On Sun, 29 Apr 2012 22:59:25 -0600, "Irv Finkleman"
wrote:

I have the W8JI procedure tucked away in a safe
place on my computer where I may never find it again,
Thank heaven for good search tools.

Try "Search Everything".
http://www.voidtools.com
If you can remember parts of the file name or folder, it will find it
instantly.

The procedure took me 2 full days on an MFJ-269B. It went much
quicker after I read and followed the instructions.

Now there's a very unhamlike suggestion -- wouldn't stopping
to read and follow the instructions severely slow down the
calibration procedure?

I consider reading instructions a sign of weakness, especially when
customers are watching. When they see me reading the docs, they
usually ask if I know what I'm doing, or if I had done this before. In
order to maintain my image, I try not to be seen reading the docs.

However, I do read the instructions..... after I'm done, and only to
see if I missed anything. On the MFJ-269B calibration, and after
starting over for the 3rd or 4th time, I decided that it might be
useful to just do it right, reading from beginning to end.

At the moment I'm considering how to rotate it, and
wondering if I couldn't use a wooden ladder with lots
of wire stapled to it in a multiband Hentenna configuration!
I guess I may have to rethink it and take it one step at
a time! Now, I have to consider which rotor. Do you by
chance know offhand the wind load of a 20 ft Al ladder?

No, but I could probably calculate the wind load if I had the
dimensions. Ice load will probably be the worst case. However, I
don't think a rotatable ladder would be a good or useful idea. The
ladder is mostly vertical, and rotation of a vertical doesn't do
anything useful. I suggest you leave it leaning against the building
and live with whatever that produces.

Incidentally, if there's anyone living directly below you, they may
object to having the ladder block their view. My friend's ladder
antenna was possible because his condo was a townhouse arrangement,
where he owned both the lower and upper windows.

How about a folding ladder for the sake of extra length?

The 20ft ladder I used was a 2 section telescoping ladder. I had the
not so bright idea of changing the length in order to tune the antenna
to something near 1/4 wavelength. I also experimented with an
insulating sleeve between the two sections in an attempt to make a
vertical dipole. Both proved of dubious value as the best results
were from using the full length ladder and an antenna tuner.

I'm not sure what a folding ladder will do except to add weight and
attract unwanted attention. I just gave away two steel folding
ladders. They weighed far too much but were admittedly quite useful.

I'll use double sideband so that it won't matter which end of
the ladder I feed it from!

Be sure to tilt your radio vertically to match the antenna
polarization.

Cheers, this is fun!

If it were easy, it would not be fun.

--
Jeff Liebermann
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558