Disregard my last message then, no matter where you check it right now,
you'll see the short and the coax is the most likely place. It would be
great if you can disconnect the coax and check it but I know not all of them
have a connector to do that with.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment
> Pat:
>
> Yup, the coax stub was attached when I did all testing.
>
> Looks like I need to head out to the RV to grab it.
>
> Fortunately, it's only about 20 minutes away from the house.
>
> Am not sure when that will be exactly, but hopefully sometime this week.
>
> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Pat Byrne" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 2:31 PM
> Subject: Re: G5RV Disappointment
>
>
>> Was the coax stub still attached when you did the continuity test
>> across the ladder line? If so, either in that coax piece or
>> somewhere along the length of the ladder line, or at the top. And
>> the bummer is that now you're at home and can't scope out all the
>> possibilities!!
>> PatAt 01:07 PM 8/19/2012, you wrote:
>>> 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
>>> >
>>
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