Topband: Beverage construction
While working in the back yard this morning I wanted to take down a couple dead trees. Things didn't work out the way I wanted. One of the trees fell on one of the Beverages. This Beverage was put up after following Steve's Ve6wz construction tips. I had a copy of Steve's pulley system. And it worked great cut the tree close to the wire pulled it out from under the tree. And all is well...right back in business. Thanks Steve I'm glad I was paying attention to those tips. 73 Fred KB4QZH _ Searchable Archives: http://www.contesting.com/_topband - Topband Reflector
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
Exactly! Doing that creates impedance mismatches at each end. Now, if your aim is to trip people or animals, slope it. ;-) 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Nov 27, 2017 4:55 PM, "Donald Chester" wrote: > did you slope the last 50' on each end? Sloping the ends of a beverage serves no useful purpose. That's an old wives' tale ... _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
Thu Nov 23 13:42:27 EST 2017 Dave k4em at bellsouth.net wrote: > did you slope the last 50' on each end? Sloping the ends of a beverage serves no useful purpose. That's an old wives' tale (or maybe I should say old Hammy Hambone's tale) started by W1WCR, I believe. Whether the wire is horizontal all the way to eacd end with a vertical lead straight down to the ground point, or 50' of sloping the wire at each end, you have exactly the same vertical and horizontal component of wire. Precisely why a Pennant antenna and a Flag antenna of the same total height and length perform approximately the same. The only advantage to the sloping wire is that the sloping antenna itself acts as a guy wire for the end poles, eliminating the need to terminate each end of the antenna with a separate guy wire. But the long gradual slope makes the antenna wire more hazardous to surface traffic than a short guy wire at each pole. Don k4kyv _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
This is great advice, Greg! On Fri, Nov 24, 2017 at 7:32 PM, Greg Chartrand via Topband < topband@contesting.com> wrote: > Carol, > What kind of transformer are you using? The best transformers are the > binocular core transformers that have separate primary and secondary > isolated winding's. > Did you keep the coax shield disconnected from the ground rod? The > secondary should connect the beverage one one wire and ground rod on the > other. The primary should have the coax center and shield NOT connected to > anything else. > Are you sure your shield is intact? Check continuity. > GregW7MY > 73, Mike http://www.w0btu.com/Beverage_antennas.html _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Beverage construction
Carol, What kind of transformer are you using? The best transformers are the binocular core transformers that have separate primary and secondary isolated winding's. Did you keep the coax shield disconnected from the ground rod? The secondary should connect the beverage one one wire and ground rod on the other. The primary should have the coax center and shield NOT connected to anything else. Are you sure your shield is intact? Check continuity. GregW7MY Subject: Topband: Beverage constructionMessage-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed Hello all, I finally put up a beverage antenna...about 400 feet long. I am feeding it through a 9:1 transformer with some 50 ohm cable ( RG 59). I am finding that it is noisier than my transmit antenna, contrary to what it should be. The wire stays about 6-8feet above ground. ground rods at each end, etc. Any thoughts on the problem and a cure? Thanks, Carol - Greg Chartrand - W7MY Richland, WA. W7MY Home Page: http://webpages.charter.net/w7my/ _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction problem solved
Glad to hear that you solved this. :-) If everything's working you'll notice a BIG difference in hearing low-angle weak signals 800 miles away, *and especially way beyond that distance!* It's all about improving your RX S/N ratio. If you don't, then where is your Beverage pointed, and what state are you in? My signals from SW MO are only about 10 dB down (when pointed towards Europe, for example). You'll see why I'm asking this at www.w0btu.com/Beverage_antennas.html#Misc_Beverage_antenna_notes 73, Mike www.w0btu.com On Fri, Nov 24, 2017 at 3:06 PM, Carol Richards wrote: > > Hello all and many thanks for your solutions to my beverage problem. > > It turned out that I had a bad transformer and several bad F-fitting > connections. It was the first time I had ever used a tool for this > purpose. Noise is gone on the beverage and as expected signals on the > beverage are much lower than on the transmit. How well it will work...I'll > just have to see...lol > > _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction problem solved
Hello all and many thanks for your solutions to my beverage problem. It turned out that I had a bad transformer and several bad F-fitting connections. It was the first time I had ever used a tool for this purpose. Noise is gone on the beverage and as expected signals on the beverage are much lower than on the transmit. How well it will work...I'll just have to see...lol Again, many thanks to all... Carol _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
I have found that a common source of noise on beverage systems is the need to use the small F type connectors and the crappy F type coax that is often on the jumpers as well as just converting it all to the final input to your receiver. Try the simplest but clean and checked coax directly from the beverage to the receiver first to see if there is any noise. Then add in the elements that might be present on the normal way into the shack and through any items along the way. I had a high pass broadcast filter that was the cause of noise at one point. A beverage with no preamp should be MUCH quieter than your transmit antenna on 80. In my case it's a 6 S unit drop. Ed N1UR _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
Hi RG59 is 75 ohm and RG58 is 50/52 ohm. I'm sure the noise is not coming from this difference, but swr may be there.. Pedro - CT1EKD Citando Carol Richards : Hello all, I finally put up a beverage antenna...about 400 feet long. I am feeding it through a 9:1 transformer with some 50 ohm cable ( RG 59). I am finding that it is noisier than my transmit antenna, contrary to what it should be. The wire stays about 6-8feet above ground. ground rods at each end, etc. Any thoughts on the problem and a cure? Thanks, Carol _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
Besides common-mode pickup, *also* consider whether your Beverage antenna is pointing at a source of noise. 73, Mike http://www.w0btu.com/Beverage_antennas.html On Nov 23, 2017 11:38 AM, "Carol Richards" wrote: Hello all, I finally put up a beverage antenna...about 400 feet long. I am feeding it through a 9:1 transformer with some 50 ohm cable ( RG 59). I am finding that it is noisier than my transmit antenna, contrary to what it should be. The wire stays about 6-8feet above ground. ground rods at each end, etc. Any thoughts on the problem and a cure? _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
Carol – Regarding the use of ferrite chokes to kill common-mode noise coming in on the transmission line, look on the internet for “A Ham's Guide to RFI, Ferrites, Baluns, and Audio Interfacing,” by Jim Brown, K9YC. It’s a very good tutorial on how to construct and use chokes for common-mode noise. --Art Delibert, KB3FJO Sent from Mail<https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=550986> for Windows 10 From: JC<mailto:n...@comcast.net> Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2017 2:58 PM To: 'Carol Richards'<mailto:n...@comcast.net>; Topband@contesting.com<mailto:Topband@contesting.com> Subject: Re: Topband: Beverage construction Hi Carol The big issue with any RX antenna is common mode noise, the feed line can interact with all other wires in your station, including AC wires 115Vac, rotor cables etc. Try this, on 9:1 transformer, remove the beverage wire and connect a 450 resistor. Removing the wire for the resistor de signal coming from the RX antenna should be zero. Turn the preamplifier on, any noise you hear is not coming from the antenna and it is common mode noise that you need to clean. Choke can help a lot if you have a good ground connection. 73's JC N4IS -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Carol Richards Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2017 12:36 PM To: Topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Beverage construction Hello all, I finally put up a beverage antenna...about 400 feet long. I am feeding it through a 9:1 transformer with some 50 ohm cable ( RG 59). I am finding that it is noisier than my transmit antenna, contrary to what it should be. The wire stays about 6-8feet above ground. ground rods at each end, etc. Any thoughts on the problem and a cure? Thanks, Carol _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
Hi Carol The big issue with any RX antenna is common mode noise, the feed line can interact with all other wires in your station, including AC wires 115Vac, rotor cables etc. Try this, on 9:1 transformer, remove the beverage wire and connect a 450 resistor. Removing the wire for the resistor de signal coming from the RX antenna should be zero. Turn the preamplifier on, any noise you hear is not coming from the antenna and it is common mode noise that you need to clean. Choke can help a lot if you have a good ground connection. 73's JC N4IS -Original Message- From: Topband [mailto:topband-boun...@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Carol Richards Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2017 12:36 PM To: Topband@contesting.com Subject: Topband: Beverage construction Hello all, I finally put up a beverage antenna...about 400 feet long. I am feeding it through a 9:1 transformer with some 50 ohm cable ( RG 59). I am finding that it is noisier than my transmit antenna, contrary to what it should be. The wire stays about 6-8feet above ground. ground rods at each end, etc. Any thoughts on the problem and a cure? Thanks, Carol _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: Beverage construction
What value termination resistor, how far did you drive the ground rods, did you slope the last 50' on each end? Sent from my Verizon 4G LTE Droid On Nov 23, 2017 12:36 PM, Carol Richards wrote: > > Hello all, > > > I finally put up a beverage antenna...about 400 feet long. I am feeding > it through a 9:1 transformer with some 50 ohm cable ( RG 59). I am > finding that it is noisier than my transmit antenna, contrary to what it > should be. The wire stays about 6-8feet above ground. ground rods at > each end, etc. > > Any thoughts on the problem and a cure? > > > Thanks, > > > Carol > > _ > Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Topband: Beverage construction
Hello all, I finally put up a beverage antenna...about 400 feet long. I am feeding it through a 9:1 transformer with some 50 ohm cable ( RG 59). I am finding that it is noisier than my transmit antenna, contrary to what it should be. The wire stays about 6-8feet above ground. ground rods at each end, etc. Any thoughts on the problem and a cure? Thanks, Carol _ Topband Reflector Archives - http://www.contesting.com/_topband
Re: Topband: beverage construction
A neat and cheap insulator for along a Beverage is the C shaped screw in insulator for electric horse fences. The ends of the C overlap so a half twist allows the wire to be inserted and then held with 90 degree rotation. It is then free to slide in the insulator. Most any horse/ag supply store should have them. see http://www.amazon.com/Fi-Shock-SC-275-Black-Insulator-25-Per/dp/B000IK0ML4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1353632067&sr=8-2&keywords=electric+fence+insulator Grant KZ1W On 11/22/2012 4:45 PM, Jorge Diez - CX6VM wrote: Hello I was Reading http://www.w8ji.com/beverages.htm to refresh me about beverages. I am installing a temporary beverage for next weekend. I will use bare copper wire, because will be light that the one that have a plastic cover (liner?) But now I am thinking about the antenna and ground. Why I cannot hang directly to wood supports and I need to put a insulator on the wooden supports to put the wire? So what about the two ends wooden supports? How can I tension the wire if I need to isolate the wire from the wooden supports? 73, Jorge CX6VM/CW5W ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com
Topband: beverage construction
Hello I was Reading http://www.w8ji.com/beverages.htm to refresh me about beverages. I am installing a temporary beverage for next weekend. I will use bare copper wire, because will be light that the one that have a plastic cover (liner?) But now I am thinking about the antenna and ground. Why I cannot hang directly to wood supports and I need to put a insulator on the wooden supports to put the wire? So what about the two ends wooden supports? How can I tension the wire if I need to isolate the wire from the wooden supports? 73, Jorge CX6VM/CW5W ___ Topband reflector - topband@contesting.com