You can get NEW Andrews Heliax and connectors on E-Bay all the time.  Most of these sales come from roll ends that were left over from projects.  I've gotten 1/2" hardline for as low as $.75 a foot and connectors in the $7.99 range by being patient and waiting for a good deal.  Most of the rolls of hardline will be in the 100 foot range.  Which, for my 65 foot tower was perfect.

I switched over to wired as well.  Made no difference.  Again, I'm just reporting my experiences.  I will go on to say the problems occurred at two different QTHs.  The old QTH, I lived in a condo with an iffy at best grounding system.  The current QTH has a very good ground system.  I also have tower mounted antennae as opposed to a ground mounted vertical in the old QTH.  None of it made a difference.  That's why my nephew has it now.

Yup, the Davis - and others - are expensive.  But they do exactly what you expect them to.  All the time.

Check paragraph 'f'.  AND FOR THE FINAL TIME - DO NOT ADDRESS ANY COMMUNICATION TO ME EVER.

http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/rsa/html/lxii/644/644-4.htm

Then I hope you are prepared for the stalking charges and the law suit that follows.

I had a LaCrosse Wireless weather station.  I gave it to my nephew.  Every time I transmitted, I'd get over 300" (yes, 300 inches) of rain.  I would periodically (like every other day) go pull the batteries and power from the internal portion and external transmitter to reset everything.  It is my opinion that LaCrosse weather stations are very prone to RF.  

I tried everything.  Chokes, aluminum tape to shield it, repositioning it further away from the antenna.  Nothing worked.  I got a Davis.  No more problems.

OK Dave, this one is for you.  I've held off in doing this, because I wasn't "Keeping Score", but you appear to.  Since you keep referring to a post a year and a half old.  So, this is necessary.

The word unprecedented was my opinion.  I'm entitled to that.  I tried your application, and I didn't like it.  I found it cumbersome, the user interface wasn't to my liking, and for lack of a better word, I didn't like the 'feel'.  The same went with N1MM's logging system, and several other rig control and logging applications available.  HRD version 4.1 did it for me, but not quite.  When version 5 was released it did have many improvements that I appreciated and felt did it better than any other (including your application), hence the use of the word unprecedented.  Something you seemed to be totally hung up on.  When I compare DXLAB to HRD, HRD is way ahead in many ways IN MY OPINION.  HRD BLOWS DXLAB AWAY IN MY OPINION.  So the use of the word unprecedented is JUSTIFIED IN MY OPINION.  I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR THAT.  GET OVER IT.

So, there you go.  I expressed my opinion.  Guess what buddy?  I AM ALLOWED TO DO JUST THAT.  Since I am not a paid author for any publication, anything I write is the sole expression of MY THOUGHTS AND UNDERSTANDINGS.

Also, I was not the one who initially used the term or thought 'Trapped' (I believe the word 'ambushed' was first used).  Another person expressed his opinion that you seemed to have done that.  About that time I became aware of your role in DXLab.  So, the observation of the another person was a very fitting statement and I agreed.  Wow, a third party read what had transpired and had an opinion that differed from yours.  And that seems to be the underlying current to this thread.  YOU DO NOT LIKE PEOPLE WHO'S OPINION IS DIFFERENT THAN YOURS.  They have a word for that.

There was absolutely no steps backwards in HRD functionality from V4 to V5.  Indeed, there were many advances.  For example: the inclusion of features like eQSL automatic updating.  But of course you checked that out, didn't you?  NO?  The users you 'heard' from must not have learned enough about the system to correctly exploit the features would be my guess.  But then, your hearsay was all the research you invested or needed, obviously.

I have helped dozens of people get up and running on HRD V5.  I have assisted dozens more with problems they have had and assisted them in using and understanding the HRD applications.  I do have a very good understanding of HRD and its features.  I tend to stay away from threads I have no direct knowledge in (like how do I get HRD to work with my TenTec, etc) or cannot duplicate (since I don't work the satellites, I don't have any experience with HRD SAT or Az/El rotors).  Since you seemed to have very little HRD experience, there is no need for you to offer anything new on HRD.

So, Big Man, give it a rest.  Unless I specifically address you, please stay away from me and anything I post.  Unless you have something positive to contribute, plonk me, PLEASE!

I rest my case.

Dave,

  No where did I address you.  I addressed W8JX and K2ZS.  Please refrain from responding to comments I leave for others.  Your opinion is unwanted by me.  If I address a comment to you, feel free to comment or answer.  Thank You.

Jim

W8JX,

   It's not worth it to argue with Dave.  He splits a hair finer than anyone I have ever met.  Just go back to the beginning of this post and see how he set a trap for me.  At the time I did not know he was the author of DX Suite and fell right into it.  He's very proud of DX Suite (as he should be).  Arguing with him is kinda like a greased pig at a county fair.  Sooner or later you have to accept you won't catch the pig, and he kinda likes being chased...


K2ZS,

   I will agree with Dave that if the cable is working on other programs it should work with HRD as well.  Dave does say you may experience a driver crash, but since you are using a serial cable and did not state if the computer serial port is a native port or a USB converter, this MAY be a problem.  Since you are not having issues with other software, I doubt it will be an issue.  HRD does not provide drivers for the serial connection.  A huge assumption by Dave. 

   I do not have any direct experience with the TS-690.  So I tend to stay away from things I can't directly test and verify in my shack.  But I do see HRD includes it into the list of predefined rigs.  If the system works with your other software, I might suggest opening the config of that software and write down all the pertinent settings.  Set up HRD the exact same way, and it should work.  To eliminate the bickering, you can reach me off net at my call at arrl.net

Jim

PRB-1 is NOT codified.

Did you know Log Periods and Quad antennas are 'fractal' antennas? 

To quote:

"The first fractal "antennas" were, in fact, fractal "arrays", with fractal arrangements of antenna elements, and not recognized initially as having self-similarity as their attribute. Log-periodic antennas are arrays, around since the 1950s (invented by Isbell and DuHamel), that are such fractal arrays. They are a common form used in TV antennas, and are arrow-head in shape."

So to answer your question,  Yes, there are many sites with information of fractal antennas of these two basic designs.  Folded dipoles also meet the definition of a fractal antenna.  As do Moxons, Spider Beams, etc.  Are they the new savior of antenna designs?  You decide for yourself.  Just because a re-aired Nova segment on them has re invigorated the concept, doesn't mean it's new or great.  Just new to you.

They have their place in the vhf/uhf/shf world for low power, low gain situations where compact design and space is a vital consideration.  Cell phones/RFID/Wireless Data (I hate the term WiFi - what does that mean?  Wireless Fidelity?) are situations the latest designs work well.

Really up to you as far as aesthetics is concerned.  There's no requirement, other than to prevent pooling of water.  The top should be crowned slightly (higher in the center of the base and sloping down to the edges in all directions) and the edges of the base can be at grade.  Just not below grade.

FWIW, I placed mine 2" above grade and placed lawn edging 8" away and filled that space with that anti-weed cloth and gravel.  I did this to make it a cleaner installation and more decorative.  Keeps weeds and vines from making a beanstalk out of the tower.

I use the medical grade mineral oil in my cantenna.  Have for years.  Use it to tune and 'getter' my Heath SB-1000 amp.  Cheap source is WalMart.  Couple of bucks a quart.  Also, purchase something to set it in to catch leaks.  I use an old 8 X 10 Photo Paper processing tray.  It will hold that whole gallon if it all leaked out.  Keeps you safe and happy and the wife won't kill you when you stain the floor/carpet.  It will leak.

W8JX,

 It is important to understand there is a finite command set available on any rig.  Within the software packages identified here (DX Lab Suite and HRD), Both allow you to create buttons, sliders, controls, etc to take advantage of ANY of those commands.  Some are pre-packaged in the application by the author.  These are generally the most common functions and uses of the radio.  So, I guess this is where I do not see your point. 

It is impossible for a given radio to be exploited further than the finite commands available.  If both the free packages mentioned here exploit, or possess the capability to exploit, the entire command set, then how is the 'pay for it' manufacturers software better (I use the pending release of the ICOM software here - not familiar with the Kenwood software)?

And make up the difference in more gravel.  Like a half foot of compacted gravel.  This way the gravel will provide a cistern until the water can seep into the ground.  It will, just at a slower rate.

Now, the most important thing to remember is the drainage is not for rain water.  The hole is filled with concrete - right!  But rather condensation that accumulates in the tower legs.  If you do not provide a path for it, it will eventually rust the tower legs and destroy its stability.