For the if we only knew when category....
Imagine this....
IF
the wall about to constructed for your shack is like those here in South
Florida (concrete block)
AND IF
you have the foresight to plan ahead
AND IF
there is a window which you can look out to see the relative position of
the Sun as you decide when to get up to the higher bands or drop down for
those gray line mults...
AND YOU DO IT NOW
you could, instead of having one or two of those concrete blocks under the
window in the shack be blocks, have them be a thick of sheet brass or
copper, which is grouted into the surrounding blocks. Since the area under
your window is not load bearing this is an ideal location for such a
concoction.
AND IF YOU ARE SERIOUS YOU SHOULD
Have a sheet metal outfit prepare a piece with a bunch of holes drilled in
it that are the right size to accommodate those barrel connectors with the
two nuts on them that you see in the catalogues and in the flea markets,
and have them drill several smaller holes - say 1/4", which will serve as
homes for bolts/studs which you can use as grounding points - on the
outside to go to grounding stakes...on the inside for your shack grounding
bus....now....
If you have the builder set this panel and wait till after the mortar is
set and the house is painted you have waited a little too long.....put in
your connectors in the plate once the plate has "set up" and then cover the
ends of them and the "studs" with black tape or something so that the
installation can be painted along with the house and you will have minimal
visual impact other than other hams saying gawd I wish my shack had that!
To me this would be ideal....imagine it....your PL259 from the antenna
screws into the outside of the house, and then on the cozy inside of the
house you can connect your Jumper with its own PL259 which in turn can go
to a coax switch or whatever...
You can fabricate PL259's which are shorted to plug into unused antennas
which will take the center conductor to ground when inserted!
This is too easy...
BUT ONLY IF YOU DO IT WHEN THE WALL IS IN THE PLANNING STAGE!
just my HO
k4oj@ij.net
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