[SMCARA] To Spice or not to Splice

[Bill Jones]

Looking at something I read from DXZone on W3EDP 85 Foot End Fed and a
refined 84 foot version. Looking to see what if any improvements are
possible with going from my current 72 foot end fed to 84 foot. I have also
been reading and looking at "http://udel.edu/~mm/ham/randomWire/" lengths
and pulling in bands that I might not now be able ot get. I keep hearing
longer and higher is better. Anyways, an experiment on my part along with
swapping out my 4:1 with a 9:1 balun. So the spice would be when I bring my
antenna down for maintenance and replacing the support rope with parachute
cord, I thought I would try extending it out to some distance that I can do
in my space. I will definitely be using the Western Union Splice and heat
shrink after reviewing the splice online. I have 4 37 foot radials already
and after moving my current balun inside, I have about 40 feet of open coax
to the shack tied at the feedpoint.

Bill

On Thu, Mar 26, 2015 at 11:31 AM, Clarke, Tom AIR4.0P NATOPS <
frederic.clarke at navy.mil> wrote:

> Hi Bill,
>
> Not sure what you want to do.  Are you talking about a random/long wire,
> or a resonant type (dipole, loop, delta, vert) antenna?  Or is the question
> just about the mechanical aspects, i.e., splicing the wire?
>
> For a splice, use a Western Union or Lineman's Splice (
> https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=lineman%27s+splice) for the
> mechanical joint and then solder it.  Clean the wire well before splicing
> using a knife to scrape and sandpaper.
>
> If you have an antenna that is resonant at the wrong point, adding wire to
> lower the frequency is a valid approach and will make the antenna more
> efficient (i.e.,  lower the loss due to VSWR effects on the coax feedline)
> resulting in more RF going out into the ether!
>
> If you are talking about a random wire or a beverage type antenna, more is
> generally better. Capture area rule makes this so.
>
> A lot of antenna theory seems related to "black magic" sometimes, but
> there are some hard and fast rules (supported by some eye watering math!)
> that must be observed. Basically, you can't fool Mother Nature!
>
> L. B. Cebik, W4RNL (SK) has written extensively on antennas and may be
> found all over the internet.  W8JI, K0BG have also written on the subject.
> Jerry Sevick, W2FMI (SK) also.  A Google search will bring you tons of
> articles.
>
> I heard an interesting discussion on a local repeater recently concerning
> radials for a vertical antenna.  The FCC favors a minimum of 120 radials
> around a 1/4 lambda (90 degrees) in length.  That's a lot of wire folks!
>
> Conventional wisdom speaks to 30 or more 1/4 wave radials for ground mount
> and minimum of 4 (per band)elevated and tuned radials, although some will
> consider 60 a minimum number.   I had a Hustler 4BTV mounted on a terra
> cotta roof with 4 stub tuned elevated radials and it worked great.  I am
> sure having the EA7BXP call sign added a few dBs!  My current vertical has
> 32+ radials about 25 feet long and it works well. I will probably add a few
> more radials this year.  They started out laying on the ground held in
> place with garden staples, but now are covered with mulch, leaves, and
> assorted vegetation. Keep in mind that ground mounting the radials detunes
> them so don't get hung up on precise measurements!  Some longer, some
> shorter; they all help.
>
> I haven't made any field strength measurements, but the antenna loads up
> well ( no tuner ) and makes QSOs.  I tried this antenna once without
> radials and it showed a nice VSWR, but didn't get out worth a flip!  A 50
> ohm dummy load will show a low VSWR also!
>  Just sayin"!!
>
> Keep the RF flowing!
>
> 73 Tom/W4OKW
>
> Clarke's First Rule of antennas:  "If it sounds like a stupid idea, but it
> works, it's not stupid"!
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SMCARA [mailto:smcara-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Bill
> Jones
> Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2015 8:50 AM
> To: smcara at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [SMCARA] To Spice or not to Splice
>
> Can you without without any loss extend a wired antenna? Or do you just
> rerun new wire? And if so, do you just tape it and then liquid tape it to
> maintain integrity? Thanks!
>
> Bill
>
> --
> KC3DEZ
> www.qrz.com
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