Hi Tom,

In my experience, if you use a good electrical tape such as the 3M #33 tape 
it will last for years.

Howard, #3 W A 9 Y B W

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 21, 2011 9:30 PM
Subject: Small dilemma; Need some advice


> 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