[R-390] Baluns Caps and Ballasts

[rbethman]

Cecil - I actually agree with every bit that you have written here and now!

My message was more tongue-in-check, and heavily leaning on sarcastic.

These old radios were NOT used in ideal situations, and yet they did 
well!  They managed to do things with them that the Amateur community 
can't even come close to.

Yes - it is a hobby!  I just get frustrated with dismissing things out 
of hand.  Such as the test equipment that was used to service them.

If indeed the Elephant Cage antenna systems were balanced feed-line, I 
cannot tell from any photos I've seen.  It would make a real difference.

However, the multi-couplers do not appear to have had balanced input.

I sincerely wish that I had the property and the trees NOW, that I had 
when I first started!  All my dipoles were up at the 120 foot level.

Now I'm stuck with: "The antenna support MUST be such that SHOULD it 
fall - it MUST land within your property boundaries"

Been there with zoning, done that.  Even had to write a stupid letter 
stating that *I* had NOT moved the house!  I applied for a permit to 
build a deck.  I am the second owner of this house.  They had a fit 
since ONE corner of the house was 0.1 ft too close to the property line.

I informed Zoning that I was NOT going to put up several hundred $$, go 
to the City Council and request a waiver!  I stated very plainly - I 
WILL sue you for fraudulent tax collection, since Zoning issued the 
Occupancy document when the house was built.

Bob - N0DGN

On 7/21/2011 8:36 AM, Cecil Acuff wrote:
> The fact is if you are using a balanced fed dipole you don't use a 
> balun. In addition the military never worried about perfect height, 
> nor perfect installation techniques nor the antenna being cut for 
> exactly the frequency being used.  They worked in a non-perfect world 
> in most all cases when field deployed...and yet still gained the 
> benefits of the balanced design quite nicely.
>
> This is just hobby radio we are talking about...no ones life depends 
> on it. It's forgiving of a multitude of technical sins and still 
> provides a great deal of pleasure.  Since it's a hobby, each one of us 
> are free to get as intense or as lax as desired in the persuit of the 
> pleasure it offers.  Some will optimize their antenna systems as much 
> as is practical and certainly providing a better impedance match 
> between our antenna systems and the radio will display a measure of 
> improvement..whether it's done with a slick looking German engineered 
> device or a home brewed one stuffed in a medicine bottle.  That's part 
> of the pleasure and joy of ownership.
>
> Let each have the freedom to do it their way and lets all learn from 
> it in an effort to better apply our thoughts and desires as to how we 
> use our little vacuum tubed piece of history...
>
> I'm anxious to hear Tisha's report on how it checks out.
>
> Cecil