frank fong wrote:
> Hello Tom(s):
>
> What power level were you using at the time? The end of my dipole is
> quite close (but not touching) to a tree in my back yard.
>
> Frank VE3FLF
Hi Frank. I was running about 600 watts to an old TCM-2 navy
transmitter.
The ends of a dipole can get pretty hot too. I was working on an antenna
once, and unknown to me, the 100 foot tape was laying over the end of the
dipole (insulated wire). When I applied power, it looked good, then all
of a sudden the SWR jumped way up. I couldn't figger it out till I went
out and saw the rf had arced through the insulation and the wire was
welded to the tape. Another time, I had used some plastic clothsline for
the end of a 80 meter dipole. I didn't use an insulator, just a loop in
the rope. The antenna looked good till I turned on the amp. All of a
sudden the SWR went way up. It had arced thru the insulation and shorted
to the wire inside :-). So you need to be careful. 73
Tom W7WHY
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