[TowerTalk] A "good deal"

[K7GCO@aol.com]

In a message dated 26.01.00 20:08:10 Pacific Standard Time, 
SPELUNK.SUENO@prodigy.net writes:

 True 'dat.  Washington, DC HD's have unadvertised, unmarked specials of
 NOALOX: normally $7.50, priced down to $5.15 for 8 oz. bottle w/applicator.
 73 de Gene Smar  AD3F
  >>
   One big advantage of a properly designed quad is each wire joint is 
soldered giving Zero Resistance and it doesn't change.  Instead of using 
NOALOX on aluminum joints, I hear it works better on stiff knee joints.  This 
Rheumatoid Arthritis of the yagi joints is a serious plague affecting all 
aluminum joints--sooner or later.  I call it "Alumitoid Yagititus."  
   I've checked many yagi joints over the years with an ohm and capacitive 
meter and some become Capacitive Reactive.  Fortunately for yagi's, 
capacitive reactance does conduct RF but not without a length change.  That 
joint would stop DC.  How deep the RF goes inside a tight capacitive joint I 
don't know due to the limitations of the skin affect and the tight fit. It 
can throw off the critical F/B tuning of a yagi which is easy to observe.  
Other factors of performance are not.  It doesn't always change the SWR 
either I've found.  Someone on TT said "certain DXer's are taking their beams 
down and cleaning them before a contest."  I started recommending doing that 
over 50 years ago after what I found--yes even with Penatrox.  Some of the 
DXer's I told did it and thanked me for it. One competitive Dxer suggested "I 
not tell others"!!  One high power W6 found Penatrox got hard in the joints 
and had to file it off.  One 40 year old aluminum joint I took apart-with 
special leverages-the Alumitoid
Yagititus coating was .015" larger than tubing diameter.  The was a 
"compression fit."  
   I finally cured the problem with a Flea Market Aluminum Solder on 
telescoping joints.  I cleaned the tubing inside and out even with soap and 
water.  I rotated 3/4" tubing in a lathe slowly heating it and the 5/8" 
telescoping length with a Bernsamatic Torch.  At the right time or heat, it 
flowed like regular solder.  Larger tubing will require 2 torches.  Result: 
Instant Zero Ohm joints that has lasted for 5 years.  I mechanically secured 
a short length of 1/2" tubing for 6" past the joint as I wasn't sure what 
heating the tubing would do to it's temper.  I'm going to run a test on this. 
These are the only yagi elements I have Zero Maintenance on except for the 
continuous diameter elements I use on 10 and 12M.  Aluminum welders should 
work also.  
    Part of this multiple joint resistance problem (every stainless steel 
clamp adds 2 more joints) is created by the length restrictions of shipping 
tubing in the mail and airplane luggage for DX Expeditions.  If I went on a 
DX Expedition I'd take quads.  Quad wire comes in long hanks, is cut to the 
exact length and then it's PERMANENTLY SOLDERED.  Telescoping fiberglass 
tubing creates no performance problem as it does with yaig's.  
    There are still Quad manufacturers that cuts costs with minimum 
mechanical and electrical designs to appeal to the tight budget buyers. Ham 
Radio is living off the Retiree's and SS now and it's limited budget.  They 
also rely on the inability of their customers not to recognize the products 
performance deficiencies.  The root of the problem is few have 2 towers the 
same height for a comparison with a quad initially and long term.  It's easy 
to compare 2 rigs in the shack with a coax switch.  They have given the quad 
a bad name it doesn't deserve.  It even took me a long time to finally see 
the "Quad Light" with all the bad mouthing of quads going on. 
   There is a Special Oven in Hell for these manufacturers along with the 
buyers.  Would you believe they still buy from each other down there.  Their 
Inter-Hell-Net Communication is on LSB only. Solder joints go bad down there 
all the time--like aluminum joints.
    Gentlemen: It's time to review the facts of beam antenna performance.  
Only with soldered aluminum and wire joints, there is no electrical 
deterioration of a beams performance. I have yet to read one bad report in TT 
or anywhere of electrical deterioration of quads performance and or of 
numerous mechanical problems of telephone poles which I have also 
recommended.  TT covers enough problems of metal towers and other antennas 
that strongly suggests "better methods of enjoying Ham Radio should be 
considered."  Retiree's I know can't do the constant maintenance needed with 
metal towers and yagi's after 10-15 years nor can they afford hiring it done. 
   
K7GCO    

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