Machined Feedline Spreaders

[W1EUJ]

On the related topic of feedline spreaders - there is a dealer that sells nice, machined fiberglass/plastic spreaders. Anybody know the name of the manufacturer? I am building a doublet antenna, and 600 ohms seems to give me nice numbers.

David Goncalves
W1EUJ

[KA1ZGC]

Don't know who that would be, but you could always go to Home Cheapo and buy some fiberglass garden posts, cut them to length, drill 'em out, and whammo, fiberglass spreaders, probably much cheaper!

It's always worked for me.

--Thom
King Abraham One Zebraham George Charlie

[W1EUJ]

Nice circular ones? I'll have to check that out on my next trip to Big Orange.

Tnx OM.

[Steve - WB3HUZ]

Yea. The ones used to support tomato plants or similar are pretty nice.

[Ed/KB1HYS]

This time of year, they sell 1/4 inch diameter "Driveway Markers" that are just fiberglass rod with a bit of reflective tape at one end.  They are handy little guys.  Just watch out for slivers when cutting them up.

[WA1GFZ]

those driveway markers make quick and dirty curtin rods at the new QTH. A pair of #6 nails and XYL is good to go.

[W1ATR]

Yeah, nice. I saw Bob Vila do that once on a show called "This Old Shanty"

Me, I'm too lazy, I just staple some old bedsheets up over the windows and call it a day.

[W2XR]

This time of year, they sell 1/4 inch diameter "Driveway Markers" that are just fiberglass rod with a bit of reflective tape at one end.  They are handy little guys.  Just watch out for slivers when cutting them up.

I use these by each of the guy wire anchors (total of 6 places for the two towers here at W2XR) and they work great.

73,

Bruce

[W2XR]

On the related topic of feedline spreaders - there is a dealer that sells nice, machined fiberglass/plastic spreaders. Anybody know the name of the manufacturer? I am building a doublet antenna, and 600 ohms seems to give me nice numbers.

David Goncalves
W1EUJ

Dave,

Buy the pre-made 600 ohm feedline from W7FG, and call it a day. As has been posted on these pages quite recently in the past, this stuff is cheap, well-made, reliable, lightweight, etc. In short, it does everything well that 600 ohm open wire feeders are supposed to do.

I use it here, and like so many other hams before me, swear by it.

Why go to the trouble of reinventing the wheel? Yes, using better, more robust materials for the spacers is certainly more sexier than the pre-cut sections of black PVC tubing that W7FG uses, but in my book form follows function.

73,

Bruce

[WU2D]

This is how Frank makes Ladder Line...

Mike WU2D

[W1EUJ]

>Buy the pre-made 600 ohm feedline from W7FG, and call it a day. As has been >posted on these pages quite recently in the past, this stuff is cheap, well->made, reliable, lightweight, etc. In short, it does everything well that 600 ohm >open wire feeders are supposed to do.

It offends my asthetic sensibilities :-)  I've got the wire from an estate sale, just need the spacers to transform the doublet antenna into its transmision line. I'll ask a friend to turn some rods to spacers.

Dave Goncalves
W1EUJ

[w3jn]

Considering the time and PITA factor, you'll never be able to make it for less than W7FG charges.  That is Fine Business Schtuff indeed.

[WA1GFZ]

I only use Johnson spreaders. A good day's work and they last for ever.

[KA1ZGC]

Considering the time and PITA factor

 

Five minutes with a reasonably-sharp saw and a drill? Where's the PITA come in?

[K8WBL]

If your talking about the green garden steaks that Home Depot has, they are plastic covered metal, not sure if aluminum or what...didnt know until I cut one in half....

73, Tim K8WBL

[KA1ZGC]

If your talking about the green garden steaks that Home Depot has, they are plastic covered metal, not sure if aluminum or what...didnt know until I cut one in half....

They must have changed them recently, then. For years they were just solid fiberglass.

I'll bet someone still has fiberglass ones, though.

--Thom
Killer Album One Zappa's Greatest Compositions

[w3jn]

Considering the time and PITA factor

 

Five minutes with a reasonably-sharp saw and a drill? Where's the PITA come in?

Going to Home Depot and purchasing a bunch of lengths of PVC
Purchase wire
Cutting 'em and notching 'em
Stringing out 2 parallel lengths of wire, making sure to tension them just enough on each end
Attaching said spreaders at regular intervals

Cost = materials + a couple hours + a mess-o-four letter words when the wire breaks, notched a spreader too much so it falls off, wire gets tangled, etc.

W7FG:  cost I would guess about the same less all the hassles

There's a lot of homebrew and manual labor type stuff associated with ham radio I enjoy.  This would not be one of them.  To anyone else, knock yerself out - to each his/her own

[W1EUJ]

But I already have the wire!

I'm only making a 50 ft. run - nothing that long. If I had need for a longer run, than the cost of the time and material to roll my own would exceed the 'FG feedline, and I'd buy some.

David Goncalves
W1EUJ

[KA1ZGC]

Considering the time and PITA factor

 

Five minutes with a reasonably-sharp saw and a drill? Where's the PITA come in?

Going to Home Depot and purchasing a bunch of lengths of PVC

Where did I say "PVC"? I went back and read it again, and I don't see it.

Purchase wire

He's got wire already.

Cutting 'em and notching 'em

Notching? I've always drilled my fiberglass spacers. Takes mere seconds, even with a hand drill!

Stringing out 2 parallel lengths of wire, making sure to tension them just enough on each end
Attaching said spreaders at regular intervals

That's far more complicated than my method, but c'est la vie.

Cost = materials + a couple hours + a mess-o-four letter words when the wire breaks, notched a spreader too much so it falls off, wire gets tangled, etc.

...again...

W7FG:  cost I would guess about the same less all the hassles

I'm not guessing when I say the way you build open-wire line is a genuine PITA! A few dollars for a dozen or more spacers doesn't sound too exorbinant to me.

There's a lot of homebrew and manual labor type stuff associated with ham radio I enjoy.  This would not be one of them.  To anyone else, knock yerself out - to each his/her own

I'd say that pretty well sums it up.

--Thom
Keep Away One Zorched Ground Conductor

[N3DRB The Derb]

I've homebrewed original spacers of porcelain and glass, but I'm with Johnny Novice on this one. Making feedline out of stuff you get at Home Depot just aint right. I'll take the w7fg stuff anyday.

When glo gets her glass making setup going, I'm going to ask her if she can make some old buzzardly pyrex insulators in kewl colors like blue and red. Maybe put their call signs on them.

[KA1ZGC]

I've homebrewed original spacers of porcelain and glass, but I'm with Johnny Novice on this one. Making feedline out of stuff you get at Home Depot just aint right. I'll take the w7fg stuff anyday.

Dont get me wrong, I'm not saying homebrewed open-wire line is any better than the w7fg stuff, just that it's a pretty simple and quick job to lash one together yourself.

Hey, if'n it hold the wires apart and don't conduct, that's all the "right" you be need'n.

Caw mawn.

--Thom
Killer Appetizer One Zesty Green Cannabis

[N3DRB The Derb]

yeh, it's just how you wanna spend your time. With the w7fg stuff available and so cheap, it's just not worth i for me. Now, if I had 50 or so johnson spreaders, somethin to make the interest factor go up. I'd do it. At one time I did have a open wire line with mil surplus porcelain spreaders.

Glo is interested in making spreaders and insulators with Pyrex glass in cool colors like cobalt blue. She'll be able to do it too. She's getting handy at the glassmaking.

I'm down here at my dad's place for a few days. So no radio wok until I get back.