[Lowfer] a few DK7FC decodes & rx line maintenance

[Michael Sapp]

Hi All, a few decodes from 137 kHz

2315 -18 -0.6   0.137613  1  WD2XNS FN31 30                                                          
2315   2  0.4   0.137621  1  WE2XEB FN12 30                                                          
2330 -39  1.5   0.137615 -1  DK7FC JN49 30                                                           
2345 -25  0.4   0.137607  1  W1TAG FN42 23                                                           
2345 -11 -0.6   0.137613  1  WD2XNS FN31 30                                                          
2345  -3  0.4   0.137622  1  WE2XEB FN12 30                                                          
0000 -35  1.1   0.137616  1  DK7FC JN49 30    

    I decided to do some more megger checks this afternoon and the transmission line
 for the SW EWE measured over 20 Giga-Ohms at 1KV.

Since the NE EWE transmission line was showing 2.5 Giga ohms at 1KV, I went back to
 where a common mode ground rod and F barrel coupler was located about 50 feet from the
 NE EWE transformer and un-coupled the last 50 feet of line. Then I retested the first 
125feet or so of line to the  common mode ground rod. 

It measured over 20 Giga-Ohms at 1KV.  I recoupled the last 50 feet of cable
 (no connection at the far end) and retested.  Still 2.5 Giga-ohms. So I let it cook at 1KV
 for 30 minutes or so.  Eventually the NE cable measurement started to wander between
 1 and 2 giga-ohms after 30 minutes of applied 1KV DC.

So I made up a new 50ft section of RG6 and installed it in place of the existing cable
 section with the 1~2 giga-ohm 1KV leakage.  Retest with the new cable showed
in excess of 20 Giga-Ohms at 1KV.  

DC continuity test through the cable to the transformer primary and back shows 7.45 ohms.
 Same test with the old 50' cable section showed a little over 8 ohms a day earlier. 

 We shall see what happens in a week or so the next time I continuity test the cables.

 Prior experience has been when I see either the SW or NE transmission line continuity
 tests go up by an ohm or two that it is time to apply some DC volts for a brief period.  

If nothing else accomplished this afternoon I got a chance to become reacquainted with my megger.....

With any luck it will stay cold the next several weeks and the squirrels wont
 wake up and decide to use my RG6 as a chew toy----they have a habit of doing that.....73  Mike wa3tts