Author |
Message |
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 326 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 5:42 pm: |
|
My friend doesn't have a computer yet to join the Copper Forum, so, i told him i'd try to get an answer to his problem. He has a PDL-2 and is having trouble getting the match low on the 40 channels. It's matching low 1:1 on 26.700. Ok, the original copper element wire was #14 soft copper, it needed replaced and he purchased #14 straided wire (7 wraps), stretched it and cut it to the same lenght as his original wire./ Now, the performance has decreased since doing this, along with the matching problems. Any ideas as to why???
|
Kj7gs
Junior Member Username: Kj7gs
Post Number: 21 Registered: 12-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 8:48 pm: |
|
I'm not trying to take Tech 833's place, but if the stranded wire stretched at all after putting it in place, that might make for a lower resonant frequency and bring it down to a 1:1 match on 26.700 as you mentioned. |
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 327 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, March 02, 2005 - 8:58 pm: |
|
Tech 833, I'm i correct on my thinking? Different sized copper element wires change bandwidth of the beam? Does straided wire (7 wraps) react different then the same sized Copper solid soft wire? HUmmmmmmmmm JIM/PA/CEF 375
|
Marconi
Intermediate Member Username: Marconi
Post Number: 398 Registered: 11-2001
| Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 9:05 am: |
|
RW,why did the wire need to be replaced? |
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 330 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 11:31 am: |
|
The wire was replaced because one of the original wires #14 solid soft copper got broken... My way of thinking is that he should of replaced it with the same type of wire. But, i don't understand the situation enough yet to provide him an answer.
|
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 334 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 8:11 pm: |
|
By the way the type of wires hes using now & having problems with is #14 straided (7 wraps) steel clad, copper coated. Original wire was #14 soft solid copper. JIM/PA/CEF 375 |
Kid_vicious
Intermediate Member Username: Kid_vicious
Post Number: 254 Registered: 9-2004
| Posted on Thursday, March 03, 2005 - 11:10 pm: |
|
has he at least TRIED another piece of wire yet? for me, its always the things im sure its not. matt |
Marconi
Intermediate Member Username: Marconi
Post Number: 401 Registered: 11-2001
| Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 8:54 am: |
|
The wire itself shouldn't be that much of a problem. The docs discuss in specific terms what to do with the wire before and during installation. If followed and everything else is the same as before his experience should be very similar. So he had it up and working good before, then the wire broke and after the fix the thing won't work right, right? |
Airplane1
Intermediate Member Username: Airplane1
Post Number: 309 Registered: 5-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 11:04 am: |
|
Hi Road warrior, I read some where but now cant find it that if you do replace the wires on quads you should replace it with exactly the same size as original wire. Hope this helps. airplane/CEF349 |
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 339 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 12:44 pm: |
|
Yeah, thats it. Worked great, wire broke, replaced wire, now its not working like it was. SWR's are way off & performance has noticabily decreased. JIM/PA/CEF375 |
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 343 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Friday, March 04, 2005 - 10:17 pm: |
|
Ok, i contacted Tech 833 & he gave the answer to my question. Quote from Tech 833, "The new wire likely may have a different velocity factor than the old wire. If the old wire was solid and your new wire is braided that would explain it. You can either cut the spreaders down (to physically shorted the wires) or replace it with solid wire as before. By your description it sounds like you are now using 'Copper Weld' wire. That does have a lower velocity factor than solid wire. Many commercial wire antennas use solid wire because it is more predictable. Please feel free to post my comments on the forum for the benefit of others, if you choose to share your experience." End Quote JIM/PA/CEF375 |
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 349 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 6:27 pm: |
|
There is a difference between the 2 different types of wires. We shortened the wires length & the beams SWR's came back in to where they are supposed to be and performance is better. But, i think if it were my beam i would of stayed with the same type wire as to what was originally on it. JIM/PA/CEF 375
|
Tech291
Moderator Username: Tech291
Post Number: 113 Registered: 11-2004
| Posted on Monday, March 07, 2005 - 6:58 pm: |
|
Copper still has a few of the original replacement wire kits for the pdl-II and mr-4 antennas listed. http://www.copperelectronics.com/cgi-bin/checkitout/checkitout.cgi?bargainsSTORE:CKIE:prodA60-05219+ tech291 CEF#291 kc8zpj
|
Road_warrior
Intermediate Member Username: Road_warrior
Post Number: 353 Registered: 7-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, March 08, 2005 - 3:16 pm: |
|
Ok Tech 291, thanks. JIM/PA/CEF 375 |