Sorry, can't help with that one. I always work them first and ask
questions later. While the number in the call sign doesn't mean what it
used to, it isn't totally meaningless and you should get a fair idea of
what you are doing.
Good luck with the antennas.
Steve KW3A
On 10/22/2011 10:19 AM, Tom Behler wrote:
> Hey, Steve:
>
> If I can get to the 160 meter CW contest tonight, do you know where I can
> get a list of grid squares, so that I know the QTH of any station I might
> work?
>
> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Steve Forst"<[log in to unmask]>
> To:<[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 9:24 AM
> Subject: Re: Small dilemma; Need some advice
>
>
>> Good deal Tom, Hope to catch you on some of the 160 contests this
>> season.
>>
>> Don't know if you can find the butyl rubber locally, perhaps a search on
>> e-bay will turn up something cheap.
>>
>> Here is a link I had sent you some time ago:
>>
>> http://www.championradio.com/shop/Weatherproofing.6
>>
>>
>> I've never bought anything from him, but it is run by K7LXC who has a
>> tower install business in the Pacific Northwest and he also runs the
>> Towertalk mailing list.
>>
>> My personal preference is to use silicone self vulcanizing tape.
>> (sometimes called cold fusion, or splicing tape) and then several layers
>> of 3m Super 88 or 33.
>>
>>
>> As for the pulley thing: There has to be a way for you to get your
>> dipoles up and down by yourself. Put your thinking cap on.
>>
>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>
>>
>> On 10/22/2011 8:49 AM, Tom Behler wrote:
>>> Hey Steve:
>>>
>>> I know for a fact that my friend did the tape in the shingle-like method
>>> you
>>> suggest. He is a perfectionist that way.
>>>
>>> In the "should of" department, I can't seem to find those darn butyl
>>> sheets
>>> anywhere around here in semi-rural Central Lower Michigan. But, I'll
>>> keep
>>> looking. As for pulleys, according to my friend, pulleys don't seem
>>> practical for the current 160-meter sloper arrangement. I will gently
>>> quiz
>>> him on that today, since there might still be time to make a change if we
>>> want to.
>>>
>>> Finally, thanks for the "heads up" on the 160 meter CW contest tonight.
>>> I'd
>>> have to find out my grid square, but I can certainly get on QRZ and look
>>> it
>>> up, so that won't be an issue.
>>>
>>> Will keep you posted.
>>>
>>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Steve Forst"<[log in to unmask]>
>>> To:<[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2011 7:23 AM
>>> Subject: Re: Small dilemma; Need some advice
>>>
>>>
>>>> Tom,
>>>>
>>>> Like most of the multitude, I wouldn't worry about it. I've never been
>>>> a fan of coax seal. It is a real mess when the time comes to undo it.
>>>>
>>>> The 3M tape you used is good stuff. I think the only difference
>>>> between the Super 33 and Super 88 is the thickness, both are rated for
>>>> outdoor use. If your friend knows what he is doing, he should have
>>>> wrapped the final layer up from the bottom, towards the top. This
>>>> makes the final layer lay like shingles on a roof and water won't try
>>>> and work it's way under each tape seam, like would happen if the last
>>>> layer were done from top down. Either way, 3 layers of good quality
>>>> tape is going to be fine.
>>>>
>>>> Here are a few things in the "should of" department: Some time ago
>>>> there was a discussion of butyl rubber sheets for sealing coax outdoors.
>>>> Also some discussion of using pulleys to allow you to raise and
>>>> lower the antenna yourself. Oh, well...
>>>>
>>>> If your 160 antenna is up, there is a 160 CW contest tonight.Exchange is
>>>> 4 digit grid square and points are based on distance between grids. Try
>>>> it out and see if it works.
>>>>
>>>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>>>
>>>> On 10/21/2011 10:30 PM, Tom Behler wrote:
>>>>> 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
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>
>
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