You could always use sattelite coax, I'm sure it will be easier to get hold of, as for loss will be more than good enough

The D layer starts absorbing at around 1400 KHz going up in frequency as solar activity increases. Which is why 80 metres shuts down during aurorae. How far up this effect goes I'm not sure.

Pleased you are up and running

WB2WIK wrote
What goes there is nothing more than a "sleeve" made of hollow aluminum tubing.  The antenna is impedance matched fine without it, but it is intended to aid in decoupling.  The two small holes are for a "clip" that holds the sleeve in position.

No its not, that is only on later 21 ele's
This one (As I said) only the coax connects directly on with spade connectors, the only bit missing is the boot that covers the connection
I bought THIS model in 1982 (I think) and certainly took it and a 16 ele (Might have been 17) for 2 metres to GD land in 1983.
The old 21 ele is no longer with us but my XYL bought another about 2 years ago (With the N connector and sleeve)

Its an old 21 ele Tonna (1980's) the coax connects with spade connectors, the later ones connect with the "N" connector. I know I used to have one when I lived at Chesterfield.

Hope this helps
de Tony

One thing you could do is add another "moxon" on an extended boom. This "Moxon" is actually a pair of directors in a rectangle.
Vine Antennas here in the UK has done this. Heres a link to show you what I mean

http://www.vinecom.co.uk/moxons.htm

The Sun has been pretty active this last week (Quietening down now) with a few "M" class flares one of which (at least) produced a burst of noise caught by an amateur astronomer on 21 and 28 MHz.

http://spaceweather.com/

Why?  I wish everyone on six ran a kilowatt, they'd be easier to hear.

Disagree totally with that statement. Sounds like his ears want sorting.

When my Radio Club started VHF contesting I told the Chairman "Forget HF, you have to think 70 cms" He started off using thin coax on 6 despite me telling him RG213 absolute minimum.
We got a roll of Westflex 103 and put that on 70 cms, 2 metres (In place of 213) and 6. The tower is almost bang up against the shack. The Club station always finishes in the top 10 in the 100 watts category for 6 despite being < 30ft ASL.

Ray You have the hardline there, you're out in the sticks, as one VHF man to another you go for it.

The 1.1 dB loss in your coax works both ways so really its 2.2 dB. I dont know what the losses are for the 7/8 hardline but what some people are not getting is You've already got it so one expense is out of the window

Front-line VHF contester G4DEZ Bryn Llewellyn uses a masthead preamp on 6, OK he lives out in the sticks so QRM is less of an issue.

The diesel is the Duratorque, Duratec is the successor to the Zetec petrol engine.
Agree re bonding,
Look to see what state the ignition leads are in, just in case

Sorry, I misread

I have 2 thoughts
(1)  Electric fuel lift pump (Usually in the tank
(2) Injectors, someone in the UK put ferrite rings on the wires that trigger the injectors

American pickups are not very common over here, I'm just thinking out aloud.

73 de Tony

Perhaps the ultimate answer is to have a separate aerial for ten (maybe twelve) ?
Alot of faffing about.
Switching the shunt coil in and out?

"Nurse!! My brain hurts!! ( With apologies to Monty Python)

Perhaps it is that 28 MHz is a short enough wavelength not to need it?? Just thinking about CB, they dont need it.
Thinking aloud
A physically short aerial at resonance has a lower impedance so % shorter= lower impedance.
My understanding is that a shunt match is to get the impedance back up towards 50 Ohm.

I will leave it to more articulate people to explain better.

Cheers Tony

The most reliable for 10 metres is not the beacons or repeaters, its 27.555 MHz USB. I suppose its the one advantage of having the "Jolly Roger" crew in one band