G5rv suggestions

[K4NIN]

I'm currently a tech, and hope to be a general when I take my test on 11/6.
Wish me luck....LOL

I have a Yaesu FT-840, hopefully an MFJ tuner like the 949e and a g5rv, possibly assembled by myself instead of buying one of those cheaply made jobs. I intend to raise the center of the g5rv to about 30 feet, through a pvc-type mast. The ends being almost that height, at the standard length of 102 feet.

I have come across a 500 foot spool of rg-58 a/u for next to nothing on craigslist, and I was thinking about using this as the main elements of the dipole, instead of purchasing additional wire.

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My first question would be, is the rg-58 an acceptable replacement for regular wire on the g5rv?
Should I set up the rg-58 as a type of zepp dipole with the twin lead?
With 100 watts tops, will I see a major advantage at 40 feet vs. 30? (personal experience from you guys)
I live in North Florida, about 15 miles from the ocean. I'd love to work some European stations, so my first thought is to orient this in a North/South config, but I don't want to miss out on my friends so close in South America..lol I think I'll fill some buckets with concrete and 30 foot pvc poles so I can walk the ends around the yard...Haaa!!

[NY7Q]

here we go again. a new ham that has not read the manuals.
73's is a double plural.

[W4INF]

here we go again. a new ham that has not read the manuals.
73's is a double plural.

And here we go again with a ham that does not know tradition beyond his own experience. 73s has been used for decades before you ever sucked on a bottle. Quite trying to modify tradition and you will do better.

On the antenna, Ill let another op answer that one. Im not a fan of the G5RV.

73s-
Andrew

[W4INF]

This vertical DIY/HB works 100% FB for me:

http://forums.qrz.com/showthread.php...light=vertical

Currently using this DIY/HB BALUN:

http://rogertango.com/articleread.as...umber=34232411


PVC at a length greater than 8 ft, even if you did run thick wall, will flex too much. Those buckets of concrete, though appear to be heavy... will topple before you ever get your dipole up.

If your going to use 30ft of PVC, just run a wire with it as a vertical.

Better yet, get some conduit, three 10 ft sections should cost less than $20, a little guy wire system and a coke bottle for the ground insulator, a few (4 or more) radials of 30ft or so, and your on the air.

Most manual tuners should be able to get you 1.5:1 or lower on most bands with this setup. If you dont have one, an LDG Z-100 auto tuner has a wide range and does very well for a 100w station, I have one and testify to it.

HTH & 73s-
Andrew

[W3UC]

here we go again. a new ham that has not read the manuals.
73's is a double plural.

You mean theres a manual(manuals is plural aint it) and here I always thought it was something we knew from birth

[K9STH]

INF:

Tradition is that 73 is proper and 73s is not. However, even TOM ("the old man" - Hiram Percy Maxim - W1AW) used 73s on his QSL cards (I have a couple W1AW cards from pre-World War I that have 73s). That fact is often "pointed out" by those who use 73s and 88s instead of the proper 73 and 88.

But, the numbered "standard" messages of which 73 and 88 are a portion are plural in their original statement. That is 73 means "best wishes" and 88 means "love and kisses". Therefore, technically, 73s means "best wisheses" and 88s means "love and kisseses".

I don't lose any sleep over those persons who use 73s and 88s. But, those who do use such are still incorrect.

Glen, K9STH

[W4INF]

I know Glen, I read a few threads on it a year or so ago... I decided Id rather be a traditionalist than politically correct with this.

I always use "Best 73s" on my QLS cards when I send them.

Cheers,
Andrew

[K4NIN]

Thank you for the advice. I had actually tried the metal conduit in the past, and it had worked well. Please excuse the grammar malfunction last night, as I had too many frosty beverages before typing.

[W4INF]

Too many of these?

[K4NIN]

"CQ DX.....ooh my head" LOL

Thanks for the advice on the auto tuner. I may go ahead and purchase one. The reviews I have seen, including yourself, have been outstanding. Considering the cost is just a little more than a basic MFJ 949e tuner, which was my other choice, I think it's a winner.

The only thing negative I see, would be an SWR meter, digital display, something. Maybe I'm just a control freak, but I can't just "trust the box".
Just me, I guess..

Any issues with the tuner that you have experienced? Not problems, but things that could be better?