[Lowfer] XFX update

Tue, 4 May 2004 16:07:36 -0500

Now that is one fine looking flattop Eric. Awesome job!!!

Mike
WE0H
WD2XGI

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Eric KD5UWL
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2004 10:15 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Lowfer] XFX update

Will do.  Keep in mind, though, that my primary reason for moving to this
setup was neither expected improved efficiency nor sex appeal.  It was to
alleviate a problem -- namely, my antenna trying to catch fire next to the
house!

Now, I never liked that vertical being so close to the house, but when it
tried to go up in smoke, I really didn't like it.

My thoughts were that the flattop, in addition to being away from the
house, also has little to flash to.  For example, the corona damage
suffered on my vertical occurred a few feet above the loading coil where
the antenna wire ran along the PVC mast.  Burned right through the
insulation and into the mast.

You can see pictures of one of the burn spots here:

http://www.nutstreet.net/lf/corona/

With the flattop most of the wire is suspended in the air and is not
running near anything.  Plus I used Ralph W5JGV-style high-voltage
insulators at the ends of the flattop.  We'll see ...

Eric

On Tue, 4 May 2004, Bill Ashlock wrote:

> >Here are some preliminary pictures of the antenna - not on the air yet,
> >but I'm working on it ...
>
> Sexy setup, Eric!  Let us know the system parameters when you are done
> (total Rac, total capacity, gnd loss, etc).
>
> Bill