[Elecraft] Open Wire Feed Line Arrestor

[Jack Brindle]

I would take this quite a bit farther. I use open-wire feed for two  
major reasons. 1) It is super low loss no matter the SWR, without  
fear of high voltages burning up the feedline, and, 2) (directly  
related to #1) the antenna becomes inherently broadband with a  
suitable balanced tuner making it useful on 160-10 with just a  
retune. Adding anything (Ls or Cs) along the feedline could directly  
compromise #1 and affect the characteristics of the feedline. It  
would be very interesting to see the schematic of the device, but I  
am very skeptical as to it effects on the antenna system. It would  
probably have far less detrimental effects after that first close  
strike, however...

I am very lucky to live in an area where thunderstorms are pretty  
much non-existent (maybe one a year), but when I was growing up in  
Miami I had to worry about this. Sparkplugs worked very well. I still  
worried though AND made sure the feedlines were thrown out the window  
any time there might be a storm.

As for burying them underground, not MY open-wire line... ;-)

On Jan 6, 2006, at 9:55 AM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> Thanks for the link. It's an interesting product.  I had three  
> reactions:
>
> 1) Note that the upper impedance specification is 600 ohms. Many  
> (most) of
> our doublets produce impedances along the feed line much, much  
> greater than
> that on some frequencies. That suggests the voltage ratings will be  
> exceeded
> as well except at QRP or QRPp power levels.
>
> 2) I also noticed that they did not mention any loss figures.  
> Anything tied
> between the feeder and ground will have some losses, so how much is of
> interest.
>
> 3) I would never use it expecting that it'd protect my rig from a  
> close or
> direct strike. The surge from a "near miss" will be divided among the
> various paths. Even if the device handles hundreds of amps of  
> surge, that
> may leave a very destructive current flowing through the rig in  
> parallel.
>
> Ron AC7AC

- Jack Brindle, W6FB, ex WA4FIB (Florida), ex WB5KQJ (Louisiana)
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