[TowerTalk] C4 40 Meter Coax Repair

[Guy Olinger, K2AV]

When the half antenna was hanging by the coax, exactly what on the
antenna end was transferring the support to the antenna? Lots of black
tape, or possibly the coax PL259/SO239 at the B1 balun? If so, the
connection, either ground or center conductor or both, may have
loosened inside the PVC cover. Seriously doubt Tom designed B1 to
suspend much weight from the SO239 or take a sudden jerk. Drop a
bowling ball on your toe from eye level to approximate the forces
involved. (It's only 16 pounds...) 

Pretty sure that the B1 is flooded and sealed at manufacture, so if
water came out of it, a good chance that the seal integrity was
compromised by stretching/bending and internal contact at risk.

Best 'o luck chasing this one down...

Guy.

On Mon, 5 Apr 1999 09:23:10 -1000, you wrote:

> .....
>Jim went up the pole,  unscrewed the damaged coax,  and had a lot
>of water pour out of the connector on him!,   even though well taped with
>Scorch #23.  However,  as it had rained heavily for several days
>after the "fall",  and the coax was hanging straight down,  we
>decided that may be how the water got in.  Anyway,  Jim decided
>we should warm the Force 12 B-1 balun SO-239 connectored balun end
>to attempt pulling any more water out of that area and to thoroughly
>dry the connector.  When all appeared dry,  Jim screwed on the replacement
>length of LMR,  taped,  and then used The Wireman's coax seal,  very
>sticky stuff,  then more tape.
>
>Now for the RF test.  Sure enough,  the arcing,  or whatever problem seems
>"almost" gone!  Well,  why not all gone?  No trace of a problem now at
>50 watts,  but, just noticeable,  "ffffffp.......fffffffp" sounds at the
>onset and close of
>words on SSB at 100 watts out,  but no detectable distortion of any
>sort on a 100 watt 40M CW signal ---curiousor and curiousor.
>

> .....
73, Guy
--. .-..

Guy Olinger, K2AV
k2av@qsl.net
Apex, NC, USA


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