Let's get the wire away from the metal ladder as far as possible!!

Howard #3


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gerry Learry" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 8:11 PM
Subject: Re: About Tom's G5RV


> Maybe connect the wire with a zip tie instead of rapping it.
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 6:00 PM
> Subject: Re: About Tom's G5RV
>
>
>>    Mike:
>>
>> This is a home brew G5RV, that does not contain a balun.
>>
>> And, I'm now thinking like you:  I may just have to totally replace the
>> PL259 pig tail, and see if that makes a difference.
>>
>> Finally, there will be no more wrapping a leg of the antenna around any
>> porch railing.  It was one of those situations where I knew better, but
>> the
>> manager was trying to be nice and helpful.  Obviously, not a good 
>> decision
>> on my part, although my biggest problem probably still is the apparent
>> short
>> across the PL259.
>>
>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Mike Duke, K5XU" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 4:51 PM
>> Subject: About Tom's G5RV
>>
>>
>>> One of my thoughts has already been covered pretty well. wrapping a
>>> leg of any antenna around anything, be it metal or otherwise, is a big
>>> no-no. When you do that, you are unbalancing, and thus un-tuning the
>>> antenna. If whatever it is wrapped around is an insulator, even one or
>>> two turns will mean that you have added a loading coil to that side of
>>> the antenna, thereby changing the effective length of that leg.
>>>
>>> So, get that coil out of there.
>>>
>>> Now, as for the shorted condition, does your G5RV contain a balun? I
>>> think you said earlier that it does not. If that is the case, then the
>>> suspect is the point where the ladder line is connected to the coax
>>> pigtail. The only way to fix that is to cut that pigtail off, and
>>> install a new one, or attach the feedline directly at that point,
>>> eliminating the pigtail altogether.
>>>
>>> If, however, it does include a factory supplied balun, you need to
>>> determine the type of balun. The problem is that certain baluns, such
>>> as the traditional W2AU type baluns, will indeed show a DC short
>>> across the coax. This short does not affect RF, but I have observed
>>> more than one person pull their hair out thinking they had a problem
>>> when they in fact did not.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Mike Duke, K5XU
>>> American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs
>>>