[TowerTalk] frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox?

[StellarCAT]

its back to normal now ~4-5 hours since the rain ended. 

Gary
K9RX

From: TexasRF at aol.com 
Sent: Saturday, April 2, 2016 9:35 AM
To: rxdesign at ssvecnet.com ; towertalk at contesting.com 
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox?

Gary, it could be an antenna issue or a feed line issue. I suggest you temporarily dangle a new coax line from the feed point down to the ground level and make a test to determine which it is.

Perhaps you have a method of checking the SWR right at the feed point with a remote readout? 

Happy hunting!

Gerald K5GW




In a message dated 4/2/2016 7:21:54 A.M. Central Daylight Time, rxdesign at ssvecnet.com writes:
  I’m testing a yagi... I can raise it to ~37’ for testing and lower it to about 8’ for adjustment ... it was made as a duplicate to another one and testing showed it to be just that – a duplicate. Until it rained! The SWR shifted downward. At 21425 it was ~1.35:1 ... and it would go over 2:1. I’m at a loss as to what is causing this. It is a used antenna reassembled... but I find it very difficult to believe that water could get in to the mechanical joints and cause this kind of a problem. The balun doesn’t appear to be taking on water – there wasn’t a drain hole in the bottom – there is now – I went out early this morning just after it rained – SWR up high – and there was nothing coming out of the drain hole. I have checked all connections – they’re tight. Oh – and the strange thing – it goes back to normal after only about 4 – 5 hours without rain. It has done this 3 times now. It is now – 45 minutes after checking it this morning where it was at 2.33:1, its now down to 1.8:1 and continuing its decent. And further note the SWR seems to be about the same – its just shifted downward when wet. Also I hosed it down – the balun/coax connection, hairpin for a good 5 minutes – no change. I hosed down the elements at their joints – no change. It rains: changes! The fact that it shifts seems to be independent of height – it does this if at 37’ or at 8’.

  Also: is Noalox the same as penatrox? It is the No AL OX sold by HD ... it says it is for increased conductivity as well as anti-seize... perhaps IT is the problem at the joints ... unless someone knows it to be fine (or KNOWS it to be bad). 

  thanks – I’m hoping someone has personally seen such a thing and has an idea. Its holding up the testing of the other antennas. 

  Gary 

  ps: the first one had no problems when it was rained on. 
  _______________________________________________



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