John:
The piece of coax from the ladder line is only about a foot and a half long.
I certainly can do the ten turns of coax with the chunks of coax that I
have, or the solid piece that I am considering purchasing. One question is
what diameter the coil should be. I have heard 6 inches, but perhaps others
have different recommendations.
73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 12:21 PM
Subject: Re: G5RV Update: Good News!
> Do you have the usually recommended 10 turns where the coax meets the twin
> lead? That might help you tune the rest of 40. I really think all that
> extra
> coax if there is a lot will hurt, not help you but if you really think it
> helps, 1 peace is always better than a few put together.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2012 11:20 AM
> Subject: G5RV Update: Good News!
>
>
>> Hi, all.
>>
>> Well, I have some good news on the RV G5RV front this morning.
>>
>> Yesterday, I did a bunch of checking on feed lines, etc., and since all
>> looked ok from a continuity stand-point, I took the leap and put the G5RV
>> up
>> again. This time, it is in some trees, and pretty much in the clear from
>> nearby RV's and other metal structures. The center is not that
>> high--probably only about 20 feet, and the ends are probably about 20
>> feet
>> high as well. The ladder line comes down at about a 45-degree angle to
>> the
>> feed line connection point in a tree just to the back of my RV at about
>> head
>> level. The antenna orientation is northwest to southeast. I lashed
>> together about 50 feet of coax jumpers that I had lying around to add to
>> the
>> 15 or 20 feet of coax that runs from the antenna connector on the back
>> corner of the RV, to my operating position inside.
>>
>> I found that the antenna tunes, using the auto-tuner on the TS480, on
>> 10,
>> 15, 20, the upper half of 40, and the lower half of 80. At one point, I
>> actually got it to tune on the lower end of 40, but after doing some
>> other
>> things, have not been able to replicate that condition.
>>
>> The antenna does seem to get out. I worked a bunch of stations for the
>> Kansas QSO Party on 20, and probably jus as many for the Ohio QSO Party
>> on
>> 40. In fact, I worked one station right after Steve (KW3A) worked them.
>> On
>> 20 meters, I also worked into Europe both on SSB and CW. The signal
>> reports
>> I got were good, for the most part.
>>
>> So, now, I am in tweaking mode. Do you guys have any ideas for getting
>> the
>> antenna to tune on the lower part of 40 meters? I have seriously thought
>> of
>> purchasing a nice solid 50-foot chunk of RG8X coax, and putting that in
>> the
>> feed line system, in hopes that it might do better than the
>> lashed-together
>> arrangement that I currently have.
>>
>> One specific question I also have is this--where do I put the excess
>> coax?
>> Do I put it outside near the RV antenna connection, or inside the shack
>> at
>> the transmitter--or, doesn't it matter?
>>
>> I won't be out at the RV next week-end for Labor Day, because the XYL and
>> I
>> will be traveling to Missouri to visit our son and his family, but I will
>> be
>> out there the week-end after that, and hopefully, for the remaining
>> week-endss in September before they close down the camp ground.
>>
>> Any thoughts or suggestions for improving the performance of this antenna
>> would be appreciated.
>>
>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
|