Colin:

Please never worry about being insulting!

You guys have been great through all of this, and there always could be 
something I'm forgetting that is obvious.

I do get the solid tone, indicating continuity with my continuity checker, 
which is what I'm going on here.

Will do another thorough check of things when I get out to the RV later this 
week or on the week-end.

Once again, everyone's help here is truly appreciated.

73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 9:06 PM
Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment


> well, considering you checked where the coax connects to the latter line 
> and
> found a short, then the short is at one end of the coax/latter line run, 
> or
> the other.
> I'm going to throw my bet behind the pl259 connecter being the culprit 
> here.
> A real easy way to check without chopping the connecter off, is as Pat 
> says,
> disconnect the pig tail coax from the latter line, then test the pig tail 
> by
> itself, and test the latter line and antenna by itself.
> If the pig tail shows a short, then it's your pl259 connecter, if the 
> latter
> line still has continuity, then it's something shorting in that direction.
> You don't even need to take the antenna down and go through all that 
> hassle.
> Just do it this way on the ground and you'll be able to quickly determine
> where the short is occuring.
> If it's the pig tail connecter, then you can chop it off and put a new one
> on.  If it's showing a short across the end of the latter line, then you
> will most certainly have to take the antenna down and look for it up the
> line somewhere.
> And I would definitely disconnect all antennas and recheck your coaxial
> feeds from your operating position up to the connections on the top of 
> your
> RV...just to insure that there isn't something shorting out there.
> I think you said you did that and found everything to be good, but double
> check.
> I don't want to be insulting, but when you use your continuity meter, you
> are getting a solid tone when you test the g5RV right? the solid tone
> indicates continuity or a dead short...if it doesn't emit a tone, then 
> it's
> open, no short.
> Just trying to insure all the steps and procedures are correct.
>
> 73
> Colin, V A6BKX
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 6:15 PM
> Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment
>
>
>>    Colin:
>>
>> Unfortunately, I don't have the antenna here, but the center insulator is
>> a
>> long piece of plastic about four inches long, about an inch and a half
>> wide,
>> and about an inch thick.  I'm not sure how the legs of the antenna are
>> fastened to that insulator, nor am I sure how the connections are
>> configured
>> and kept in place.  I will check on that when I get the antenna, 
>> hopefully
>> sometime this week.
>>
>> I appreciate your interest in this problem, and will keep you posted just
>> as
>> soon as I learn more.
>>
>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 8:08 PM
>> Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment
>>
>>
>>> tom, what I meant was at the point where the latter line splits into the
>>> two
>>> wire elements of the antenna.
>>> The g5RV's I've seen usually have some kind of insulator plate where the
>>> connection between the legs of the antenna, and the latter line are 
>>> done.
>>> Usually a couple bolts with nuts for the connections, or in the case of
>>> the
>>> MFJ products, a circuit board where the latter line ends, and the legs 
>>> of
>>> the antenna begin.
>>> That was kind of what I would suspect since yu were able to thoroughly
>>> check
>>> the radio end of the latter line and coaxial pigtail and found little or
>>> nothing that would indicate a short.
>>> On the home brew G5RV that we made for our camping trip earlier this
>>> year,
>>> we used a couple small plates of plexy glass sandwiched together, and
>>> some
>>> stainless bolts and nuts, along with some ring terminal connecters to
>>> both
>>> strain relief the latter line, and give a good solid center insulator 
>>> for
>>> the legs of the antenna.
>>> I wonder what you used for your center insulator and connection point on
>>> your antenna??
>>>
>>> 73
>>> Colin, V A6BKX
>>
>