[TowerTalk] Ladderline - what are the facts??/

[chas]

I am using a Cobra Senior with 100' 450 ohm ladderline run into a 1:9 
balun then into a tower antenna switch then into the shack.  Running a 
kilowatt into the antenna.

Routing the ladderline is a pain!!

People local in the state tell me that
1.  Ladder line does not radiate...
2.  Ladder line does not receive...

apparently all it does is provide a factor to the antenna to get the 
SWR down to a manageable amount.


is all this a bunch of hooey??

It would help me a LOT if I could either coil up about 50 feet of the 
ladderline or just cut it off.  I know one operator who just tosses it 
out on the ground and has a superb signal from the Texas Hill country, 
West of San Antonio into Houston.  I would try it but I still think it 
radiates and might burn my dog.


WHERE are the facts about ladderline??

thanks
chas, k5dam