Hey John (BXI)!!!  Yes, this was a test, but not of anybody else, just of you....I KNEW you would be out there somewhere, you old Elmer you !!  HI     See you on 75 (or is that 80?)  
Folks, John is one of the BEST Elmers you could find....just don't blog or spam him or ask him how to answer a CQ  HI

TNX guys for the responses.    The reason I asked this question was to raise a topic that many could benefit by, and to be an interesting subject, as the basic dipole is one of the most easy/least expensive to make antennas, and it can serve an excellent purpose on a single freqcy w/limited bandwidth, no balun, no tuner.  Yes, it is not the "best" antenna for variegated interests/applications.  
 
 Also, after skimming such Elmer subjects as "CQ Response" (or How to answer a CQ)... over 60 comments, 6 pages.... I got really turned off by the bloviating blog concept that can be
promulgated on such a valuable Elmer site... not that the question was inappropriate..... So, before I become guilty of bloviating......  

  Although much of the answers did not address the specific questions, some did and others provided ancillary info that is valuable to us.  That's fine, and what I think Elmer is about..... hopefully
the info provided new thought process, help, and ideas for readers to pursue.  If not, how to answer a CQ may be the academics that "some" will benefit from   HI
73,  Steve

Hi, what has been ur experience, as to bandwidth,  using a 1/2 wave HF dipole, cut to a resonant freqcy, fed with 50-52 ohm coax, no balun (if you always used a 1/1 balun, please state so).    I.e., what have you found for the bandwidth and what has the VSWR range been to the useable band edges (say to 3/1 edges)?  What do you think you have done, if anything, to increase bandwidth within approx 3/1 vswr??  Please state the dipole's operating band (160, 80, 40, etc.)   Reminder, we're talkin 1/2 wave, horizontal,  center fed (as in dipole) HI

Skimming this subject, I've never seen so much time wasted.....same as blogging.  Only worthwhile comment was the guy who said "get a life"...  My  comment, "get on the air....end this thread".   Cheers ?   Steve

Response from DAVIS RF Co.
Hi Guys, W8NF is right on; closed cell PE. The term "solid PE" is often a bit misconstrued, but in this case the inquiry was a concern for avoiding an "air dielectric", like 9913, thus the term "solid" was used. More on 9913 below.
When I designed BURY-FLEX Tm, one requirement was low loss, thus closed-cell dielectric which yields the proper dielectric constant to obtain the VP (VF) necessary. In "cable guy" terminology, a "solid PE" (usually greyish colored) will not yield as high a VP (thus as low a dielectric constant) as closed cell.
In respect to water problems: 9913 water problems, as noted, are notorious. This is due mainly to atmospheric changes, or taking it out of storage in the warmth, to colder temperature which builds moisture inside the "tube" that forms the "air dielectric" of 9913. There is a Belden writeup for avoiding (but not always) this with 9913.

With respect to any solid or closed cell dielectric:
it goes without saying that it is extremely important
to have excellent weatherproofing from a couple inches down on the coax, to up and over the connector AND the
mating connection (the female N, UHF, etc. jack usually on the antenna or balun, etc). I can't emphacize this enough (waterproof sealing, not just "moisture proofing").
Thus, the best waterproofing won't avoid certain
issues with 9913, on occassion and depending on
certain atmospherics (certain drops in temp.) However, you will have NO problems with solid, or closed cell, types of coaxes as long as you have properly sealed the connectors.
BURY-FLEX Tm has been a very popular product with hams as well as commercial, military, NASA, Lockheed Martin, etc.
73, Steve Davis, K1PEK,
DAVIS RF Co., Div. of Orion Wire Co., Inc.
Wire, Cable, RF Connectors and wire aerial parts. LMR, Heliax, Eupen
Commercial / Ham / Military / & Custom Cable Design
tel: 978-369-1738 Fax: 978-369-3484
www.DavisRF.com

Tnx folks for all the info.  In response to one question, the first tube I need is a 6J11.

In response to another one who stated only  "Oh God, Oh God", then gave a link:  tnx, and I didn't know that this subject would cauuse a climax. HI  HI

73,  Steve   K1PEK
DAVIS RF Co.,  Div. of Orion Wire Co., Inc.
Wire, Cable, RF Connectors and wire aerial parts.   LMR, Heliax, Eupen, HAM Wholesale Pricing
Commercial / Military / & Custom Cable Design
tel:  978-369-1738     Fax:  978-369-3484
www.DavisRF.com

Hi, looking for honest/reliable source for min. vac tubes (glass "valves" with pins at bottom, in case you aren't as OLD as me...HI)   Website or tel #, etc   TNX !  Steve  K1PEK

No, ladder line itself, getting wet, is no problem as it is a high density polyethylene which is impervious to water (there is only one mfr. of ladder line.) You should check the entire aerial for any problems, and be sure that the end insulators are OK, and conventional (glazed porcelain will best shed the water and limit water conductivity).
  73,   Steve ,  K1PEK,  
DAVIS RF Co.,  Div. of Orion Wire Co., Inc.
Wire, Cable, RF Connectors and wire aerial parts.   LMR, Heliax, Eupen
Commercial / Military / & Custom Cable Design
tel:  978-369-1738     Fax:  978-369-3484
www.DavisRF.com

 Phil, tnx so much for the help, 73  Steve   K1PEK

Is it the top section, above the capacity hat, that rubs the tree??   Or which section, and for that problem section, what is the length and OD of the tubing that you want to isolate from the tree??
  Also, what is the length of the tree section that will get in contact??   i.e, would it be more practical to wrap that part of the tree with rubber matting, etc. secured by UV resistant tape?  
73,   Steve ,  K1PEK,  
DAVIS RF Co.,  Div. of Orion Wire Co., Inc.
Wire, Cable, RF Connectors and wire aerial parts.   LMR, Heliax, Eupen
Commercial / Military / & Custom Cable Design
tel:  978-369-1738     Fax:  978-369-3484
www.DavisRF.com

Cutting thru the coax??... for ground shielding:  this is done all the time commercially, with coax, in addition to hard line.  IOW, coax grounding kits are made to do this correctly and to seal it from moisture.  The right way to go is with the kit made by the same mfr. of the cable you are dealing with, and you will have no problem.

  73,   Steve ,  K1PEK,  
DAVIS RF Co.,  Div. of Orion Wire Co., Inc.
Wire, Cable, RF Connectors and wire aerial parts.   LMR, Heliax, Eupen
Commercial / Military / & Custom Cable Design
tel:  978-369-1738     Fax:  978-369-3484
www.DavisRF.com

DAVIS RF Co. sells it, not on their web site (DavisRF.com) but send an email to hamradio@davis-orionwiregroup.com and you will get an answer, and a discounted price. Subject it LMR Ground kit, GK-S400 TT. Or call 800-DAVIS RF (328-4773)and NOTE the part #.

Hi,  have an old HeathKit SB-610 Monitor Scope, the CRT is bad.  Schematic refers to "3RPI "  CRT.  Any idea who/how to get a replace't.  OR, any ideas for surplus or low cost alternative , I need it for monitoring SSB pattern in tuning up amp.  ??
  TNx a lot,  Steve  K1PEK

Tnx gentlemen for the latest responses, all worth noting.  Tom, W8JI, I hope that you received my email back in early Jan.  If not, please give me an email address so I can copy you.   You must get a lot of emails and I am amazed that you even have time to respond to this followup.  You have certainly provided a multitude of info to hams, via many venues, as well as a signficant contribution to design. My email is sdavis@DavisRF.com
   73 to all, Steve   K1PEK        

in Early Jan. I put out a request ref. proper procedure for firing this up after many years. Indicated I would report on the outcome. Other than
fixing a flaky phono plug jack for the ant relay, it runs fine.  Just plugged it in and turned it on. No smoke or critters escaping (did check it out first... no dust/rust/bubble up or boilovers).
  Tnx agn for the input,  73,  Steve  K1PEK