[aprssig] Re: new diamond x500hna

[Ray McKnight]

>Also...slide the antenna out of it's radome.  Tighten the allen screws up
>tight....then solder the rod to the adapter.  Use a really big iron to get
>the solder to flow really well into the adapter.  This will cure any chance
>of it flexing and coming lose.  That is a big antenna....the flexing WILL
>cause it to come lose and your swr will shoot sky high.

If flexing is causing the screws to loosen, then soldering is NOT an answer
to fix a mechanical problem.  Soldering is for electrical conductivity, not
for creating a mechanical bond.  The flexing will break the soldered
connection just as easily as loosening the screws.  You need to address the
problem by limiting the flex as much as possible with non-conductive
bracing, guy wires, etc.  If the antenna is side mounted this is fairly
simple, if top mounted there's probably to hope to overcome a poor design.
I have one of these and noted that the conductor is allowed to float inside
the tube, somewhat, by the way it is supported.  This will help lessen the
flex problem.  Those allen screws are fairly whimpy.  IMO the only cure is
to make a stronger mechanical bond, i.e. bigger screws or some sort of
clamp, keeping in mind this could likely change the tuning.  Or consider a
way to lock the screws down using a chemical type thread sealer or tacking
them down with a brazing iron.

-----Original Message-----
From: aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org [mailto:aprssig-bounces at lists.tapr.org]
On Behalf Of kd4ydc at juno.com
Sent: Sunday, January 23, 2005 12:15
To: aprssig at lists.tapr.org
Subject: [aprssig] Re: new diamond x500hna


Mmmmmm sealing it....
Be careful.  It doesn't matter how much you seal it...it is going to sweat.
Yes, seal joints up real good and maybe even the "special" paint might not
be a bad idea.  Is there going to be ANY type of "duplexed" repeaeters on
this thing?  (juno doesn't copy text over to a reply...so I don't know)  If
there is....I wouldn't put that thing on the top.  I had a Diamond X-3200 at
the top of a 200ft tower.  P-Static everywhere.  The porcupines on the tower
will help (look on repeater-builder.com).

The biggest thing to remember (that I didn't) was that it has a built in
drip or weep hole in the bottom.  Don't seal that up.  (mine was full of
water) Also...slide the antenna out of it's radome.  Tighten the allen
screws up tight....then solder the rod to the adapter.  Use a really big
iron to get the solder to flow really well into the adapter.  This will cure
any chance of it flexing and coming lose.  That is a big antenna....the
flexing WILL cause it to come lose and your swr will shoot sky high.

Good Luck,
Robert




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