[Antennas] Open Wire Feedline

[Ken]

      I was hoping they would last long enough in the Texas sun.  It 
would be nice to get "free" plastic tubes.  I will have a least a 100" 
foot run, might take quite awhile to gather them up.  What wire did you 
use Randy?  Did you cut the pens down, 3" as in the video?


On 01/26/2013 05:28 PM, KB4QQJ at aol.com wrote:
> If you want to perform a very basic check of the conductivity of your 
> spacer, put it in the microwave for one minute. If it get "hot" to the 
> touch it is not suitable for insulators. This being  a very simple but 
> basic test. The black pens I've used (papermate™)come out of the 
> microwave at 93°f and have stood 600 watts and daily NC sun at my 
> clubhouse  for the last three years. It is a 41 foot section of 
> openwire. Just my 2¢
> Randy_KB4QQJ
> In a message dated 1/26/2013 5:29:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, 
> n8de at thepoint.net writes:
>
>     think using BLACK spacers is a big mistake, as the chemical used to
>     make the pen bodies BLACK is somewhat CONDUCTIVE ... and might break
>     down under high power applications.
>
>     I prefer to use the plastic tubes that machine tool companies discard
>     from drill bits.  They are about 5 to 6 inches in length, somewhat
>     transparent, and FREE, if you ask for them.
>
>     73
>     Don
>     N8DE
>