[SMCARA] Balun Building Project

[Tom Shelton]

For those of you who are keeping Track, there are now 12 people signed up for the Balun Project...  I also have 3 volunteers to help.

There is still plenty of room for more builders, and I could use a few more helpers – so don’t be shy – but only tell me you’re coming if you can make the commitment.  For more information on everything that is happening on August 11th, please scroll down to the original message

Tammy Shelton
April Majni
Bob Rounds
Steve Speer
Stacey McNeely
Dave Carlson
Jack Estevez   
Ken McNeely
Cary Hatch
Kahle Hatch
Gene Guazzo
Nate Hess

I also have the following helpers

Dan Metcalf
Tom Clark
Walt Rupp

I'm going to cut off the pre-registration on Friday afternoon, so please add 
your name to my lists (builders and Elmers) as soon as possible. I'll be 
ordering all the parts on Friday, and I will order a couple of extra sets, 
but these will be first come - first served.



Tom Shelton, AB3IC

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure 
about the universe."
Albert Einstein


-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom Shelton
Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 8:20 PM
To: smcara at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [SMCARA] Balun building project

On August 11th, beginning at 10:00 AM, the SMCARA will be presenting a 
seminar on building a balun – well, not officially a balun – but rather an 
Air-Choke which will eliminate RF currents from flowing on the outside of 
your coax cable. This “ugly balun” can become the heart of your dipole, 
delta-loop, or even a random-wire antenna. I’ve been using this design at 
my home station on an 80 meter dipole and have made contacts on all 
continents, breaking contest pile-ups.

The location will be the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum: 
http://paxmuseum.com/ (just outside of Pax River Gate 1).

The cost for this seminar will be $5.00 for SMCARA members, and $15.00 for 
non-members. The actual cost of individual parts will be around $35-45 and 
the club is subsidizing the difference.

We will provide all the parts in a kit and help you put it all together. We’ll 
start the day with a brief presentation on antenna theory, including why the 
ugly balun works and will improve your home radio station’s output and input 
signals. We’ll then move to putting a PL-259 connector onto your coax 
(involving trimming, soldering, and continuity checks). Next will be 
wrapping the coax, splitting the coax on the other end, splicing wires onto 
the shield and center conductor, learning about Our-Friend-Shrink-Tubing, 
final assembly, and cutting two sets of dipole wires (your choice of bands).

I need to have an idea (along with a commitment to attend) if you plan on 
coming out so I can purchase the parts. Whether you’ve already expressed an 
interest or not, please send me an e-mail letting me know for sure you’ll be 
there.

I’m also looking for anyone who would come out and help people put their 
stuff together – If you are really good at (and maybe have the necessary 
tools) to put PL-259’s onto RG-58 coax, you’re skill would be especially 
appreciated – send me an e-mail if you can help as an Elmer for this 
project.

If you’re looking to upgrade, there will be a test session at 9:00AM – 
Contact Eric Heard, N3UH (n3uh at usa.com) for more information.

Starting at Noon, and going until 8:00-ish on Saturday the 11th, and from 
Noon to 6:00-ish on Sunday the 12th, the club station will be on the air as 
K3NHK for the Maryland QSO Party 
http://mdcqsoparty.w3vpr.org/Documents/MarylandQSOPartyRules2011v2.pdf and 
you are welcome to join in the fun. We’ll have two rigs up and running and 
are looking for operators and loggers.

On top of all that – the new Navy Chiefs will be doing a car-wash at the 
museum, so you can get your car cleaned up and donate to a worthy cause.

Tom Shelton, AB3IC

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."
Albert Einstein