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[TowerTalk] Importance of feed line length

To: "TowerTalk@contesting.com" <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Importance of feed line length
From: Justin Whitstine <powdermnky007@hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 9 Sep 2012 20:05:06 -0500
List-post: <towertalk@contesting.com">mailto:towertalk@contesting.com>
Hi everyone,
I've been doing research to determine how important feed line length is.  I've 
been reading up on this off and on for the last few weeks.  I'm currently 
studying to get my ham license and am very excited about it.  I built my first 
antenna this weekend.  A 1/4 wave vertical on 2m, just to see what I could 
hear.  It was a rewarding experience!

I've seen much talk on feed line length and found some very convincing article, 
but then I seem to find others that contradict them.  I have read lots of posts 
from this forum and this seems to be one of the most knowledgeable places on 
the internet.  Once I get my general license I am planning on setting up an 
inverted v on 80m.  Just when I thought I had figured out the feed line length 
issue, I learned about cable velocity factor and how common mode current travel 
at much higher speeds down the feed lines than the actual signals going to the 
antenna.  That really blew my mind!  

My 80m antenna will not be very high off the ground, so it will be a NVIS.  I 
will be using a common mode choke as per Jim Brown's document "A Ham's Guide to 
RFI, Ferrites, Baluns, and Audio Interfacing".  Which was the most informative 
document on the internet about chokes, and what led me here.  I will go with a 
50 ohm feed line because my antenna will be between 8 & 15 feet off the ground, 
and probably an inverted v.  I know 50 ohms will match an inverted v better.  

I'm trying my best here to not sound totally ignorant, but if any one knows the 
answer I would appreciate it greatly!  I look forward to your answer!
Thank you,
Justin  

                                          
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