Thanks to everyone for the help....now I can make my splitter ...tks..73's
Frog

hello all..
 I am making a splitter for a homebrew arrow sattlite antenna.....from Kent Britain--wa5vjb....
 Here is my problem....I am using wound wire for th inductors....what I need to know is the caps that it calls for are 4.7 pf 50v or above...the only ones they have in town or the 5 pf 1kv....I know the volts dont matter at this point but can I use the 5pf caps instead of the 4.7 pf caps..their are other parts for it also but those I can find exactly what he calls for..Its just these 4.7 pf caps that i cant find in town......I know I can order some but that just takes more time to wait..this is for the 435 mhz side...it just a high pass filter and he says as long as it cuts off somewhere between 200 and 400 mhz it should be ok.
Anyone with electronic knowledge could please advise me...i woud apreciate it...If i have to order the correct one...oh well...thanks for the help..hope this is enough info to come to an answere ...
tks
Frog

 OK I want to thank everyone for their input on this project...all the info came into play in the tuning process....I finally found a spot on the taps that led to the overall tuning of the rest....I guess you were all right...it just takes patients...and a lot of it..ha...anyway got it all tuned up ....and the swr is a lot better than I thought it would be...almost all the bands tuned below1.4 ................for 20-17-15  i had to have the whip out to 45".....and for 12-10 I had to retract the whip to 33".....
 I sure am glad it all worked out...now the fun part begins....to see how it actually puts out....
 Cant thank you all enough......
Frog  73s

Thanks for all the advise....I tried disconnecting the matching coil to tune the loading coil...but it doesn't tune at all unless the matching coil is connected...checked all connection and all are good...reread building info..all is good...grounds all good...cant get anything unless the matching coil is attached on a tap???
Frog

Thanks for all the suggestions...I will give them a try .
Yes the antenna has a matching coil on the bottom and about 3 feet of shaft above and then a loading coil and then the whip.
It was from an article on the arrl webs site ..I just typed in home brew bug catcher and it came up. think it said something about a mobile $20 dollar antenna bugcatcher...something like that...anyway thanks again for the help..I will try again.
73
Frog

 I made a home brew bug catcher from an article on the arrl web site....did everything as advised but can not get it to tune. I have a 259b analyzer but when I touch the antenna  at the taps points or just get close to it the readings go all over.Either the r is to high or the srw is to high or the x is way out.....when I get the swr down then the r factor is way  to high. Driving me crazy..Moved the car into the clear and no change.  I move the match tap and then the load tap and just cant seem to get it right. The article said 20-17-15 all tuned very easy.. Ive lengthened the whip and shorten it....well not in my case...Any Ideas....I'm about to give it up and buy a dam antenna....I have also checked all the grounding cables ...all seems well..1 inch straps on the mount..grounded good...
Thanks
Frog

Thanks k2owk ....I just looked at the article...thanks very informative
 Frog

Thanks again to everyone...think I have it now...once its explained in so many different ways it makes some since..thanks again ..and by the way..I will go with the bare copper wire instead of the weilding wire....THANKS FOR ALL THE HELP
Frog

Thanks for all the info....very helpfull..
when you say to put a cap in sieries with the inductor at the 259b  imput...does that mean to put one end of the cap inside the antenna imput and connect the other end to the inductor and then the other end of the inductor to the outside of the antenna imput conection???thanks
Frog

 Does anyone know how to use a mfj 259b antenna analyzer to messure inductance in a homebrew coil? I have the user manual but it is not very clear to me.I think I need pictures.ha
 This analyzer is a new addition for me.
 Anyway I am trying to make a coil for the buddistick for 40-10 meters...I am making it on 1 1/2in sched-40 pvc...I am not sure of the turns or length yet or how long the coil has to be...I am thinking about 50 to 60 turns at 7 turns per inch with#18 weilding wire.. I am not sure what inductance I will need...just experimenting....
 The manual says the mfj can test for inductance but doesn't go into much detail...and I am not an ET...so anyone that may have tried this please let me know. I do see a lot of formulas but I am not a math wizard either...very confusing for us laymen...
Ok thanks for any help
Frog

HI
Why does the kenwood tw4000a have an offset of -7.6 mhz for the 70 cm band...I read that the 70 meter band offset is 5 mhz. Doesnt seem to be a way to change the setting. Will this be usable on 70 meters as is or will it only work in simplex mode. Dont know why it says -7.6 in the manual..
 Any help with this will be gratefull.
Tks
Frog

Thanks for all the replies and help...lots of good info..
Frog

 Does anyone know what size solar panels would I need to set up a portable set up for a 100 watt radio. What power rating would the panels have to be. I have seen some 15 watt panels and 45 watt panels at harbor freight. The 15 watt set up was about 90 bucks and the 45 was 180 bucks..... I just want to keep a 12 volt battery charged as it is being used. Don't want to spend more than i need to.
 Thanks...
any help on setting up a portable station is welcomed..
Frog

 Does anyone have a link that has a UTC time clock that can be downloaded onto the desktop of a windows 7 computer. I tried one but the clock downloaded but has no min or hr hands...just a clock...I have a 64 bit operating system..I think the one I downloaded was for 32 bit..anyway would be nice to have on the desktop to view while doing contacts...
 Thanks for the help
 Frog

What is the best thing to use to coat a coil to preserve it from the elements of the weather.
Thanks