[SBE] hole in heliax

[jack leishman]

I would guess the center conductor is open near the holes, as I doubt the
TDR would indicate an open otherwise.  Scraping the old line and buying some
known good used line may be the answer may be the answer for a standby
antenna. Maybe you can also get by with smaller line if it is just a standby
situation. Scrap yards are paying very well for 3 inch lines at this time
and I doubt you'll ever get the carbon out if you had a meltdown.  Jack CSRE

-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of Gary
Blievernicht
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 3:56 PM
To: sbe member discussion mail list
Subject: Re: [SBE] hole in heliax

these are big holes about a dime in diameter.  the network analyzer measured
it as an "open" 330 foot from the test point.




>>> "Reynolds, Paul (CXR-San Antonio)" <Paul.Reynolds at CoxRadio.com> 8/6/2008

15:14  >>>
I first suggest you drill about a 1/8" hole at the lowest point to see
if any water runs out.  If it does or doesn't, then plug the hole with
epoxy or the like, wrap it tightly and pressurize a little.  Try your
transmitter again slowly.  I would be curious as to the 'size' of the
hole if it's blow out, lightning hit or bullet sizes.  Don't forget to
also epoxy the 1/8" hole you drilled at the bottom ! 

Paul K. Reynolds, C.E.
 paul.reynolds at coxradio.com 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: sbe-bounces at sbe.org [mailto:sbe-bounces at sbe.org] On Behalf Of Gary
Blievernicht
Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 1:56 PM
To: sbe member discussion mail list
Subject: [SBE] hole in heliax

We have two holes in the 3" (air) heliax run to our stand-by antenna.
The antenna is at the 500 foot level on our tower, the holes are about
six feet apart at about the 300 foot level.  Might have been lightning?
Might have blow out when we applied power on Friday for the first time
in months? .  The line had been holding pressure until last Friday, so,
I'm figuring it blew out.  

Wonder if we should just splice out twenty-five feet of heliax or if we
should, at considerably more expense, replace the entire run.

Or try the splice and see what happens?

I can send anyone a pair of pictures if you are interested.




_______________________________________________
The SBE Roundtable, SBE at sbe.org 
To unsubscribe, go to http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/options/sbe 

http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/sbe 
_______________________________________________
The SBE Roundtable, SBE at sbe.org 
To unsubscribe, go to http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/options/sbe 

http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/sbe

_______________________________________________
The SBE Roundtable, SBE at sbe.org
To unsubscribe, go to http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/options/sbe

http://seven.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/sbe