[Elecraft] OT Wet 450 ohm ladder line

[Paul Christensen]

>I find the antenna system loses a *lot* of its effectiveness when the
> ladder line is wet.

IMO, construction of open-feeder line is worth the effort.  I am using an 
old stash of E.F. Johnson spreader insulators, but effective balanced line 
can be made by using PVC tubing, with the ends sliced to insert soft copper 
wire.

> When not wet its a very effective component in my antenna system. I've
> been using a 131' center fed Zepp with ladder line and Cecil Moore's
> (W5DXP) "non-tuner" for about 10 years and am very pleased with the
> results. See http://www.w5dxp.com/notuner.htm for details.

And my vote for the best "all purpose" HF antenna of all time.  Nearly an 
entire book on transmission line theory and antenna radiation behavior can 
be learned just by understanding the mechanics of the W5DXP antenna.

Paul, W9AC