[Antennas] zip line

Wed, 10 Apr 2002 04:10:49 -0400

Joe Falcone wrote:

> I believe that the slang name of regular 117 volt lamp cord is called "zip cord." The kind where you have two parallel wires carrying the power.  I once read that it can be used as balanced line and is about 50 ohms.  I believe that in Joe Carr's antenna book he said you could use zip cord out to where you wanted your dipole and then just rip it down the middle and create a dipole.  

> Anyone have experience with the lamp cord antenna line? 

   I worked for W4BIN, he told me he never had any antenna that wasn't a zip cord drive.
It has been mentioned in the ARRL handbook in years gone by, for 20 meters, you zip back 16 
feet and wrap a special little knot, just a twist, tie on the end insulators and hoist it up.

   It is close enough to 72 ohms, but he never worked any bands other than 80, 40 & 20.
It is like open wire feed line, can't touch or lie on the ground etc. the loss depends on the 
rubber or plastic used.  (The low loss of open wire feed line comes from it being 400-900 Ohms)

   I use RG-6 or RG-11, it can touch or lie on anything. (or be taped to anything)

       73 (= Best Regards) de: Ron [email protected]
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