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eHam Forums / Antennas and Towers and more / RE: paracord question
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on: September 05, 2012, 05:46:51 AM
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There is almost no point in using insulation on a wire antenna. MOST antennas are made from bare wire. Weather/corrosion does not affect it at all for all intents
and purposes.
That , sir, is most likely wrong. I would imagine most hams build with what is readily available. Since the Wireman doesn't have a location in every city, and hardware stores rarely sell uninsulated, stranded wire .... most dipoles are probably insulated. I do agree that basically it makes no difference in how the antenna performs. Now, one thing to consider is the number one enemy of ANY metal is corrosion. Copper wire is metal. Unprotected, it will corrode and eventually fail. I build all my dipole with solid copper wire. Insulated because I prefer it. Solid because all you have to do to secure the wire to center and end insulators is wrap it around itself. I have never ( knock on wood ) had a wire failure in the 13 years I've been using dipoles. Ropes? yep, several times they have failed. In reality, I don't see why paracord wouldn't work as well as dacron. Matt |
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4
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eHam Forums / CW / RE: Good keyer suggestion
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on: July 20, 2012, 02:36:47 PM
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It's not the keyer ... unless it a poorly constructed homebrew.
Most of the decent speed bad sending you hear is op error.
A large part comes from the guys who "think" they can use a bug.
I've been around enough I can tell when most ops are using one.
They call it their swing .... I call it bad sending. Some guys
can do the swing thing and it sounds good, but when a really good
uses a bug correctly you can't tell.
Matt
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6
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eHam Forums / Antenna Restrictions / RE: Tower restrictions in a CC&R
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on: July 05, 2012, 08:48:24 AM
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If you are home shopping (your wording seems to suggest that) and plan on being an active ham. RUN AWAY FROM ANY TYPE OF HOA!
Not being a butt, but look at all the questions here about dealing with the HOA nazis. Save yourself the trouble and just don't do it.
Matt
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7
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eHam Forums / CW / RE: New guys ... do us all a favor ...
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on: June 19, 2012, 05:39:34 PM
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Reports of other amateurs have to be severally distrusted. Majority of them are nitwits, proud they got their license, which proud feelings are an indication of their intellectual level. Unable to build (let it be design..) something more then a two wire appliance cord with 2 connectors. The only thing left from the pioneers in the past is operation. Home brewing is dead. Kit building is the same like warming up a deep frozen meal in the magnetron oven. Task a 4 year old kid is able to perform. Kits are tested before release by a class of mentally handicapped idiots, in order to be sure there will not be too much problems when hams are doing it. And those kit building hams are very proud when they finish the job without the aid of others. Mostly they need help, because they interchange resistors, put half of the electrolytic capacitors in reverse polarity, turn IC's 180 degrees before soldering them in the board and connect neighbouring traces on the pre-drilled silk screened PC board by solder bridges, and worse of all: they don't understand the circuit diagram. So best thing you can do is measure your code yourself. Record it with your PC, listen to it. After that look at the sound file with a program like Audacy freeware. You get a time ruler and can watch the length of dits dashes and spaces. Listen to machine generated code every day, www.lcwo.net , or G4FON s program etc. NOT to 5 wpm rubbish on the band. Then you know how it has to sound. And you imitate it automatically, just like the way you develop a Texas accent in speech when your classmates in school and your parents have it. So you're saying that unless we can build our own gear from scratch such as you obviously can with your god-ham status, we shouldn't even be hams? Do me a favor and tell me where you operate so I won't embarrass myself by being in your airspace ... I'll just bask in your glow from the sidelines. BTW- since you are a ham .... in your own words your are to be mis-trusted, and you are a nitwit. ( I think we agree on one thing anyway) And why shouldn't one be proud to have a license? Matt |
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8
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eHam Forums / CW / RE: New guys ... do us all a favor ...
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on: June 19, 2012, 05:36:53 PM
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Reports of other amateurs have to be severally distrusted. Majority of them are nitwits, proud they got their license, which proud feelings are an indication of their intellectual level. Unable to build (let it be design..) something more then a two wire appliance cord with 2 connectors. The only thing left from the pioneers in the past is operation. Home brewing is dead. Kit building is the same like warming up a deep frozen meal in the magnetron oven. Task a 4 year old kid is able to perform. Kits are tested before release by a class of mentally handicapped idiots, in order to be sure there will not be too much problems when hams are doing it. And those kit building hams are very proud when they finish the job without the aid of others. Mostly they need help, because they interchange resistors, put half of the electrolytic capacitors in reverse polarity, turn IC's 180 degrees before soldering them in the board and connect neighbouring traces on the pre-drilled silk screened PC board by solder bridges, and worse of all: they don't understand the circuit diagram. So best thing you can do is measure your code yourself. Record it with your PC, listen to it. After that look at the sound file with a program like Audacy freeware. You get a time ruler and can watch the length of dits dashes and spaces. Listen to machine generated code every day, www.lcwo.net , or G4FON s program etc. NOT to 5 wpm rubbish on the band. Then you know how it has to sound. And you imitate it automatically, just like the way you develop a Texas accent in speech when your classmates in school and your parents have it. So you're saying that unless we can build our own gear from scratch such as you obviously can with your[god-ham status, we shouldn't even be hams? Do me a favor and tell me where you operate so I won't embarrass myself by being in your airspace ... I'll just bask in your glow from the sidelines. BTW- since you are a ham .... in your own words your are to be mis-trusted, and you are a nitwit. ( I think we agree on one thing anyway) And why shouldn't one be proud to have a license? Matt |
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9
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eHam Forums / Antennas and Towers and more / RE: 80m dipole
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on: June 19, 2012, 05:23:56 PM
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How high is you antenna going to be?
You can build an 88 ft. dipole, which will work ok on 80m and work anywhere else ( except 160m) very well.
Let the extra 12 ft. per side hang down ..... just not low enough to be touched by anyone on the ground.
You can even go down 6 ft. and then back 6 ft ...... think: big staple.Woks almost as good as a regular dipole
for the length.
Don't give up, you original thought is doable, but there are also options.
btw- this design would be more user friendly on other bands ... just need a good tuner.
Matt
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eHam Forums / CW / RE: New guys ... do us all a favor ...
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on: June 16, 2012, 12:45:39 PM
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I guess I mis-stated a bit ... I want them on the air ... just practice sending a bit before. Don't let your first qso be the first time you send.
I know they need to GET ON THE AIR to practice ..... and no, DON 'T WAIT until you're conversational at 12 wpm (sheesh!).
Just practice both ways ... I'll still be there .... and I work with you.
btw- who the heck has "O" legs and walks with a cable?
Matt
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eHam Forums / CW / New guys ... do us all a favor ...
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on: June 15, 2012, 12:52:21 PM
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I know you're all working so hard on learning to copy CW ...
How about practicing sending it before getting on the air?
I'm not new ham ... not even new to CW, but I'm not very active on it .... so I'm a slow speed op.
But dang, listening to some guys, all they send is a jumble!
.. in fact, I'm listening to a cq now thats just a long line of dits and dahs.
Matt
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12
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eHam Forums / Antennas and Towers and more / RE: How well will a 160 dipole work on all bands?
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on: June 08, 2012, 07:49:25 AM
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Yep, the pattern will start to look like a porcupine on 20 and above. But if the guy you are working is in one of those gain lobes...
This is spoken truth. that was my exact thoughts. IMHO with enough room for a 160m dipole, I would do a 80m loop ..... also IMHO. the only thing better than an 80m loop is a 160m loop. But your milage may vary for your location ..... some antennas just work better than others for a given location. If it were me, I would go with a 80m dipole, or really an 80m doublet. Not as good on 160, but much better for the higher bands. All disclaimer apply. Matt |
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13
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eHam Forums / Elmers / soldering copper wire to aluminum
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on: November 07, 2008, 04:27:33 AM
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Go to Harbor Freight ... or any welding supply ( I guess ) and get some alumaweld rods.
It takes a propane torch and a lot of heat, but that stuff sticks to almost any metal.
Matt
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15
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eHam Forums / Antenna Restrictions / Okay - Now What ?
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on: August 04, 2008, 04:19:37 AM
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Hinge mount your force 12 in the back yard.
Pop it up at night....lay it down when not in use.
Matt
btw- you could check w/ Art and his mystery antenna or read the "history article" and build an EH radiator! lol
( just kidding on the btw)
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