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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