"JIMMIE" wrote in message
...

On Dec 5, 12:01 pm, "Wayne" wrote:
I am using a whip antenna mounted on a metal patio cover. Results are
good
on 10 and 12 meters, and contacts have been made down to 40 meters.
(Matches were not obtained on 15 or 30 meters) The whip is 8.5 ft long (a
longer whip is under consideration). It is fed through an antenna tuner
and
about 25 feet of RG-58. I'm about to replace that with RG-8.

Any comments on how to hold down feedline losses. One suggestion is to
use
two parallel lengths of RG-8 so that half the current runs through each.
Also, site geometry would allow open wire feed.

Possibilities?

Years ago I had put up a similar antenna to be able to get onto the
local 10M net. I then as you have tried to tune it up on other bands
after upgrading from Tech+ to General and got similar results to what
you have discribed. Changing the radiator to 5/8 wl on 10M improved
operation of the antenna not so noticably on 10M as it did the other
bands. Good luck, have fun and learn.

Jimmie
-
So far it has been fun. I've been able to check out the antenna on 10 and
12 and it works well. I need to fix a rig problem before 15 testing. 17 is
working, but propagation hasn't been good enough for much testing.

Tests on 20, 30, and 40 yielded qsos, but with low signal reports. Those
bands have been written off for the tuner/coax/whip. However, I'll try 20
again if I get a longer radiator up.

Wayne
W5GIE
exiled to W6 land