[Antennas] Re: Balanced Line Construction

[Dennis L. Wade]

I like this site for balanced line information:

   http://www.cebik.com/par.html

   Robert Lay wrote about attaching the insulators to the wire.  I'm 
currently making some open wire line from clear acrylic rod.  This 
material has good rf qualities and will have a reasonable lifetime in 
the sun.  It will cloud however, but should stay intact.  The 
attachment method I'm intending to use however is about reversed from 
what Robert describes.  The through holes in the insulator will be 
used to pass the "holding" wire and be soldered to the main (#14 in 
my case) wire.  This mail wire rests in a slot cut with a hacksaw.  
This method avoids having to thread all the insulators onto the 
length of line.  Also, I don't think its necessary to use the same 
gauge wire for the attachment wire.  I would think something like 20 
would be fine.  Some of the ARRL handbooks illustrate wrapping a 
smaller gauge wire on both ends of the insulator to keep it in place.

   Ron Evans posted the link for the Electric Magazine article.  I 
found this very interesting, and I'm considering an experiment with 
the acrylic rod to see if the method has possibilities.  That would 
avoid any wire threading or soldering.

   I'll let you know how it works.

            Dennis

Robert Lay wrote, in part:

Applying the insulators to the wire itself. Most commercial 
insulators
are
provided with either a hole or a notch for the wire. The hole 
requires
that
the wire be threaded through the insulators. Think about that before 
you
go
to far! Once the wire is threaded through the insulators, the 
insulators
must now be "fastened" to the wire. Typically, this is accomplished 
by
using
small lengths of the same wire twisted around the main wire on each 
side
of


-----------------
"If you can remain calm, you just don't have all the facts"

Dennis Wade
KG6ZI
Carmichael, CA