Re: Topband: ALUMINUM
The life of aluminum not only depends on the environment and the particular aluminum alloy, but also the electrical potential it is connected to. It can be especially bad in the presense of chloides, like near the sea, or with high galvanic potentials. It disappears pretty fast at my house in contact with soil, either because my other ground systems form a battery through the soil, the iron in the soil, and/or the pH. I use #9 aluminum fence wire for some antennas, and I'm planning on using it in a open wire feedline. I have had some breakage problems in aluminum wire antennas because of wind vibration or some other fatigue. Due to weight restrictions, I almost have to use aluminum wire in some places. 73 Tom _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: FO8AJ - TX5K
On Fri, 2013-03-08 at 23:15 -0700, James Rodenkirch wrote: Mike: re TX5K I saw much of that behavior on 40 as well. In fact, 40 was the only HF band that I operate on that I did NOT work them on and felt like the number(s) of stations and the utterly rude behavior contributed to that non band happening! I put out a decent signal on 40 so was surprised. Totally disgusting is the only way to describe the behavior of some of those 40 meter operators! Oh well, it's a hobby so you get what you get, I guess - or sumpin' like that. The Top Band crowd was, as usual, totally on the other of the spectrum - congenial, allowing the operator to run the show...no keying down on top of themsigh..wish all bands were like that. 72, Jim Rodenkirch K9JWV Hi Jim, I was astonished when I heard them on 160 meters. My antenna is NOT the very best. I have occasionally heard some DX stations on 160. I have suspected that one reason I don't hear a lot of DX on the lower bands is the QRM from their piles. To be honest I did hear some stations transmitting on the DX's frequency. A quick up 3 and they actually moved! That allowed even *me* to hear the DX. The ice and snow is beginning to yield and soon enough I'll be out there putting up some metal tubing (grin). Along with some better tools to help sort them at the receiver and I should be in. 73, Bill KU8H _ Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: ALUMINUM
I use CATV hardline everywhere here and have had some left over bare coils on the ground for the 24 years Ive been here. Except for staining from leaves, etc it is still fine appearing. The ground is mostly leaves, twigs and pine needles. The bare cable CATV runs in this town have been up even longer and Ive been told by installers the operational life is expected to be 25 years or longer, unless it is subject to physical damage of course which is SOP from storms. Carl KM1H - Original Message - From: Hardy Landskov n...@cox.net To: Bob Kirkeby wb0...@gmail.com; Mike Greenway k...@bellsouth.net Cc: TOPBAND TOPBAND@contesting.com Sent: Friday, March 08, 2013 2:24 PM Subject: Re: Topband: ALUMINUM Bob, I had the same experience. I was using bare 75 ohm TV hardline as a matching section on my 160 Delta loop and it was partially buried. But after 2 years, the outer jacket was almost gone when I had to dig it up. My soil is just regular sandy dirt. So my advice to anyone that wants to bury aluminum cable or wire is make sure it is insulated or jacketed. 73 Hardy N7RT Phoenix - Original Message - From: Bob Kirkeby wb0...@gmail.com To: Mike Greenway k...@bellsouth.net Cc: TOPBAND TOPBAND@contesting.com Sent: Thursday, March 07, 2013 10:24 AM Subject: Re: Topband: ALUMINUM I have used solid #10 aluminum as radials buried 6 in alkaline soil. It became badly corroded in 2 years; nearly disintegrated in spots. Not saying it wouldn't be fine in other soils. 73 Bob WBØDSF On Wed, Mar 6, 2013 at 6:31 PM, Mike Greenway k...@bellsouth.net wrote: From some feedback on the aluminum coated steel, I am thinking about trying some regular aluminum, 14 gauge. Anyone got a downside to this? Price, weight, conductivity are good and little if any stretch. I will use aluminum screws and nuts on the end terminations with No Ox. 73 Mike K4PI _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector _ Topband Reflector - No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1430 / Virus Database: 2641/5659 - Release Date: 03/09/13 _ Topband Reflector
