tom:
the coax is indeed a fairly integral part of the antenna.
It is not necesarily a part of the radiating sections of the antenna, but it
certainly has a roll in the over all function of the G5RV.
Remember the theory you would have had to study regarding swr and feedline
length and so on to get your ham license?
If you are still sceptical, look it up on the internet, there are some great
sights that get into feedline length and optimal coax length for different
types of antennas...there are some mathematical formulas that can be used to
determine feedline length and type bassed on the radiating element and or
elements of the antenna.
In the case of the g5RV, it is the combination between the coax length  and
the latter line length that allow the antenna to be so broad banded and
exhibit a low swr on all the bands that it does.
When you take a part of that equation out, you also affect the way the
antenna functions on all of those bands.
73
Colin, V A6BKX
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Karnes" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 2:43 PM
Subject: Re: antenna problem


> Pat, I do have coax to the G5RV balun, but don't believe it is an active
> part of theantenna. The ladder line is active but I don't think coax could
> possibly ber active.
> Tom
>
> On Sun, 2 Apr 2006, Pat Byrne wrote:
>
> > Tom,
> > If I understand your note, you are connecting the ladder line from
> > the G5RV directly to the K850.  If this is the dcase, it might well
> > be your problem.  The G5RV uses a specified length of coaxial cable
> > as a part of the radiating system.  I believe that the spec. for my
> > version of the G5RV specified seventy feet of 50 ohm cable.
> > Does this help?
> > Pat, K9JAUAt 02:54 PM 4/2/2006, you wrote:
> >> Thanks for all six of the responses I have received so far. The Kenwood
> >> 850 has an internal antenna tuner. It worked fine last year  at
Handihams
> >> radio camp in Malibu.  That was with a G5RV. The R7 is just like it was
> >> when I acquired it from the estate of silent key Bob Larson, except for
> >> one joint half way up the mast and the 10 radials at the base. Would
> >> polishing up the surface do any good or does rf not care? I couldn't
use
> >> it San Francisco because my lot was only 22 feet wide, but now I have
75
> >> by 300 feet. First I'll try the suggestion from two of youto put the
twin
> >> lead straight and perpendicular to the long line, but at an angle to
the
> >> ground. I's new and connects directly to the transmitter. I've used two
> >> different coax cables on the R7 with identical results. The ground is
> >> fine. I could get the G5RV higher if I could figure out what to use as
a
> >> non-metallic mast. Any ideas?  Would it be worth buying an external
> >> antenna tuner to use instead of the internal a t in the K850?
> >> Again, thanks for all the quick help. I don't stay on this list because
> >> there is too much traffic for me to add to what else is coming through,
> >> but it is great to get back on now and then. I'm always available at
> >> [log in to unmask]
> >> Tom Karnes K6FUN
> >> 73
> >
>