Daddy always said the solder joint oughta be mechanically sound before you
even put the heat to it.
Use an abrasive and clean the wires to be joined.
Join them mechanically (like a good twist or compression connector) (If the
wire is copper, this would be low-resistance in itself) - then flux it and
solder it. (use Rosin flux - not acid flux).
Then considering its for an outside antenna, dip it in 3M ScotchKote which
is like an electrical-grade varnish.
That would make a "low-ohmic" (some call it "low-resistance") connection.

Oh and considering you're only using 5 watts, you need to shake the antenna
real hard while transmitting to be sure to get every little bit of RF out of
it. :-)


"MGFoster" wrote in message
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I'm working QRP (5W max) and I'm construction my own antennas. I've
read that antenna efficiency can be degraded by "high ohmic connections"
(especially deleterious to QRP ops). I'm assuming that we shouldn't
make potato-sized solder joints when assembling the antenna. So, I was
wondering what would be the best way to connect various parts of the
antenna?

Example: I've created a 4:1 balun based on Ron's (VK2DQ) description in
his article "Understanding and building the OCF dipole." The toroid
windings had to be connected. So, rather than twist them together (they
are 18 AWG) and solder them, I laid the pieces side-by-side (abt 1/4")
and solder them together. Is that a "high ohmic" connection? If so,
what other way could the pieces be soldered together w/o creating a high
ohmic connection?

For other parts of the antenna (e.g., the feed-point) would connectors
(quick release, ring type, etc.) be better than a solder joint?

Thanks,
--
MGFoster:::mgf00 at earthlink decimal-point net
Oakland, CA (USA)
KI6OFN

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