[TowerTalk] RE: [Force 12 Talk] Balun comments by Steve Morris K7LXC
Bob Otto
Bob Otto <N8NGA@one.net>
Wed, 13 Sep 2000 18:43:05 -0400
Hello Edward,
Anyone know the address or location of the group for Force12? Having
ordered one antenna, and contemplating ordering two more, I'd be
interested in joining it.
By the way, the excellent support I've received from Natan (Force12)
regarding not only the beams I was interested in, but a bunch of
related questions on the installation, was a significant factor in my
purchase. Best support I've had from any company. Heights Tower
Systems would rank number two for me in the area of support.
73's from.......
Bob Otto
N8NGA@one.net
Cincinnati, Ohio
**********************************************
DXCC 10M ** DX is !! ** WAS 10M
There is a very fine line between
"HOBBY" and "MENTAL ILLNESS"
**********************************************
When trouble arises and things look really bad,
there is always one individual who perceives a
solution and is willing to take command.
VERY OFTEN THAT PERSON IS CRAZY!
**********************************************
Wednesday, September 13, 2000, 12:46:19 PM, you wrote:
AE> Since considering, then purchasing a C3 two years ago, every time I called
AE> the Force 12 factory about a product question I got the owner himself on the
AE> phone who always answered my questions/concerns without hesitation or
AE> attitude. Now, can you imagine me getting Hygain, Cushcraft or MFJ's CEO on
AE> the phone to answer questions from bonehead hams like me? I think not!!!
AE> Force 12 service to its customers, i.e.: me, has been outstanding.....and,
AE> never even met any of the Force 12 guys!
AE> 73...../k6sdw
AE> -----Original Message-----
AE> From: force12e [mailto:force12e@lightlink.com]
AE> Sent: Wednesday, September 13, 2000 9:02 AM
AE> To: Force12Talk; towertalk@contesting.com
AE> Subject: [Force 12 Talk] Balun comments by Steve Morris K7LXC
AE> Regarding Mr. Morris' most recent comments on the Tower Talk Reflector
AE> and/or the FORCE12Talk reflector -
AE> Regarding his comment, "Too bad Tom never reads this stuff."
AE> I obviously do read "this stuff".
AE> There are other avenues of communications besides his
AE> Tower Talk reflector. Anyone with a question or comment on the Force 12
AE> product line has
AE> an 800 line, the FAX number has always been available, our E-mail support is
AE> still active, the US Mail is available, there
AE> is now the Force 12 Reflector and I am available at conventions and club
AE> meetings. I
AE> believe that going to the appropriate source is the most effective and
AE> proper route.
AE> After all, if you have a question or comment that you want to have answered
AE> about your
AE> Jeep Cherokee, do you go to a GMC reflector?
AE> Regarding the integrity of the standard 3KW B-1 baluns (same construction on
AE> the larger
AE> B-1/C, but the B-1/5KW is a toroid design in a sealed box):
AE> This has been addressed several times before on a reflector, as well as in
AE> person and
AE> even last week in an e-mail to a customer. A balun (regardless of who makes
AE> it) is not
AE> part of the boom structure; therefore, it is not necessary to apply
AE> excessive pressure
AE> during mounting so that the body of the balun is broken. I initially secure
AE> the balun
AE> using good quality tape around the coax and the boom, about 3 inches from
AE> the connector
AE> end of the balun, leaving a slight amount of slack in the balun leads. The
AE> balun can
AE> then be secured to the boom with minimal pressure using tape or tie-wraps
AE> (remember to
AE> cut the tie-wrap close, or trim the corners to avoid the possibility of
AE> cutting
AE> yourself). The core of the B-1 balun is solid epoxy around the Teflon coax
AE> and is placed
AE> in a vacuum chamber during construction. There are no voids. We have
AE> received a few back
AE> from antennas loaned to DXpeditions where they had been dropped onto rocks,
AE> or other
AE> hard surfaces and the PVC was cracked. In a couple instances, the inner
AE> epoxy core was
AE> also cracked (40' drop). They remain fully functional to this day. We
AE> wrapped some tape
AE> around the body for a little rigidity and they are often in use for various
AE> antennas. On
AE> our contest team (e.g. 6Y2A), we use the same baluns, as well as pigtails,
AE> which is the
AE> basic balun design sans the epoxy, PVC and with only a few, long beads. We
AE> toss them in
AE> the pool afterwards, which gives us a reason to finish take-down and cool
AE> off,
AE> retrieving them from the bottom of the pool.
AE> Related issue is why to use a balun? I often use RF chokes, but always use
AE> some device
AE> between the unbalanced coax feedline and the balanced dipole (singe dipole
AE> element or
AE> the feedpoint of a Yagi). The balun (B-1) is weather proof, so I prefer it
AE> over having
AE> to seal the split end of the RF choke; besides, the balun is physically much
AE> smaller on
AE> the low bands.
AE> Trivia question: What's the biggest bead balun we've ever made? Maybe I'll
AE> bring it
AE> along to the next club presentation for an item of interest. The coax in the
AE> balun is
AE> custom built. The outer conductor is 1" copper tube, 18" long. The center
AE> conductor is
AE> 1/4" copper tube with a solid aluminum rod insert. The center conductor is
AE> suspended
AE> (air dielectric) with machined rings of some type of plastic material (don't
AE> recall the
AE> type). One end has an N connector using a tapered copper fitting and there
AE> are two #10
AE> leads on the other end. The beads are 2 1/4" OD (1 1/4" hole) and the beads
AE> can be
AE> changed in number and type. The maximum beads the body can hold is 30. With
AE> 20 beads, it
AE> weighs 7 pounds - just the ticket for an antenna on one of those excellent
AE> K-2 QRP rigs!
AE> 73, Tom, N6BT
AE> Force 12, Inc.
AE> --------------------------------------------
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