Hi Mike, The easiest way to do your job is with a Time Domain Reflectometer (TDR). I've had no trouble making precision cable length measurements with my HF antennas connected. I also use the TDR to
Howard, Although I have no SteppIRs in my antenna farm, my old Hewlett Packard TDR is the most frequently used test equipment in my hamshack. Unfortunately, I'm certain that a TDR will not be able to
Kellums Grips work very well on a tower; however, the inexpensive (and more common) galvanized grips have a limited life when used outdoors. The galvanized Kellums grips failed on my towers after ten
Yes, high quality rope (e.g., dacron) serves the purpose very well and at much lower cost. Dacron will survive much longer than galvanized Kellums grips. 73 Frank W3LPL ______________________________
Lets not forget ice loads! Most of the land mass of the United States is subject to icing. Many areas -- including my apparently benign location in central Maryland -- can and does accumulate 3/4 inc
TT has gotten a little boring with lately. Lets try something new: Click the link below for interesting photographs of one of the largest HF antenna farms ever built. Many of us who were short wave l
Phil, I've also used the bench vise method for years. Many tower installations do not use the Preformed Line Products's recommended thimble size for big grips. For 1/4 inch EHS, PLP specifies 1/2 inc
I hate to throw a monkey wrench into this discussion. There is a very importent property of transmission lines that is essential to the proper functioning of phased arrays, and especially phased vert
Mike, Thanks for your excellent clarification of the Vin vs Iout phase delay of 90 degree transmission lines. For those interested in further pursuing this important phased array topic, W8WWW's web s
Byron, Unless you're in an area with no winds, the MonstIR will destroy your 2800 in the first heavy wind. You should use a much larger rotator such as the largest Prosistel, or K7NV's prop pitch. Yo
Keith, I know this isn't a popular message; however... The actual experience of three different PVRCers who tried to turn full size 3 element 40M Yagis and SteppIR MonstIR Yagis with Orion 2800 rotat
Keith, I don't think the problem is a design flaw with the 2800, I believe it not rated for very large 3 element 40 meter full sized Yagis (including the SteppIR MonstIR) in strong winds. Orion 2800
Hi Keith, Suggest u correspond with Kurt, K7NV. He's the expert on prop pitches these days. k7nv@contesting.com 73! Frank W3LPL (p.s. ask Kurt what the owner of SteppIR uses to turn his MonstIR ...)
Hi Steve, I did not personally see the failed 2800 rotators, but my recollection is that the case failed. 73! Frank W3LPL -- Original message -- _______________________________________________ ______
Dale, Using 1/4 inch EHS rather than 3/16 inch EHS will not be a problem. Initial guy tension is normally set at 10 percent of its published breaking strength, with upper and lower limits of 15 and 8
Dale, Inadequate guy tension causes excessive guy catenary. Guy catenary is a function of guy tension and the weight of the guy wire and all associated hardware (e.g., insulators and guy grips). Exce
The official NOAA, NASA and ISES Solar Cycle 24 prediction was released by the Solar Cycle 24 Prediction Panel on April 25, 2007. The Prediction Panel included members from NOAA, NASA, ISES and other
Here's a set of practical checklists for your annual tower and antenna inspection: http://www.kkn.net/dayton2006/w3lpl_dayton_2006.pdf 73! Frank W3LPL -- Original message -- _________________________
I'm in total agreement with Tom's comments, based on first hand experience for the last two years after replacing my old elevated radials. I had a good 160 meter 4-square vertical array for years, wi
Jim, Thanks for providing the additional links showing the details of your measurements. ScalarChokeMeasurements1.pdf shows six traces, but only five are labelled. What is the unlabelled trace? Were