[HCARC] Baluns - Lots of Questions

[Kerry Sandstrom]

Gary,

You don't have to have all the answers at the beginning-nobody does.  In my 
opinion the best thing to do is get on the air with a simple antenna and a 
simple rig.  Don't worry about the best way.  The best way is different for 
different people.  Until you know what you really want to do, don't worry, 
just get on the air.  As I've said earlier, just get a simple entry level 
rig, hopefully used, get a simple manual external antenna cable and put up a 
simple wire antenna fed with plain old coax.  As time goes on you will find 
things that need improvement.  When you find things to improve, study them 
and make your choice and see if things work better.  Then when you 
study/learn it will have an immediate application and it will mean a lot 
more to you.

The question about TV cable is easy.  Your rig will not know the difference 
between 75 Ohm and 50 Ohm coax.  RG-6 is compatible with a PL-259 plug with 
the insert for RG-59/U.  The two main problems with RG-6 is all that I've 
seen has an aluminum foil outer conductor which is impossible to soldew. 
You probably have to use crimp style connectors.  The military has gone 
completely to crimp connectors.  They seem plenty rugged when properly 
installed.  You can even use the F-type connectors.  They will handle 100 W 
at HF with no problem.  Besides the aluminum foil, the other problem is most 
of the cable I've seen has foam dielectric.  I don't think foam is as rugged 
and weather tolerant as the old solid dielectric cables and you sure don't 
need its low loss at HF but if you've got free cable, it doesn't matter.

Did you ever get the answer on what cable to use to extend your internet 
connection to your shack?

By the way, I'm working on an article for the Static (October issue,  think) 
that talks about different types of cable and the advantages/disadvantages 
of each.

 Remember, priority 1 is to get on the air with something simple and have 
fun and stop worrying about everything.  The only guy I know who spent 
literally years figuring outple and  how to put the perfect station together 
is K5XA.

Kerry