Kiss It Stupid Simple
 

On Feb 14, 10:15*am, m II wrote:
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On 11-02-14 10:19 AM, Joe from Kokomo wrote:



On 02/14/2011 06:51 AM, dave wrote:
On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:

-but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

Why?

On 2/14/2011 10:34 AM, dave wrote:

If you use insulating rope there is no need to buy insulators.

Well, that could be debatable. Do you have any way to quantify the RF
leakage of wet rope vs. a wet insulator to support your contention?

Rainwater doesn't conduct very well. Also, the voltages are very low.
Power lines will arc over insulators, but that's usually caused by filth
accumulating over the insulator knob and the fact that it's a few
thousand volts.

mike

I would guess that, for RX, unless the rainwater also allows a
complete passage to ground for the signal, water on the antenna and
rope is going to do little more than extend the resonant frequency of
the antenna to a longer wavelength. If you're a monitor station for a
major broadcaster, that may be a problem. For a SWL, maybe not so
much.

Kiss It Stupid Simple
 

On 02/14/2011 09:19 AM, Joe from Kokomo wrote:

On 02/14/2011 06:51 AM, dave wrote:
On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:

-but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

Why?

On 2/14/2011 10:34 AM, dave wrote:

If you use insulating rope there is no need to buy insulators.

Well, that could be debatable. Do you have any way to quantify the RF
leakage of wet rope vs. a wet insulator to support your contention?

That wouldn't be "insulating" rope any more, technically. Fresh water on
plastic does not conduct.

Kiss It Stupid Simple
 

On 02/14/2011 10:56 AM, bpnjensen wrote:
On Feb 14, 10:15 am, m wrote:
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On 11-02-14 10:19 AM, Joe from Kokomo wrote:



On 02/14/2011 06:51 AM, dave wrote:
On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:

-but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

Why?

On 2/14/2011 10:34 AM, dave wrote:

If you use insulating rope there is no need to buy insulators.

Well, that could be debatable. Do you have any way to quantify the RF
leakage of wet rope vs. a wet insulator to support your contention?

Rainwater doesn't conduct very well. Also, the voltages are very low.
Power lines will arc over insulators, but that's usually caused by filth
accumulating over the insulator knob and the fact that it's a few
thousand volts.

mike

I would guess that, for RX, unless the rainwater also allows a
complete passage to ground for the signal, water on the antenna and
rope is going to do little more than extend the resonant frequency of
the antenna to a longer wavelength. If you're a monitor station for a
major broadcaster, that may be a problem. For a SWL, maybe not so
much.

I've never noticed any electric effects from rain on my polyester lines;
nor on the old school clothesline I used to use (plastic over nylon?)
This would include ropes touching active elements directly on a stub
tuned vertical, in the rain, while observing reflected power. Simply not
an issue AFAIK.

Kiss It Stupid Simple
 

On Feb 14, 11:08*am, dave wrote:
On 02/14/2011 09:19 AM, Joe from Kokomo wrote:



On 02/14/2011 06:51 AM, dave wrote:
On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:

-but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

Why?

On 2/14/2011 10:34 AM, dave wrote:

If you use insulating rope there is no need to buy insulators.

Well, that could be debatable. Do you have any way to quantify the RF
leakage of wet rope vs. a wet insulator to support your contention?

That wouldn't be "insulating" rope any more, technically. Fresh water on
plastic does not conduct.

Yeah, but what if someone goes up in an airplane with a saltshaker?
You could be in trouble! ;-)

Kiss It Stupid Simple
 

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On 11-02-14 10:19 AM, Joe from Kokomo wrote:

On 02/14/2011 06:51 AM, dave wrote:
On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:

-but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

Why?

On 2/14/2011 10:34 AM, dave wrote:

If you use insulating rope there is no need to buy insulators.

Well, that could be debatable. Do you have any way to quantify the RF
leakage of wet rope vs. a wet insulator to support your contention?

On 2/14/2011 1:15 PM, m II wrote:

Rainwater doesn't conduct very well.

Well, THAT'S debatable too. Sadly, in today's world, rainwater can
contain a lot of sulfuric acid (pollution from coal-fired power plants),
and H2SO4 is a -very- good conductor.

Sorry, a) I am old fashioned and b) I am also used to transmitting on my
antennas.

If you were just receiving and desperate to save a couple of bucks on
insulators, you -may- be able to get away with it (or not).

Kiss It Stupid Simple
 

On Feb 14, 1:13*pm, Joe from Kokomo wrote:
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On 11-02-14 10:19 AM, Joe from Kokomo wrote:

On 02/14/2011 06:51 AM, dave wrote:
On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:

-but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

Why?

On 2/14/2011 10:34 AM, dave wrote:

If you use insulating rope there is no need to buy insulators.

Well, that could be debatable. Do you have any way to quantify the RF
leakage of wet rope vs. a wet insulator to support your contention?

On 2/14/2011 1:15 PM, m II wrote:

Rainwater doesn't conduct very well.

Well, THAT'S debatable too. Sadly, in today's world, rainwater can
contain a lot of sulfuric acid (pollution from coal-fired power plants),
and H2SO4 is a -very- good conductor.

Sorry, a) I am old fashioned and b) I am also used to transmitting on my
antennas.

If you were just receiving and desperate to save a couple of bucks on
insulators, you -may- be able to get away with it (or not).- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Around these parts, not too much H2SO4, but lotsa other tailpipe
emissions.

Wire SWL Antennas : ? The Question Is . . . Are Your SWL AntennasFit-To-Be-Tied !
 

On Feb 14, 6:51*am, dave wrote:

- - On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:
- - -but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

- Why?

Dave -in-a-word- "Tradition" ~ RHF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRdfX7ut8gw

Wire SWL Antennas : ? The Question Is . . . Are Your SWL AntennasFit-To-Be-Tied !
 

On Feb 14, 7:49*am, bpnjensen wrote:
On Feb 14, 7:34*am, dave wrote:

On 02/14/2011 06:51 AM, dave wrote:

On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:

-but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

Why?


Dave -changing-the-subject-line-to-read-
"Kiss It Stupid Simple"
Says more about "YOU" then 'me' ~ RHF

Dave -where-as-'i'-say-
Keep It Simple and Practical ! : [KISAP!]

Wire SWL Antennas : ? The Question Is . . .
Are Your SWL Antennas Fit-To-Be-Tied !
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.r...1cdeb93902f3d3

Wire SWL Antennas : ? The Question Is . . . Are Your SWL AntennasFit-To-Be-Tied !
 

On Feb 14, 9:19*am, Joe from Kokomo wrote:
On 02/14/2011 06:51 AM, dave wrote:
On 02/13/2011 08:26 PM, RHF wrote:

-but- I still use Antenna Insulators between the 'Poly'

Why?

On 2/14/2011 10:34 AM, dave wrote:

- - If you use insulating rope there is no need to buy insulators.

- Well, that could be debatable.
- Do you have any way to quantify the RF leakage of wet
- rope vs. a wet insulator to support your contention?

Joe from Kokomo : What I was told many years ago
and still believe today is :

A Hard Insulator does not become contaminated with
all sorts of things -while- A Soft Woven Rope can Absorb
the Contaminates.

Now Add Rain {Water} and two things can Happen :

* The Hard Insulator has the Surface 'contamination'
Washed-Off.
-result- A Good 'Clean' Fully Functioning Insulator :o)

* The Soft Woven Rope can Absob the Rain Water
-and- Now you have Water 'mixed' with what all the
Contaminates that have penetrated the Rope.
-result- The Rope is no longer as good an Insulator
as when it was New un-contaminated and dry.

Just seemed reasonable to me -but- I have never seen
and Test Data that confirms this 'common-sense'.

Are Your SWL Antennas Fit-To-Be-Tied !
 

On 02/14/2011 06:01 PM, RHF wrote:

-where-as-these-
Low-cost Plastic Egg Insulators in a Bag of 10
only Cost around 60 Cents a piece.
http://www.radio-ware.com/products/pegg.htm
* Designed for the intended application
* Mechanical Strain Relief for both the Wire and Rope
* Plus Lower Cost :o)

It says they are made for electric fences. You have to buy 10 at a time.