are the outer ends of the ladder line closed?
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 12:07 PM
Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment


>    Pat:
>
> I also had the continuity reading across the connector with the original
> PL259, so temporarily replaced it with one of those Shakespeare solderless
> connectors from West Marine, Inc., and still got the continuity reading
> across the connector.
>
> When I checked each side of the ladder line where the connection to the
> short piece of coax cable is made, I got continuity too across the ladder
> line connection.
>
> So, I am not quite sure what to think here.
>
> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 11:59 AM
> Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment
>
>
>> Tom,
>> I will check my antenna for continuity today but I would expect that
>> you shouldn't have continuity at D C.  So perhaps there is a short in
>> the PL259.  Also my antenna recommended a lot of coax after the twin
>> lead, either fifty or seventy-five feet, I don't recall which.  So
>> perhaps you would have a jumper around that you could incorporate in
>> to the system next weekend.  The height should be good - don't give
>> up on it just yet.
>> Pat, K9JAUAt 10:48 AM 8/19/2012, you wrote:
>>>Hi, all.
>>>
>>>Well, I tried the G5RV out at the RV over the week-end, and alas, no joy.
>>>I
>>>have some theories about what the problem was, which I'll get to shortly.
>>>
>>>First, the good news:  The camp site manager had absolutely no problem
>>>with
>>>my putting up the antenna, and in fact helped with our initial
>>>installation.
>>>So, at least I know I'm good to go if I want to try something else out
>>>there.
>>>
>>>Since the guy was nice enough to help with the installation, I decided to
>>>go
>>>ahead with his initial suggestion of putting the center on top of his RV,
>>>which is about 50 feet from ours, and much higher than ours.  The legs of
>>>the antenna then went across his roof on each side to adjacent trees.  He
>>>did wrap one part of one leg  around the railing of his RV ladder to keep
>>>things in place.  The ladder line then came down from the center of the
>>>antenna on about a 45 degree angle to the PL259feed point connection on 
>>>my
>>>RV.  I'd say the center of the antenna was up about 30 feet, with the 
>>>legs
>>>up about 15 to 20 feet on adjacent trees.
>>>
>>>Overall, my SWR's must not have been good, because the only band I could
>>>get
>>>the TS480 auto-tuner to tune it on was 10 meters.  Everything else gave 
>>>me
>>>the SWR no-tune reading.
>>>
>>>As for what might have gone wrong, I eliminated a number of 
>>>possibilities:
>>>
>>>1.  I checked my feed line on the RV, and all other jumper connections,
>>>for
>>>electrical integrity, and they were fine.  I then physically checked the
>>>connections on the G5RV itself, and they  looked fine.  I had my XYL
>>>confirm
>>>this visually as well.
>>>
>>>As for what could have gone wrong, then, my theory is that perhaps the
>>>roof
>>>on the manager's RV was metal, or had metal in it, which served to 
>>>de-tune
>>>the antenna.  Wrapping one leg around the RV railing for a turn or two
>>>also
>>>might have thrown things off.
>>>
>>>Finally, I did one thing in the way of continuity checking that I want to
>>>be
>>>sure of with you G5RV experts out there.  When you do a continuity check
>>>of
>>>the G5RV on the PL259 end, is it correct that you get electrical
>>>continuity
>>>across the coax connector?  In other words, when I took my continuity
>>>checker, put one lead on the center conductor, and the other on the outer
>>>shield of the connector, I got continuity.  I assume this indicates that 
>>>I
>>>have an electrically complete antenna.  Please correct me if I'm wrong on
>>>this.
>>>
>>>All in all, it was a rather disappointing situation, but if we can get 
>>>out
>>>to the RV next week-end, we'll try something else, perhaps in nearby 
>>>trees
>>>if we can figure out a way to get the center up at a reasonable height.
>>>
>>>73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>