[SixClub] Any one hear any Aurora yet?

[Roger (K8RI)]

On 8/5/2010 5:56 PM, Gary - N3JPU wrote:
> You are pretty far south for AU (although on strong AU it will go far
> south).
>
> Yes I have used a LNA Technology GasFET pre-amp on 6M, did not really
> help much. When I did WSJT EME it did not help, worked stations the
> same, pre-amp or no pre-amp.
>
> I use LDF-4 Heliax, saves a lot of loss over stuff like LMR-400.
0.463 db/100' while LMR-400 is 0.9 That is about 0.5 db difference for a 
100 feet. To me that is not a lot of loss saved. It's also a figure that 
is unnoticeable whether receiving or transmitting. You can't tell it on 
receive and the guy on the other end can not detect the difference.
Add to that I have found 1/2" Heliax to be fragile and easily kinked. 
OTOH LMR-400 has a minimum bend radius of one inch, or a repeatable bend 
radius of 4 inches and it's quite rugged. I had two 100' runs of LDF4 
with N connectors given to me. I gave away one length and it's unlikely 
I'll use the other.
NOW if I could come up with a couple hundred feed of 7/8" to 1 1/4" with 
connectors I'd certainly use it. No it's not very flexible, but it's a 
lot tougher than the 1/2". Unfortunately the last 7/8" run I had was 
taken out by lightning. It blew a hole in the dielectric about 20' from 
the antenna making it too short for me to use.

In the past I have picked up large coils of 7/8" for the repeater system 
with connectors...cheap! When I need some it takes a lot of looking and 
I've still not found any.

What I'd really like now are two 90' runs, two 60 foot runs, and three 
100 foot runs of 7/8 to 1 1/4" Heliax with connectors, but my hunt has 
been unsuccessful so far. So I went with LMR-600 which is rugged and 
cost me $1.29 a foot two years ago.

Yes, you are correct in that I do not like 1/2" Heliax. I've had too 
many mechanical problems with it.

73

Roger (K8RI)