Did something change with the ground under/around the antenna?
JIM w4qbq From: George Dubovsky <n4ua.va@gmail.com>
To: StellarCAT <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com>
Cc: tower <towertalk@contesting.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 2, 2016 8:33 AM
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] frustrating rain and connections... also Noalox?
Hi Gary,
I'd look for things that are different, like the coax or balun connections.
And I've never had any issues with brand-name NoAlOx in joints, either new
or years later.
73,
geo - n4ua
On Sat, Apr 2, 2016 at 8:21 AM, StellarCAT <rxdesign@ssvecnet.com> wrote:
> I’m testing a yagi... I can raise it to ~37’ for testing and lower it to
> about 8’ for adjustment ... it was made as a duplicate to another one and
> testing showed it to be just that – a duplicate. Until it rained! The SWR
> shifted downward. At 21425 it was ~1.35:1 ... and it would go over 2:1. I’m
> at a loss as to what is causing this. It is a used antenna reassembled...
> but I find it very difficult to believe that water could get in to the
> mechanical joints and cause this kind of a problem. The balun doesn’t
> appear to be taking on water – there wasn’t a drain hole in the bottom –
> there is now – I went out early this morning just after it rained – SWR up
> high – and there was nothing coming out of the drain hole. I have checked
> all connections – they’re tight. Oh – and the strange thing – it goes back
> to normal after only about 4 – 5 hours without rain. It has done this 3
> times now. It is now – 45 minutes after checking it this morning where it
> was at 2.33:1, its now down to 1.8:1 and continuing its decent. And further
> note the SWR seems to be about the same – its just shifted downward when
> wet. Also I hosed it down – the balun/coax connection, hairpin for a good 5
> minutes – no change. I hosed down the elements at their joints – no change.
> It rains: changes! The fact that it shifts seems to be independent of
> height – it does this if at 37’ or at 8’.
>
> Also: is Noalox the same as penatrox? It is the No AL OX sold by HD ... it
> says it is for increased conductivity as well as anti-seize... perhaps IT
> is the problem at the joints ... unless someone knows it to be fine (or
> KNOWS it to be bad).
>
> thanks – I’m hoping someone has personally seen such a thing and has an
> idea. Its holding up the testing of the other antennas.
>
> Gary
>
> ps: the first one had no problems when it was rained on.
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