 
> cant be soldered to adequately. So if you go this route I recommend 
> PL259's connectors and a coax with a solderable braid
> 
> Typical "does it work"  comment worthy of a quote from dozens of QST 
> article" I have worked a lot of DX with these antennas that I could not 
> hear on T top vertical" . Actually I have worked 132  countries on 160 
> in just 8 months after getting back on the band after a 10 year hiatus.
> 
> See you in the pile ups
> Dave
> NR1DX
> 
> 
> On 2/29/2020 12:16 PM, Ham Hicks wrote:
>> As I recall from the practice of years past, 300 ohm was the only way to
>> hook up to a TV or FM broadcast antenna. There was both the flat variety,
>> and a round design. The round type greatly reduced the rain / snow
>> degradation as the "field" was completely within the line, and it was 
>> much
>> stronger.  Maybe someone still has some of that tucked away.
>> Ham
>> KB4BR
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Topband 
>> [mailto:topband-bounces+ham306=bellsouth.net at contesting.com]
>> On Behalf Of Ned Mountain
>> Sent: Saturday, February 29, 2020 10:02 AM
>> To: topband at contesting.com
>> Subject: Topband: 300 ohm twin lead for bidirectional Beverage antennas
>>
>> Hi Joe,
>>
>>
>> Have as look at the reviews of this bi directional Beverage.  I have been
>> involved with the design and testing for the past 11 years.  The ease and
>> convenience of working with low cost RG-6 for all antenna elements is a
>> blessing.
>>
>>
>>
>> https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=14379
>>
>>
>> Ned
>>
>> WC4X
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Ned Mountain
>>
>> ned.mountain at mindspring.com
>>
>> 770 823 4205 (M)
>>
>>
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>