Thanks for the replies.  This is sorta like asking two Unitarian Universalists a question; you end up with three answers :-)

Dale WU7X

Is there anyone out there in hamland that has experience connecting a TL922a to a Kenwood TS480SAT?  I would like to know what I need to get the job done right.

Thanks in advance!

Dale WU7X

I presently own a 3 el SteppIR yagi which I rotate with a Ham IV rotator.  I have ordered the 30/40 meter addition to this system, and am thinking that since I will have the antenna off the tower anyway, why not convert to the 32 foot boom 4 element yagi at the same time.

Question(S):  1) Is the Ham IV, with it's built in 5 second brake delay, strong enough to handle this relatively light yagi on a 32 foot boom?

2) The antenna is on a Hygain self-supporting 52 foot crankup tower.  Is this tower strong enough to handle the 32 foot boom length of a 4 element SteppIR?

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Dale WU7X

A the bottom of the past solar cycle, I was using a full wavelength rectangular loop on 40 meters.  It was horizontally polarized with the top wire about 50-55 feet off the ground.  My best Dx on grayline one early spring morning was Amsterdam Island in the South Indian Ocean.  I live in the Pacific NW, so that was geographically about as far from my qth as one could get.

I recently reviewed some of Cebik's modelling data on his website.  It shows that a wire doublet will do a little better than that quad, about one dB or so.  My practical experience from my location seems to disprove that.

I presently have a 40 meter doublet and a Radio Works 80 windom beam up.  Both at 50 feet or less.  Neither one seems to hear or work 'em as well as that quad.  I will be converting the doublet into a quad sometime this coming month.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to go with.

Dale WU7X

I strongly suggest you get on the internet and download or order (I think it's free) the Radio Works product manual.  I found it to be incredibly useful in handling the same situation.  The author really goes into detail looking at the causes and cures for common grounding problems.  He had exactly the same problems that we have encountered when he moved his shack to a second floor room.  I am going through his process one step at a time and have knocked out a lot of my RFI problems.  Still having a problem rattling my copper water pipes in the basement when I use the linear, hi, hi.

www.radioworks.com

BTW, I have no financial or other interest in this company.

Dale WU7X

There is another way to go that doesn't require a rack mounting system.  I am familiar with it because I have ordered three of these desks for at work.  A company called Anthro Cart makes a line of desks, carts, etc. One of their products is a curved desk that is on very large casters. The neat thing is you can modify it by adding all kinds of additions shelves, computer platforms, etc.  Take a look here to see what they look like:

http://www.anthro.com/_Ac/AC_Cnsl_Naked.asp

I have no financial interest in this company, just like their products!  

Dale WU7X

I tend to agree with AA4PB.  My friends rack is open in the back,and air can circulate freely.  As far as reaching the various components goes, I control my TS-850 pretty much through computer software.  I have marked the various positions for both SSB and CW on the front of the linear, and the tuner should be very easy to reach in the center of the stack.

Consider this: instead of having to crawl over the top of my desk to get at all the wiring connecting all this equipment, all I have to do is to turn the rack around on it's casters.  If in the event there is heat build up, I can install 12 volt fans alongside and between the various pieces of equipment. The hardest thing I see going for this arrangement is cutting the front panels to make everything look really professional. My buddy's rack, btw, is probably 22" wide, rather than 6 feet, so it is pretty maneuverable.  

If I can get this going over the next couple of months, I'll take some photos so you guys can see what it looks like.

Thanks for the input from all of you.  I respect all of your comments, and would like to hear more.

73,

Dale WU7X

I tend to agree with AA4PB.  My friends rack is open in the back,and air can circulate freely.  As far as reaching the various components goes, I control my TS-850 pretty much through computer software.  I have marked the various positions for both SSB and CW on the front of the linear, and the tuner should be very easy to reach in the center of the stack.

Consider this: instead of having to crawl over the top of my desk to get at all the wiring connecting all this equipment, all I have to do is to turn the rack around on it's casters.  If in the event there is heat build up, I can install 12 volt fans alongside and between the various pieces of equipment. The hardest thing I see going for this arrangement is cutting the front panels to make everything look really professional. My buddy's rack, btw, is probably 22" wide, rather than 6 feet, so it is pretty maneuverable.  

If I can get this going over the next couple of months, I'll take some photos so you guys can see what it looks like.

Thanks for the input from all of you.  I respect all of your comments, and would like to hear more.

73,

Dale WU7X

An audiophile friend of mine has a neat caster mounted rackmount system that is only 3-4 feet tall and is angled back about 45 deg.  

I am wondering if anyone makes or sells rackmount retrofit kits for ham equipment. I assume such kits would have to include shelves to hold the ham equipment as few pieces are built specifically for rackmounting.  The parts I would like to install on a similar rack would be, from bottom to top: my Astron 35 amp rackmount ready power supply, my Kenwood TL-992A amp, a Palstar 1500CV tuner, and my TS-850S transciever. I may even consider getting a rackmount ready computer case thus cleaning up my desktop.

Any suggestions or tips are welcome.

Dale WU7X

You can get information on the D104's impedence from the Astatic website.  I had the info and wiring diagram when I wired up my TS-830S with a D104, but lost it in the "stack" somewhere.  You will love playing with the old lollypop.  I great pretty good reports off the 830S using the D104.

73,

Dale WU7X

I am going to build a 40 meter vertical dipole antenna.  Rather than going with direct coax feed, I plan on using 450 ohm ladderline to a 4:1 balun. Coax will go from the balun to the tuner in the shack. The ladderline will be ~50 feet in length, and the RG-8 coax 50-60 feet in length. I would like to use more ladderline and a lot less coax, but have visual appearance problems as seen from the eyes of the XYL :-O   The antenna will slope about 20 degrees from true vertical, but I don't see that as much of a problem.

Does anyone in eHam-land have any experience with a vertical 40 dipole they can share with me?  I hope to be able to work some grayline dx with it.

Thanks in advance.

Dale WU7X, ex-KC7MM

Dear N6VQQ,

Thank you for posting both your comments.  They were clear, to the point, and done in a "gentlemanly" manner. Bravo!


EHam has become one of the spots I frequent several times a day.  I would hate to tell my wife how much I have spent on the wonderful gear I have purchased off of it!  I can't think of a better deal in ham radio than this medium.  To reinforce another person's comments; if you don't want to pay, you don't have to play.

A pleasant evening to all.

WU7X

Here is a question a bit out of the ordinary.  I have a like new "Riding the Airwaves with Alpha & Zulu" book.  I bought it in November, 1993, stamped the edges with my name and old callsign, then put it away.  I had purchased it to help get my kids involved with radio, but they never showed any interest.  At any rate, the book showed up in a storage box I was going through last week.  The binding isn't even wrinkled!

I have been told some people want this book for their ham libraries.  anyone have an idea of what it is worth?  I don't do the eBay thing, so wouldn't know how to put it up for auction there.  It cost $14.95 plus S&H back in '93....

73 & DX,

de Dale WU7X