[Antennas] Re: [TowerTalk] Re: Balloon

Pat Barthelow aa6eg@cv.tmx.com
Thu, 5 Mar 1998 14:55:16 -0800 (PST)


As to a supplier for Baloons, Helium:
Our local Welding supply shop has all the goodies for party baloon
filling, and is vastly cheaper for Helium and Supplies than the party
supply specialists....Ribbon Rolls with LARGE amounts of ribbon on them,
not just fat spools with a small amount of ribbon.....etc....They run the
baloon thing as a sideline to their Welding supply business, and already
have a supply line to various (welding) gas suppliers...


73, DX de Pat, AA6EG/N6IJ
N6IJ: "The Contest Station from the Government"


On Thu, 5 Mar 1998, C. Logan Dietz wrote:

> 
> 
> Markhasin, Vitaly (SLI) wrote:
> 
> > Hi Chuk,
> > On Thursday, March 05, 1998 7:16AM you wrote:
> >
> > <snip>
> >
> > The balloon is shaped like a manta ray.  Fair radio Sales has a web
> > page.
> >
> > WHAT IS ADDRESS?
> >
> 
>  Fair Radio Sales Company Inc.
> 
> >  You need to refill it each day, although it will only lose about 25% of
> > its
> > helium.  They are $25 each.  I rented a 80 cu ft cylinder of helium for
> > $15.99
> > plus a $150 deposit.
> >
> > WHAT IS THE WHEIGHT OF THIS CYLINDER WHEN FILLED?
> 
> About 50 pounds..
> 
> > WHERE DO YOU GET THEM FROM (ie WHAT INDUSTRY USES THEM, WHERE TO LOOK
> > FOR THEM?
> 
> We have them at party supply places that sell helium balloons for parties.
> 
> >
> >
> >   It filled the balloon and recharged it the next day and
> > still had about 30-40% of the helium left.  The balloon is about 5-6
> > feet
> > across and about 3 feet thick.  You can reuse it if you dont snag it on
> > a tree
> > or something.  Mine is reusable.
> > I used about #22 insulated wire.
> >
> > THIS IS THE ANTENNA WIRE SIZE OR A SEPARATE WIRE IS REQUIRED TO HOLD THE
> > BALLOON?
> 
> It is best to just use the antenna wire to hold the balloon...Eliminate all
> the weight you can.
> 
> > HOW LONG IS YOUR ANTENNA? JUST A LONG WIRE?
> 
> 1/4 wave with two  1/4 wave (+4% or so) radials going in opposite
> directions.  The base was at about 85 feet.
> 
> > DO YOU USE A TUNER?
> 
> No...It had a 1:1 SWR and about 80 khz between 2:1 points...
> 
> >
> >
> > Careful filling it.  The gas comes out of the nozzle so rapidly you will
> > blow
> > holes in the balloon if it is aimed directly at it.
> >
> > IS CYLINDER MUST HAVE A PRESSURE REGULATOR?
> 
> Yes..It was made for filling small party balloons
> 
> >
> >
> > Please answer the UPPER CASE questions.
> > Thank you.
> > 73! Vitaly (VE6JO)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ------
> Submissions: antennas@qth.net
> 


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