I used to use an item called Alumajel. It is like Naval Jelly except for aluminum. It is simply brushed on and hosed off. It leaves the aluminum clean and bright. It also worked well on auluminum motorcycle cases. After application, the antenna is dried assembled and coated with a clear lacquer. It will look and work like new, and ;last a long time.

73s

K2OWK

I need to add my 2 cents. There is one reading where an analog voltmeter such as the Simpson 260 excels. That is when setting a peak voltage. It is difficult on a DVM as compared to an analog meter. A digital meter will jump around when trying to set a peak. Also the analog meter is excellent for nulling a voltage to zero volts when required.

73s

K2OWK

Thanks for the information. I will try the antenna without the UNUN. I will add the additional length of coax and see what happens. Just for information The antenna loads just fine on 15 meters and has a 2.5 to 1 VSWR which is well within the FT-450AT auto tune range.

I will let you know how it works out.

Thanks again

73s

K2OWK

I have an S9 32 foot antenna. I have 20 radials measuring a few feet to 25 feet (most are 25 feet). Would installing a 32 foot radial get me a better resonance on the 40 meter band. Right now my SWR on 40 meters is about 6 to one. I can tune it to resonance with my manual tuner. The other bands 80 thru 6 meters work well with my MFJ-914 Auto Tuner Extender and the internal auto-tuner. It would be nice to be able to take out the manual tuner. Just for information I am using a 4 to 1 UNUN at the base of the antenna. The antenna works very well otherwise.

Thanks

73s

K2OWK   

The D-104 works great on old or new transmitters. I use one on a FT-450AT with excellent audio reports. Now to the Heathkit DX-60. If I remember right it uses controlled carrier modulation (same as the DX-35 and 40). The modulation sounds decent if the signal is strong, but not so good if the signal is weak. The fix is to plate modulate the transmitter. I used a pair of 1625 tubes in a home brew plate modulator and got broadcast quality reports on am with my DX-35. Should work just as well on the DX-60.

73s

K2OWK

The cable can be tested from one end if necessary. Test from the center pin to the outside, it should read open. Then go to the other end and short the center pin of the connector to the outside. It should read a short from the center pin to the outside of the connector. This will tell you if the connector is shorted to the shield (first test), and that the center is connected to the center of the coax. While it is not the best way to test it. It will work in a pinch.

73s

K2OWK

If the end of the antenna cable into a dummy load is giving you a >5 to 1 VSWR. It is in the cable. Most likely one or both connectors.

73s

K2OWK

Hello KW3U, To answer your question the capacitors you have will not work. The voltage is to low. A .1uf cap at 1200 VDC is a common unit and available from many sources, "Radio Shack" included. While higher capacitance would be acceptable the 630 volt in place of the 1200 volt would most likely fail.

73s

K2OWK

PS: you should start a new thread for this question as this thread is not for the problem you are asking about.

I have one on a 15 foot piece of PVC schedule 80 pipe total height is 20 feet. It works great. No tuner is necessary with this antenna. On 2 meters it is flat about 1.7 to 1, on .70 cm it varies from 1.5 to 2.5/. I use a 30 foot run of RG8X cable. I am using a Yaesu FT-4700RH, and I can hit all the repeaters and anyone I can hear. This is a great antenna for the price. Like someone said hook up your coax and have fun. That's what I did.

73s

K2OWK

 I have two, "Frequency" and "Contact".

73s

K2OWK

I powered up the National NC=98 with the tubes in the socket's. I used a Variac and stepped up the voltage 30 volts at a time until 120 volts was achieved. I left the receiver for about 3 hours at each voltage level. After the slow power up, I checked the receiver and it operated perfectly. It works on all bands with decent sensitivity for a unit this old. It has some good features I like like a built in antenna tuner, and 2 phasing filters. I am very happy with this restore, and would like to thank all the people on this thread for there advice.

73s

K2OWK

PS: Next restore is an Emerson model # 558. It was one of the first sudo pocket portable radios made in 1948. I had one then and used to take it to the beach in the summer. It has four tubes and operates from a 1 1/2 volt A- battery ("D" flashlite cell), and a 67.5 volt "B" battery which is easy to fabricate from 7 or so 9 volt batteries in series (yes they fit in the case), and should last much longer then the originals.

I have the Arrow GP146/440. It is Fed with about 30 feet of RG8X coax. I am using an old Yaesu FT-4700RH (50 watts VHF/45Watts UHF). It is up about 15 feet, and I can reach all repeaters some up to 30 miles away. This antenna is a 1/4 wave ground plane on VHF and a J-Pole on UHF. There is a good test on it in the Feb.2013 QST (page 61). I bought it because I needed an antenna with a small footprint that was reasonably efficient and I was not disappointed. It is very well made reasonably priced at under $40.00. I have it mounted on a piece of 10 foot schedule 80 PVC pipe. The complete unit is very light and so far has withstood high winds with no failures. As far as loss in the RG8X it is 1.8db at 50 feet at 150 MHZ, and is 3.15 db at 450 MHZ. The 400 would be about half of that. At these frequency's height is more important then coax loss. The higher the better. I am very happy with my set up.

Just my opinion,

73s

K2OWK

I have the same clock as you do and have the same problem. The factory says it is preset to the four US time zones, annoying but not a big problem, as I am only interested in the minutes and seconds. The UST hour I can easily figure out. The Skyscan is the way to go if you want the UST. I bought the La Crosse because my sight is poor and the clock is very big and easy to see.

73s

K2OWK

This is not a reply to this question, but I also have the same type of problem. I have restored a National NC-98 and it works perfectly on all bands. If I plug the two prong plug in the wrong way, I get a slight shock from the case when I touch my lamp that is plugged into the same receptacle. I can eliminate this by turning the plug around in the socket. I am supprised at this because the power supply operates through a transformer and should be isolated from the case. I guess I could replace the original plug with a polarized two prong plug, but I would also like to try a three prong plug. So I to am looking for an answer to this
question.

73s

K2OWK

I have a S9 31 foot with the same setup. I have radials buried about 2" below the ground. They vary in length between 26' (most of them) and 3' (just a few). The antenna operates first class with no problems. My coax is RG8X about 50' and I can tune the bands 80 thru 6 meters. I am using an MFG Auto Tuner Extender (MFJ-914) for most bands and an MFJ-949E for the rest. The radio is a Yaesu FT-450AT. I have the UNUN mounted on the radial plate with about 4" of braid attaching it to the plate.

73s

K2OWK