Good luck on the test and good luck in your new hobby adventures. Ham radio is an extremely great hobby. I got into the hobby back in 1968 at the age of 10 and was very active until mid 70's...Girl's, cars, Navy and Marriage and children kept me to busy.  one of my life's regrets {very few of them} was getting out of the hobby for so many  years.

I did not return to Ham radio until 2006....

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He did it to my post . Again who are you to question me. Only giving back what was dished out to me . Seems its harder to swallow when the advice is going the other way. Also I was told the other day when you post a topic be prepared to hear everyone's comment. So turn about is fair play.And you sir need to mind your own business

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So you are not an adult, you can not think for your self in a rational manner. If he jumps off a cliff you going to follow him as well?.

You claim to be old enough to have grand children, yet my grandchildren act more mature than you do? Grow up.

And I am minding my own business you brought the crap to me, when in a thread on buried cable you began your mindless ranting.

So if you want me to mind my own business which I am more than happy to, keep your business out of mine. It's that simple.

Life is too short to be in a pissing contest with every tom dick and harry and I know far to many people like you that are not happy if they are not in a conflict with someone.

Please just drop it, reply if you have knowledge to share, other wise leave out the bullshit. And as a note I had stupidly come to your defense in another thread for the same thing...It was later I saw that you just run around baiting people into it.

I have extended buried cable with great success myself over the years at my ranch. I recommend two things, do not bury the connector, dig a hole and put in a Sealed PVC box, {get a large one, easier to make repairs in the future as this will be your weak link}. Keep the lid and top section above ground for easy access and avoid having it buried with time..

Use type N connectors, and then use rescue tap to seal it, that stuff is amazing.

This is how I did my connection for both my camera on the top of the antenna tower and my 3 antenna's and that connection is going on 4 years now with out a single bit of issue.....

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KAISERSOUSE why don't you put your call sign up for everyone to read like an adult. Do the research yourself. You would think a person with all your great advice to me knows everything. So how does it feel when you put up a post I can say what I feel now. Remember when you put it on the site you have to expect this . That was what I was told . So quit your crying and be a man and put up your call sign . I highly doubt your even a ham. So turn about is fair play . Grow up and move on with your life. And before you broadcast make sure you have a call sign. Have a nice day. If you study hard you might be a ham someday. Take care. 73...

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With every further post, I understand more and more why they refused to give you the general exam.

What possible purpose could there be to come in a thread that was on topic and launch an idiotic childish rant.

There are folks out there whom I consider extremely knowledgeable hams who are not experts in all aspects. I'm for example I have a large level of knowledge on many aspects of ham radio, electronics, etc but I'm very weak with dipole antennas,  hence I ask what many may consider stupid questions.

His question on extended the cable was valid.

If you wish to be taken serious as a person or a ham stop looking for conflict every place.

I stand correct, the 2008 records are for a renewal.

I can see why the VE's refused to give him the exam. He admits to operating illegally on bands out side of his Technician class access.

He admits to getting drunk on the air and in conflicts and causing interference with repeaters

And according to the FCC site he is not honest either {strike 3}.

His lic was issued in 2008, there is NO FCC activity on  him prior to 2008 when he was issued a technician.

Also it appears he never took or failed his general test, as there is NO record of the FCC processing his upgrade.


I think we should mentor anyone that wants to learn, but there is also strong truth in the old saying YOU ARE KNOW BY WHO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH.

According to QRZ and the FCC he is still a Tech, and has not been a tech for 12 years but since 2008.

When I first started reading the responses to him I thought how rude folks are to someone asking questions. Then as I read all of his threads I see why?

CB operator not growing into ham but trying to turn ham into CB

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for beginner, consider IC-718. under $600 I think. use the rest of $ for power supply, tuner, power meter, antennas, good coax etc. Then when (if) sun spots come back consider more expensive SDR based radio, IC756proIII class etc.

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Stay away from the Icom 718, it is far to bare bone and not a very good radio, we have one that is in our cabin at the ranch, I bought it because it was cheap and left out in the middle of no where I did not want to miss it a lot if it was stolen. I put a FT 450 in my truck as a mobil rig and if I had it all to do over again I would have bought another FT 450 for my cabin.

The FT450 is between $50 to $100 more than the  718 and includes 6 meters, and has a built in auto tuner and a host of features.

Wit the FT450 for close to the same price as the 718, the 718 just does not make sense.

I second the comment of if you want a do it all radio the TS2000, it is a great radio, and for a shack on the budget is a perfect choice, but it is a jack of all trades and master of non. If you are happy with your VHF setup, I would spend the money on an FT 950 for a better quality HF/6 meter rig.

I own a 718, FT450 and TS2000 so I can speak from experience with those radio's, I do not have an FT 950, so can only tell you what I have heard, but it sounds like a great rig. For my base station I skipped over the low end and have 2 FT 2000D's and an Icom 756 Pro III and the TS2000 is for 2 meters, 440 and satellite.

I have no experience with folded dipoles, and want to get some feedback to what others think.

I have used an 80 meter double bazooka and it was alright, it performed well at my home, but was very poor up at our ranch. Replaced the ranch antenna with a DXBlaster and very happy with it, but to distracting in appearance and can't turn a corner like I need with it at the house in town.

Looking at folded dipoles and or another Bazooka to replace the 160/80 meter dipole I have now.

comments to performance of each and which way folks will go.

And hieights for apex and ends

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Why does someone talking in another language have to be political? (Or somehow wrong?)

Even if it was so what?

Different countries operate under different rules.

Even if he is an American, he is allowed to talk about what interests him and his friends.

Open your eyes, man...

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Why in the world do you have to assume malice? The man just asked a question. It appeared to me he was just trying to figure out if it was a broadcast station or another ham chatting.

Seemed a rather simple question to have gotten offended over.

Something else I'm getting conflicting answers to......

One person told me to disconnect the ground from the balun, another told me with out the ground it will be an issue.

The way I read it, the ground is basically for lightening protection and not doing much for the RF?

Comments

Been going through everyones suggestions, and some advice from local friends as well.

It has been suggested that I try the following:

Take the 4:1 balun out and replace it with a 1:1 balun? Comments on this?

Other suggestion is since I primary want 80 meters, based on the antenna length, 62ft each leg, that I pull the balun period and wire directly to the coax?

Comments on that?

Quote:

With the dimensions you gave and assuming no balun loss, the input impedance on 80 meters (the impedance the tuner sees) is about 3.7 to 4 ohms with low values of reactance. That is a very difficult impedance to match and will result in high loss in the tuner, maybe as much as 30% loss.

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What would be an ideal length for the ladder line on this antenna, if both
total dipole length is around 120ft, memory serves me correctly each leg is 60 to 62ft long.....

My problem is finding a way to lay out the ladder line with which is why I went shorter.

Quoted:

However that doesn't explain why your amp won't put out full power. If your tuner can provide 50 ohms to the amp, then the amp should see 50 ohms. Is the power being measured by the amp, the tuner, or both? Is the same power meter being used with the dummy load?

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The dummy load and the antenna are run through the same tuner and which has a built in meter. So the metering system is the same.

Quote:

Depending on the length of the dipole, length of the ladder line and frequency, the impedance at the shack end of the balanced line can almost any mix of resistance and reactance you can imagine. Depending on the balun/tuner combo in use, the system performance may vary all over the place. Particulary with high power.

The MFJ-912 is a 4:1 balun. Its performance with load that are far from the ideal 200:50 ohms resistive is unknown.

How long is the dipole?

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It has been up a long time, but from memory I believe the total length is 120ft...60 each direction.....with 35 to 40 ft of ladder line.