On Wed, Sep 12, 2018 at 10:13 AM Lawrence Macionski via Groups.Io <am_fm_radio=[email protected]> wrote:
Daniel- I've been studying and building antenna's for 52 years.. Here's some things I've concluded: With regard to uBITX (under 300 watts) operation: #1. The guy that tells you, you need a balun for a dipole, Usually is the guy that is selling them. They can be made for $5 or less. Markup is huge. #2. You need no better than RG-8X coax... Unless: ?????? A. Your coax run is over 75 feet? and used to 148Mhz. (27ft per dB loss -under 3dB which is 1/2 power) negligible loss. ?????? B. Your coax run is? 150 feet or less? under 30Mhz. (63ft per dB @28.4Mhz- under 3dB or less on lower bands) negligible loss. ?????? C. You are not running over 650 watts (approximate) #3. There is no "secret sauce" when? buying a manufactured antenna. ?????? A. One manufacture makes antenna's in colors and that is their #1 selling point. ?????? B. Virtually none come assembled, so you have to put them together anyhow and tune them. ?????? C. Markup on materials is 4-10x, so you get a "kit of parts" they put together for you. (and pay for the "secret Sauce" #4. If you can't afford Antenna books, your local public library will get you any Antenna Book with an Library of Congress number. ????? A. My antenna books stacked on the floor are Knee high.. 20+ years ago I paid $52 for John Krause's Antenna Theory. ????? B. Authors such as Lew McCoy, John Krause, R.L Cibek, Joe Carr, anything sold by ARRL are authoritative. This is a start, there are others. #5. Regarding coax in #1... Reference QST October 2017 page 72. #6. Remember? 3dB loss can be measured with instruments but never detected by ear. #7. An antenna constructed with sound engineering plans will get you on the air.? Having the test equipment/ tuners is optional (OCD frankly) #8. Watch them bash my sound advice.. Yet some will also agree with me.
