On 6 Dec 2004 09:53:00 -0800, "
wrote:

But how much better?

Hi Jim,

Probably not enough for you to notice.

Is it worth the effort and expense?

Worth is subjective, even if you feel good about, but discern no
evidence of improvement in performance, that may be sufficient.

I'm satisfied
that the LMR400 and Radio Works balun are as low loss as I can get for
this kind of system, but I can never leave well enough alone if I think
there is room for improvement.

As Doc suggests, goferit. Bob's advice is not uncommon either,
although absorbent material could get damp and affect local line
performance. The question then becomes one of our academic knot
twisters in that would it matter. Myself, I see a potential short
across the line and tender nearby to support combustion or smoldering.

To solve my 15X15 inch basement window problem, I replaced the plate
glass with Plexiglas and drilled holes with abandon. This replacement
was not without taking so long a time that my buddy lost his patience:
"Just bust that $5 worth of glass out!" Instead, I had to do this by
carefully removing the petrified putty all around - and cracked the
pane in the last nip. Care and precision is not always worth the
effort.

73's
Richard Clark, KB7QHC