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[TowerTalk] Getting Open Wire Feeds Into the House (Shack)?

To: <towertalk@contesting.com>
Subject: [TowerTalk] Getting Open Wire Feeds Into the House (Shack)?
From: billwall@bellsouth.net (Bill Wall)
Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 17:40:19 -0500
Hi Brian,

Yes,   Yes,   Yes,

                                                    Bill Wall
                                               Antenna  Mart

alsopb wrote:

> Egads,
>
> Is open wire so "superior" to today's coax that it's worth all this?
>
> de Brian/K3KO
>
> K7GCO@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > In a message dated 14.11.99 20:40:51 Pacific Standard Time, K7GCO writes:
> >
> > <<  In regard to running open wire line into a basement:
> >      I ran open wire into the basement by drilling 1/4" holes in the house
> > wall of wood and ran insulated open wire line through the holes into a
> > basement.  This hole is easy to plug and paint later.  You can slip a sleeve
> > insulator in a bigger hole if you like.  I ran the open wire line across the
> > basement ceiling on stand offs and drilled holes in the floor at the 
> > junction
> > of the floor and wall and ran the wires there beside the rug into the first
> > floor.  If you no longer use it, the edge of the rug covers in the holes.  I
> > ran lengths of RG8X up in the first floor the same way.  Or replace a glass
> > window with Plexiglas and run the open wire line and/or coaxes right through
> > it.  When finished, replace it with the original glass later.
> >       Open wire line and the proper tuner is a great system and I've used it
> > for over 60 years.  I use lengths that are 1/2 WL multiples to reduce
> > reactive Z's.  Use 492 X .95 VF / 3.55 MHz.  That's the magic length for all
> > bands with the 1/2 WL multiple least error.  Suspend the open wire line off
> > the ground at least 5', short both ends and Grid Dip it to 3.55 MHz.  Use
> > solid enameled or insulated wire.  The spacing can be 4-6" and the Z of the
> > open wire line is not critical--only the length for ease of matching.  The
> > parallel and series configurations shown in the ARRL Handbooks were written
> > by those who never used them year after year.  The Series configuration for
> > low Z loads is difficult to get to work.  A series Xc variable is needed in
> > the link (ground the rotator) or you will have trouble getting matches
> > and/arcing with either one.  Use RF ammeters or light bulbs shunted with 
> > just
> > the right amount of wire in the output for balance and maximizing output.
> > Use light bulbs with pig tails and clips and adjust shunt length for
> > brightness.  To extend low range RF ammeters range, shunt with knife
> > switch--for 2 ranges.  Or you can just clamp it right on the wire.  RF
> > ammeters are getting hard to find now--I bought them all.  Experiment with
> > different LC ratios in the tank circuit and number of turns in the link for
> > maximum output or no arcing.  Start with 2 turns.  I've even used coax with 
> > a
> > half wave of coax connected to give a balanced coax to feed an ungrounded
> > link on 6M.  This tuner was balanced on both ends.  No TVI on 6 m either.  A
> > 2 element quad was fed with 100 ohm balanced coax.
> >       The Johnson MB with the modifications I've given on TT is the best
> > tuner of all to use.  If you ever use it to match 100 ohm balanced coax 
> > there
> > is at trick you must know or you can get into trouble.  I found this out 
> > when
> > I had RF ammeters in each leg and SWR bridges in each of the 50 ohm series
> > connected coaxes.  What can happen is not believable unless you see it and 
> > is
> > highly disputed by those who have never seen it and are experts in 
> > everything
> > from child birth to reincarnation without ever experiencing either?  The 
> > cure
> > is also simple.
> >       I also use a balanced L network with 2 variables and inductors all on
> > one shaft.  It has this strange thing happening also with a simple cure.
> > This tuner matches a variety of balanced loads with smaller components also.
> >       I had one installation where I had 750 watts in the 50 ohm link (RF
> > ammeter in link and 1:1 SWR) and 700 watts in the antenna using 450 ohm line
> > and a balanced 150 ohm quarter wave coaxial stub and a balanced 28 ohm
> > coaxial stub to match 16 ohms at a beam.  There was 3.87 RF Amps in the
> > Collins KW-1 RF ammeter and the tuner RF ammeter in the link 1/4 WL away of
> > 50 ohm coax on 20 M.  You have 1:1 SWR if 1/4 WL away the current is still
> > the same (I didn't have a 50 SWR bridge then).  I later made one of coax
> > similar to the "Twin 'Bulb 300 ohms SWR Indicator."  I still have a picture
> > of the tuner from 1953--and the KW-l.  The SWR was flat on the 70' of 450
> > line.  I could take an RF ammeter and shunt it on either line anywhere and 
> > it
> > read the same value of 1.27A as I remember.  .3 dB loss is not bad from 
> > input
> > to tuner to input to antenna--if not a record (6.61 A in the feedpoint).
> >       If you have 1:1 SWR at the input of the tuner and nothing is heating 
> > or
> > arcing, you have 100% transfer of power less the feedline and tuner losses.
> > There are some exceptions.  The one main advantage of a tuner and open wire
> > line is that you can get maximum transfer of power all over the band also.
> > All the coax problems, high cost and limitations go away.  Rain has no
> > affect--isn't that nice?  I have one length of open wire line I made 60 
> > years
> > ago I still use--enameled #12.  #12 or 10 House wire with the plastic
> > insulation works well.  Don't use stranded bare copper wire.  I use 
> > insulated
> > wire now and it has a lower velocity factor depending on the insulation--and
> > the number of spacers for any wire.  Keep it 1' away from the tower.
> >      Open wire is blazing a comeback.  The 450 ohm ladder line is fairly 
> > good
> > up to 1 KW .  Even 300 ohm ribbon can be used with low loss with loads of
> > 200-400 ohms. this minimizes the current in the small wire.  Rain will upset
> > the dielectric.  Coat it with wax.
> >      Spacers can be made our of most any plastic not susceptible to UV.
> > Don't use wooden dowels boiled in wax.  I could hear arcing in the spacers 
> > at
> > 600 watts.  3/8" delrin is a great spacer.  Drill holes in the ends that 
> > just
> > slip over the wire and secure it's position every 1 1/2'-2' with epoxy or
> > silicone rubber.  Use heavy soldering lugs at the ends.
> >       I'll have long runs of 1/2 WL multiple lengths on all bands (my magic
> > lengths) at my new QTH in SD and I'll use open wire line. There are many
> > tricks in it's use.  I'll be using rhombics also.  I have made and
> > accumulated a large number of tank and rotary coils of 1 KW, 500W, 150W and
> > 75W coils from flee markets over the years.  Get a Johnson MB.  ARRL usually
> > says to use any length of open wire line or seldom recommends certain
> > lengths. They have set back tuners and open wire line more than anyone as
> > many have trouble with their recommendations--they never test them.  Open
> > wire needs good supports for ice loading.
> >  k7gco   >>
> >
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>
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