Thanks for the great info, Bryan.  Really appreciate it.

Just to let everyone know the latest on my antenna situation, my help came 
by last night, and installed my Diamond X200A dual-band for VHF and UHF on 
the roof of the house.  Now, it's onto the dipoles, hopefully over the next 
few week-ends.  At least progress is now being made.

73 de KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "K5IN" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, August 27, 2010 11:04 AM
Subject: Coax ceal


My two cents worth:

My two tower climbers that do my home tower as well as my repeater tower up
at the mountain (160ft tower) are both professionals.  One used to install
cell towers and the other worked for Verizon phone company.  Both do the
following.  Electrical tape (3m tape) higher quality than you get at Harbor
Freight.  You then use "Beutal tape" it can be bought in half inch wide
rolls up to two inch wide rolls.  This stuff is incredibly good and you
could soak it under water and no water will penetrate.  Finally, another
wrap of your good 3M tape and you have one water cealed connection that will
last for years in any wx.  These are not my thoughts but what I have learned
from guys in the business.

Applying the Beutal tape or other coax ceal directly to the feedline will
make it practically impossible to get the crap off of the metal surfaces.
Gumming them up to the point you will need to cut off the connector and
start over.  If done as I listed above, the connector when unwrapped will be
bright and shiny even after years of being out in the wx.

Finally, where can one obtain Beutal tape?  Google it.  I bought some on
EBay and I would imagine most radio/communications shops will carry it.  I
bought a box of it on EBay that had two inch wide along with 3m tape in it
for less than $15.00.



Thanks, Brian, k5in