Thanks, Steve.
I'm thinking my help should arrive within the next hour or so.
Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steve Forst" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 10:36 AM
Subject: Re: Small dilemma; Need some advice
> Sorry, can't help with that one. I always work them first and ask
> questions later. While the number in the call sign doesn't mean what it
> used to, it isn't totally meaningless and you should get a fair idea of
> what you are doing.
>
> Good luck with the antennas.
>
> Steve KW3A
>
> On 10/22/2011 10:19 AM, Tom Behler wrote:
>> Hey, Steve:
>>
>> If I can get to the 160 meter CW contest tonight, do you know where I can
>> get a list of grid squares, so that I know the QTH of any station I might
>> work?
>>
>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Steve Forst"<[log in to unmask]>
>> To:<[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 9:24 AM
>> Subject: Re: Small dilemma; Need some advice
>>
>>
>>> Good deal Tom, Hope to catch you on some of the 160 contests this
>>> season.
>>>
>>> Don't know if you can find the butyl rubber locally, perhaps a search on
>>> e-bay will turn up something cheap.
>>>
>>> Here is a link I had sent you some time ago:
>>>
>>> http://www.championradio.com/shop/Weatherproofing.6
>>>
>>>
>>> I've never bought anything from him, but it is run by K7LXC who has a
>>> tower install business in the Pacific Northwest and he also runs the
>>> Towertalk mailing list.
>>>
>>> My personal preference is to use silicone self vulcanizing tape.
>>> (sometimes called cold fusion, or splicing tape) and then several layers
>>> of 3m Super 88 or 33.
>>>
>>>
>>> As for the pulley thing: There has to be a way for you to get your
>>> dipoles up and down by yourself. Put your thinking cap on.
>>>
>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>
>>>
>>> On 10/22/2011 8:49 AM, Tom Behler wrote:
>>>> Hey Steve:
>>>>
>>>> I know for a fact that my friend did the tape in the shingle-like
>>>> method
>>>> you
>>>> suggest. He is a perfectionist that way.
>>>>
>>>> In the "should of" department, I can't seem to find those darn butyl
>>>> sheets
>>>> anywhere around here in semi-rural Central Lower Michigan. But, I'll
>>>> keep
>>>> looking. As for pulleys, according to my friend, pulleys don't seem
>>>> practical for the current 160-meter sloper arrangement. I will gently
>>>> quiz
>>>> him on that today, since there might still be time to make a change if
>>>> we
>>>> want to.
>>>>
>>>> Finally, thanks for the "heads up" on the 160 meter CW contest tonight.
>>>> I'd
>>>> have to find out my grid square, but I can certainly get on QRZ and
>>>> look
>>>> it
>>>> up, so that won't be an issue.
>>>>
>>>> Will keep you posted.
>>>>
>>>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>>
>>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>>> From: "Steve Forst"<[log in to unmask]>
>>>> To:<[log in to unmask]>
>>>> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 7:23 AM
>>>> Subject: Re: Small dilemma; Need some advice
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Tom,
>>>>>
>>>>> Like most of the multitude, I wouldn't worry about it. I've never
>>>>> been
>>>>> a fan of coax seal. It is a real mess when the time comes to undo it.
>>>>>
>>>>> The 3M tape you used is good stuff. I think the only difference
>>>>> between the Super 33 and Super 88 is the thickness, both are rated for
>>>>> outdoor use. If your friend knows what he is doing, he should have
>>>>> wrapped the final layer up from the bottom, towards the top. This
>>>>> makes the final layer lay like shingles on a roof and water won't try
>>>>> and work it's way under each tape seam, like would happen if the
>>>>> last
>>>>> layer were done from top down. Either way, 3 layers of good quality
>>>>> tape is going to be fine.
>>>>>
>>>>> Here are a few things in the "should of" department: Some time ago
>>>>> there was a discussion of butyl rubber sheets for sealing coax
>>>>> outdoors.
>>>>> Also some discussion of using pulleys to allow you to raise and
>>>>> lower the antenna yourself. Oh, well...
>>>>>
>>>>> If your 160 antenna is up, there is a 160 CW contest tonight.Exchange
>>>>> is
>>>>> 4 digit grid square and points are based on distance between grids.
>>>>> Try
>>>>> it out and see if it works.
>>>>>
>>>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>>>
>>>>> On 10/21/2011 10:30 PM, Tom Behler wrote:
>>>>>> Hi, all.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Well, to make a very long story short, I have decided to take my
>>>>>> troublesome
>>>>>> Carolina Windom 160 compact antenna down, and am in the process of
>>>>>> replacing
>>>>>> it with a 160-meter sloper, and an 80-meter sloper that I purchased
>>>>>> at
>>>>>> a
>>>>>> swap in my area last week-end.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> We are in the middle of the antenna replacement process, but I'm
>>>>>> hoping
>>>>>> it
>>>>>> should be done by later tomorrow.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> All has gone well, except for one small issue, which I'm torn about
>>>>>> how
>>>>>> to
>>>>>> deal with. This is the kind of issue where we've all been there when
>>>>>> trying
>>>>>> to deal with volunteer help who doesn't do things like we would.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Anyway, my friend installed the 160-meter sloper at the top of my
>>>>>> 40-foot
>>>>>> mast, but when I asked him how he sealed the coax connection at the
>>>>>> feed
>>>>>> point, he said that he coated the connector with a dialectric grease,
>>>>>> and
>>>>>> then tightly wrapped three layers of electrical tape around the
>>>>>> connection.
>>>>>> The tape he used was some real good 3 M tape that I had gotten a
>>>>>> while
>>>>>> ago.
>>>>>> I had wanted him to put coax seal on top of the tape, but he would
>>>>>> not
>>>>>> do
>>>>>> it, arguing that what he did should be fine.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Obviously, my concern is that the electrical tape eventually will
>>>>>> deteriorate, and let water into the connection.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I'm trying to figure out a tactful way to bring up this issue again
>>>>>> with
>>>>>> him
>>>>>> when he comes back tomorrow, but, at the same time, I don't want to
>>>>>> offend
>>>>>> him, since he has done so much for me already.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Does anyone have any ideas as to how to tactfully handle the
>>>>>> situation?
>>>>>> Obviously, if just having the electrical tape was good enough, I
>>>>>> wouldn't
>>>>>> stress about it, but I would sure hate to be introducing unnecessary
>>>>>> problems into the situation here.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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