Topband: Spectrum

Fri May 29 13:02:31 EDT 2020

Hi all,
I had Uverse TV and 1 KW blew away their modem, anyone operating QRO using Spectrum for TV, Phone and Internet ?
I assume would have a box with DVR and WIFI.  Any problem with any feature being blown away or hash in recorded programs?
If it works better than my ATT and DirecTV I might go for my second 100 on Topband hi hi
Thanks

Rick N6PE

======================================================================

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    On Friday, May 29, 2020, 09:00:47 AM PDT, <topband-request at contesting.com> wrote:  

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Today's Topics:

  1. 160M shunt fed choke (tony.kaz at verizon.net)
  2. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (Jim Brown)
  3. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (tony.kaz at verizon.net)
  4. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (Jim Brown)
  5. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (Raymond Benny)
  6. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (tony.kaz at verizon.net)
  7. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (fmoeves)
  8. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (Jim Brown)
  9. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (Jim Brown)
  10. Re: 160M shunt fed choke (Wes N7WS)

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Message: 1
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 11:57:56 -0400
From: <tony.kaz at verizon.net>
To: <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID: <0a7201d63508$c1827090$448751b0$@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"

I shunt feed my tower on 160M. The feed is about 4' above the base of the
tower. I use a vacuum cap beta match. I use three vacuum caps. I have a
vacuum relay to switch between high and low 160M. The coax from the shack is
all underground to the base of the tower. The shield of the coax and the
matching network is grounded to a tower leg.

Is there a potential benefit to adding a ferrite core choke for this type of
setup?  I can easily add one inside the match box. I could follow K9YC's
info for a 18 turn RG-400 on a 2.4" #31 core.  

Tnx for any feedback

N2TK, Tony

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 10:36:53 -0700
From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID:
    <7ad4aa2c-8cc6-4512-2599-d663fe98b1a1 at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

On 5/28/2020 8:57 AM, tony.kaz--- via Topband wrote:
> Is there a potential benefit to adding a ferrite core choke for this type of
> setup?

What do you have for a radial system?  That's the primary determining 
factor. The choke prevents the coax from being used as a radial. If you 
have a robust radial system, that's far less of an issue.

73, Jim K9YC

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 14:06:21 -0400
From: <tony.kaz at verizon.net>
To: <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>,    <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID: <0c0301d6351a$b1d90520$158b0f60$@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"

Hi Jim,
In ground radials - 60. Length 60-100' depending on direction due to a close
in stone wall in one direction.
All the coax is buried and all the shields are tied to the tower legs about
a foot up the tower after the leave the ground.

N2TK, Tony 

-----Original Message-----
From: Topband <topband-bounces+tony.kaz=verizon.net at contesting.com> On
Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:37 PM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke

On 5/28/2020 8:57 AM, tony.kaz--- via Topband wrote:
> Is there a potential benefit to adding a ferrite core choke for this 
> type of setup?

What do you have for a radial system?  That's the primary determining
factor. The choke prevents the coax from being used as a radial. If you have
a robust radial system, that's far less of an issue.

73, Jim K9YC
_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 11:41:45 -0700
From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID:
    <843d3836-6a7d-4f5e-cef2-369d6256ab7f at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

I'd guess that you're probably fine without the choke.

73, Jim K9YC

On 5/28/2020 11:06 AM, tony.kaz at verizon.net wrote:
> Hi Jim,
> In ground radials - 60. Length 60-100' depending on direction due to a close
> in stone wall in one direction.
> All the coax is buried and all the shields are tied to the tower legs about
> a foot up the tower after the leave the ground.
> 
> N2TK, Tony
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband <topband-bounces+tony.kaz=verizon.net at contesting.com> On
> Behalf Of Jim Brown
> Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:37 PM
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
> 
> On 5/28/2020 8:57 AM, tony.kaz--- via Topband wrote:
>> Is there a potential benefit to adding a ferrite core choke for this
>> type of setup?
> 
> What do you have for a radial system?  That's the primary determining
> factor. The choke prevents the coax from being used as a radial. If you have
> a robust radial system, that's far less of an issue.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
> 

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 12:20:53 -0700
From: Raymond Benny <rayn6vr at gmail.com>
Cc: 160 <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID:
    <CAHv=PBGV2hgeCt6sg2X6XoqDpq1w7LcmL20WPG73MEeq626L-A at mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8"

One way to tell if a choke is needed I would think, is to add say, a random
lenght of coax, 20 - 40 ft, to the shack end of you coax and see if your
SWR changes. If so, then a then a choke could help.

Jim, does this sound like a reasonable test? I'm no expert on vertical
antennas, just my experience.

Ray,
N6VR/W7YA

On Thu, May 28, 2020, 11:42 AM Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:

> I'd guess that you're probably fine without the choke.
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
>
> On 5/28/2020 11:06 AM, tony.kaz at verizon.net wrote:
> > Hi Jim,
> > In ground radials - 60. Length 60-100' depending on direction due to a
> close
> > in stone wall in one direction.
> > All the coax is buried and all the shields are tied to the tower legs
> about
> > a foot up the tower after the leave the ground.
> >
> > N2TK, Tony
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Topband <topband-bounces+tony.kaz=verizon.net at contesting.com> On
> > Behalf Of Jim Brown
> > Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:37 PM
> > To: topband at contesting.com
> > Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
> >
> > On 5/28/2020 8:57 AM, tony.kaz--- via Topband wrote:
> >> Is there a potential benefit to adding a ferrite core choke for this
> >> type of setup?
> >
> > What do you have for a radial system?  That's the primary determining
> > factor. The choke prevents the coax from being used as a radial. If you
> have
> > a robust radial system, that's far less of an issue.
> >
> > 73, Jim K9YC
> > _________________
> > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
> >
>
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
> Reflector
>

------------------------------

Message: 6
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 16:04:14 -0400
From: <tony.kaz at verizon.net>
To: <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>,    <topband at contesting.com>
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID: <0cf001d6352b$29e4ba90$7dae2fb0$@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;    charset="us-ascii"

Tnx Jim
Tony

-----Original Message-----
From: Topband <topband-bounces+tony.kaz=verizon.net at contesting.com> On
Behalf Of Jim Brown
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 2:42 PM
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke

I'd guess that you're probably fine without the choke.

73, Jim K9YC

On 5/28/2020 11:06 AM, tony.kaz at verizon.net wrote:
> Hi Jim,
> In ground radials - 60. Length 60-100' depending on direction due to a
close
> in stone wall in one direction.
> All the coax is buried and all the shields are tied to the tower legs
about
> a foot up the tower after the leave the ground.
> 
> N2TK, Tony
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Topband <topband-bounces+tony.kaz=verizon.net at contesting.com> On
> Behalf Of Jim Brown
> Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:37 PM
> To: topband at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
> 
> On 5/28/2020 8:57 AM, tony.kaz--- via Topband wrote:
>> Is there a potential benefit to adding a ferrite core choke for this
>> type of setup?
> 
> What do you have for a radial system?  That's the primary determining
> factor. The choke prevents the coax from being used as a radial. If you
have
> a robust radial system, that's far less of an issue.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband
Reflector
> 

_________________
Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 16:06:43 -0400
From: fmoeves <fmoeves at twc.com>
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID: <mailman.26.1590768002.4590.topband at contesting.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

I'm going from memory so...?I've seen a video of a simple detector.?In the video the guy ran along the feedline while transmitting low power.?You could see if there was a signal on the outside of the cable.?I'll look later to see if I find.?Fred KB4QZH?
-------- Original message --------From: Raymond Benny <rayn6vr at gmail.com> Date: 5/28/20  3:21 PM  (GMT-05:00) To:  Cc: 160 <topband at contesting.com> Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke One way to tell if a choke is needed I would think, is to add say, a randomlenght of coax, 20 - 40 ft, to the shack end of you coax and see if yourSWR changes. If so, then a then a choke could help.Jim, does this sound like a reasonable test? I'm no expert on verticalantennas, just my experience.Ray,N6VR/W7YAOn Thu, May 28, 2020, 11:42 AM Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:> I'd guess that you're probably fine without the choke.>> 73, Jim K9YC>> On 5/28/2020 11:06 AM, tony.kaz at verizon.net wrote:> > Hi Jim,> > In ground radials - 60. Length 60-100' depending on direction due to a> close> > in stone wall in one direction.> > All the coax is buried and all the shields are tied to the tower legs> about> > a foot up the tower after the leave the ground.> >> > N2TK, Tony> >> > -----Original Me
 ssage-----> > From: Topband <topband-bounces+tony.kaz=verizon.net at contesting.com> On> > Behalf Of Jim Brown> > Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 1:37 PM> > To: topband at contesting.com> > Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke> >> > On 5/28/2020 8:57 AM, tony.kaz--- via Topband wrote:> >> Is there a potential benefit to adding a ferrite core choke for this> >> type of setup?> >> > What do you have for a radial system?? That's the primary determining> > factor. The choke prevents the coax from being used as a radial. If you> have> > a robust radial system, that's far less of an issue.> >> > 73, Jim K9YC> > _________________> > Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband> Reflector> >>> _________________> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband> Reflector>_________________Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

------------------------------

Message: 8
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 13:15:26 -0700
From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID:
    <2e621209-c77a-43a8-3921-c19cf902845d at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

On 5/28/2020 12:20 PM, Raymond Benny wrote:
> One way to tell if a choke is needed I would think, is to add say, a random
> lenght of coax, 20 - 40 ft, to the shack end of you coax and see if your
> SWR changes. If so, then a then a choke could help.
> 
> Jim, does this sound like a reasonable test?

No, I don't think so. The reasons for the choke are 1) to minimize noise 
pickup on the coax from coupling to the antenna, and from there to your 
RX; and 2) to keep TX RF off the coax shield. With the robust radial 
system Tony describes, it seems unlikely that the coax shield would see 
more than 1/60 of the TX current, or that the coax shield would 
significantly change the feedpoint Z, or that it would contribute 
audibly to RX noise.

If, however, the antenna was not ideally matched to the feedline, 
changing the feedline length could change the Z at the transmitter. But 
this would be a transmission line effect, not a common mode issue.

73, Jim K9YC

------------------------------

Message: 9
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 13:19:16 -0700
From: Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>
To: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID:
    <dea75abf-a37b-7da3-bd0d-4c58d9b3823e at audiosystemsgroup.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed

On 5/28/2020 1:06 PM, fmoeves wrote:
> I'm going from memory so...?I've seen a video of a simple detector.?In the video the guy ran along the feedline while transmitting low power.?You could see if there was a signal on the outside of the cable.?I'll look later to see if I find.

Tony's feedline is buried, so could be tricky. But it IS right to move 
the probe along the feedline to find a current max, because the current 
varies along the line because it would be acting as part of the antenna.

73, Jim K9YC

------------------------------

Message: 10
Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 13:39:11 -0700
From: Wes N7WS <wes_n7ws at triconet.org>
To: jim at audiosystemsgroup.com
Cc: topband at contesting.com
Subject: Re: Topband: 160M shunt fed choke
Message-ID: <7C6A9C89-E6B8-4158-ADE2-8ABFA6BCFECA at triconet.org>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

A buried antenna. Why worry about it?

Wes. N7WS

Sent from my iPhone

> On May 28, 2020, at 1:19 PM, Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:
> 
> ?On 5/28/2020 1:06 PM, fmoeves wrote:
>> I'm going from memory so... I've seen a video of a simple detector. In the video the guy ran along the feedline while transmitting low power. You could see if there was a signal on the outside of the cable. I'll look later to see if I find.
> 
> Tony's feedline is buried, so could be tricky. But it IS right to move the probe along the feedline to find a current max, because the current varies along the line because it would be acting as part of the antenna.
> 
> 73, Jim K9YC
> 
> _________________
> Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector

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End of Topband Digest, Vol 209, Issue 22
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