Tom,

A non metal mast is great but you can get by with metal if you use standoffs
to keep the  twin lead  away from it.  Even if you only use 1 or 2 at the
top of the mast and then pull the lower portion of the twin lead away at a
slight angle.  The higher you can go, the better.

If I may ask:  If you have 300 feet of property, why limit yourself to a
G5RV?  Most of us have used one at one time or another and some  hams think
it is  the greatest thing ever, but it is  a compromise.  There are some
killer antennas that you can put up in that space.

As for the vertical: The problem with used antennas is that you never know
who did what to it in a previous life.  Adjustments made to suit a
particular installation may not work for you.  I'd be concerned about
coroded joints.  I'd  take it apart and clean all metal to metal joints and
connections and coat all  joints with penatrox or similar.  Put back
together per factory settings.

73, Steve KW3A
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Karnes" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, April 02, 2006 3:54 PM
Subject: Re: antenna problem


> Thanks for all six of the responses I have received so far. The Kenwood
> 850 has an internal antenna tuner. It worked fine last year  at Handihams
> radio camp in Malibu.  That was with a G5RV. The R7 is just like it was
> when I acquired it from the estate of silent key Bob Larson, except for
> one joint half way up the mast and the 10 radials at the base. Would
> polishing up the surface do any good or does rf not care? I couldn't use
> it San Francisco because my lot was only 22 feet wide, but now I have 75
> by 300 feet. First I'll try the suggestion from two of youto put the twin
> lead straight and perpendicular to the long line, but at an angle to the
> ground. I's new and connects directly to the transmitter. I've used two
> different coax cables on the R7 with identical results. The ground is
> fine. I could get the G5RV higher if I could figure out what to use as a
> non-metallic mast. Any ideas?  Would it be worth buying an external
> antenna tuner to use instead of the internal a t in the K850?
> Again, thanks for all the quick help. I don't stay on this list because
> there is too much traffic for me to add to what else is coming through,
> but it is great to get back on now and then. I'm always available at
> [log in to unmask]
> Tom Karnes K6FUN
> 73
>
>
>