A number of excellent questions and answers have been posed regarding my
antenna problems. Howard #3 confirmed what I thought about the DC impedance
measurement I should get across the SO239 connector of the Balun, and that
is very useful information. The other question a few of you have asked is
were the PL259 connectors put on by the cable supplier or by one of the guys
helping me put my antennas up, and all of the PL259's were put on by one of
the fellows that were helping me. They should have been double checked with
a Volt/ohm meter after they were put on, but they weren't. The fellow who
took charge of the project was in a hurry because he had some serious
plumbing problems at his house, and his wife and daughter were home with the
water completely turned off, and so, I think he cut some corners that are
showing up in the results. One lesson I have learned is that if I had it all
to do over again, I would have settled for the telescoping mast approach
instead of the water pipe. If all goes smoothly with no problems, the water
pipe is great and actually better in terms of durability than the
telescoping mast, but if everything does not go smoothly, and you have to
take it down to make adjustments or changes, then, the telescoping mast is
infinitely easier to get up and to take back down. I share this information
because we have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of telescoping
masts verses water pipe on this list before, and so, this current experience
of mine contributes to that issue.

Ron, K8HSY