[Antennas] ladder line questions

[HSHK]

Hi Jackie,=0D
 =0D
Besides using a 4:1 balun and then running coax, you can=0D
do away with the balun and use balanced coax.=0D
 =0D
What is balanced coax ? It is two pieces of coax soldered=0D
so the braids are soldered together and then both center=0D
condictors are connected to the ladder line at one end and the=0D
tuner at the other. Making a form of shielded balanced line.=0D
 =0D
If you'd like to make some ladder line, the attached pics will=0D
show you how I have done it. It workes great and the stuff=0D
will probably outlast me!=0D
 =0D
Also attached are pics of commercial 450-ohm windowed=0D
ladder line running alongside of my aluminum sided house.=0D
 =0D
The ladder line is suspended away from the house by using=0D
30-lbs test fishing line. Fishing line attached to the house with a small=
=0D
eyelet is tied to the ladder line and another piece from the ladder=0D
line to a tree. This keeps the ladder-line hanging three feet away=0D
from the house. I have a section that runs 25 feet alongside of the=0D
house parallel to the driveway.=0D
 =0D
To get the ladder-line into the house... I cut a piece of wood to=0D
fit in the window the way the older style window screens used to,=0D
so the windwo could then be closed down onto the wood. The wood=0D
has a slot cut into it and the ladder-line comes in through it. In the=0D
winter, some fiberglass insulation is place over the wood on the=0D
insided and the window covered with the plastic that is shrunk with=0D
a hair dryer. Has worked well for the past three years.=0D
 =0D
For lightning protection, I use a double pole-double throw knife=0D
switch I bought at a ham fest just inside the window. One postion=0D
it connects to a short piece of ladder-line and to the tuner. The other=0D
position conects the line (both sides) to a one inch braided ground line=0D
connected to my earth ground.=0D
 =0D
Hope some of this helps.=0D
 =0D
73,=0D
 =0D
Bill KA8VIT=0D
ka8vit@ix.netcom.com=0D
www.qsl.net/ka8vit=0D
 =0D
-------Original Message-------=0D
 =0D
From: n1dve@comcast.net=0D
Date: Friday, November 14, 2003 12:02:22 AM=0D
To: antennas@mailman.qth.net=0D
Subject: [Antennas] ladder line questions=0D
 =0D
I would like to put up a closed loop, feed it with ladder line and go int=
o a=0D
tuner. Although I would like to make my own at some point, I will settle=0D
for the insulated 450 ohm variety at this time until I get more ambitious=
=2E=0D
 =0D
So here are the questions:=0D
 =0D
1- Aside from using a 4:1 balun and using coax into the house, I would li=
ke=0D
to know what will interfere with the ladder line that I should avoid. Can=
=0D
it be put under a window sill or into a pvc pipe or a metal pipe? I think=
=0D
the first two are OK but the metal pipe is not. If it is interrupted by a=
=0D
binding post or connector thru Plexiglas to get through a window I would=0D
think the impedance would be screwed up by doing so. Is this true? So wha=
t=0D
does one do or not do?=0D
 =0D
2-What is being used to offer some lightening protection to ladder line.=0D
There does not seem to be too much in the way of surge protectors around =
for=0D
such.=0D
 =0D
Any help is appreciated and since I just joined the list I hope these=0D
questions have not been beaten to death lately! Thanks in advance for any=
=0D
help or comments.=0D
=20