I don't think so, but that's another thing I'll need to check.
Hopefully, it's that simple!
Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerry Learry" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 8:58 PM
Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment
> are the outer ends of the ladder line closed?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 12:07 PM
> Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment
>
>
>> Pat:
>>
>> I also had the continuity reading across the connector with the original
>> PL259, so temporarily replaced it with one of those Shakespeare
>> solderless
>> connectors from West Marine, Inc., and still got the continuity reading
>> across the connector.
>>
>> When I checked each side of the ladder line where the connection to the
>> short piece of coax cable is made, I got continuity too across the ladder
>> line connection.
>>
>> So, I am not quite sure what to think here.
>>
>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 11:59 AM
>> Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment
>>
>>
>>> Tom,
>>> I will check my antenna for continuity today but I would expect that
>>> you shouldn't have continuity at D C. So perhaps there is a short in
>>> the PL259. Also my antenna recommended a lot of coax after the twin
>>> lead, either fifty or seventy-five feet, I don't recall which. So
>>> perhaps you would have a jumper around that you could incorporate in
>>> to the system next weekend. The height should be good - don't give
>>> up on it just yet.
>>> Pat, K9JAUAt 10:48 AM 8/19/2012, you wrote:
>>>>Hi, all.
>>>>
>>>>Well, I tried the G5RV out at the RV over the week-end, and alas, no
>>>>joy.
>>>>I
>>>>have some theories about what the problem was, which I'll get to
>>>>shortly.
>>>>
>>>>First, the good news: The camp site manager had absolutely no problem
>>>>with
>>>>my putting up the antenna, and in fact helped with our initial
>>>>installation.
>>>>So, at least I know I'm good to go if I want to try something else out
>>>>there.
>>>>
>>>>Since the guy was nice enough to help with the installation, I decided
>>>>to
>>>>go
>>>>ahead with his initial suggestion of putting the center on top of his
>>>>RV,
>>>>which is about 50 feet from ours, and much higher than ours. The legs
>>>>of
>>>>the antenna then went across his roof on each side to adjacent trees.
>>>>He
>>>>did wrap one part of one leg around the railing of his RV ladder to
>>>>keep
>>>>things in place. The ladder line then came down from the center of the
>>>>antenna on about a 45 degree angle to the PL259feed point connection on
>>>>my
>>>>RV. I'd say the center of the antenna was up about 30 feet, with the
>>>>legs
>>>>up about 15 to 20 feet on adjacent trees.
>>>>
>>>>Overall, my SWR's must not have been good, because the only band I could
>>>>get
>>>>the TS480 auto-tuner to tune it on was 10 meters. Everything else gave
>>>>me
>>>>the SWR no-tune reading.
>>>>
>>>>As for what might have gone wrong, I eliminated a number of
>>>>possibilities:
>>>>
>>>>1. I checked my feed line on the RV, and all other jumper connections,
>>>>for
>>>>electrical integrity, and they were fine. I then physically checked the
>>>>connections on the G5RV itself, and they looked fine. I had my XYL
>>>>confirm
>>>>this visually as well.
>>>>
>>>>As for what could have gone wrong, then, my theory is that perhaps the
>>>>roof
>>>>on the manager's RV was metal, or had metal in it, which served to
>>>>de-tune
>>>>the antenna. Wrapping one leg around the RV railing for a turn or two
>>>>also
>>>>might have thrown things off.
>>>>
>>>>Finally, I did one thing in the way of continuity checking that I want
>>>>to
>>>>be
>>>>sure of with you G5RV experts out there. When you do a continuity check
>>>>of
>>>>the G5RV on the PL259 end, is it correct that you get electrical
>>>>continuity
>>>>across the coax connector? In other words, when I took my continuity
>>>>checker, put one lead on the center conductor, and the other on the
>>>>outer
>>>>shield of the connector, I got continuity. I assume this indicates that
>>>>I
>>>>have an electrically complete antenna. Please correct me if I'm wrong
>>>>on
>>>>this.
>>>>
>>>>All in all, it was a rather disappointing situation, but if we can get
>>>>out
>>>>to the RV next week-end, we'll try something else, perhaps in nearby
>>>>trees
>>>>if we can figure out a way to get the center up at a reasonable height.
>>>>
>>>>73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>
>
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