Copper Talk » Open Forum » Archived Messages » 2002 » Archived Messages 07/01/2002 to 07/31/2002 » Maco and swr « Previous Next »

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10ring
Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 8:11 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I just recieved my new maco v5/8 from copper and put it together just like the instructions said 240" long oal.for 27 mhz. 1" vetical seperation for the hoop ring and conected the wire to the ring 6 1/2" from the screw that holds the ring together. stood it up on a 8' mast in the back yard and attached a 80' piece of rg-8u. Now for the fun. No matter how long or short I make this ant. it is unresponsive to my adjustments and the needel of my swr meter stays in the middle of the RED! at first I thought bad coax or meter but when I hooked the coax up to my trusty 102" wip I get 1.3 just like always on ch.20 so I ruled out the coax and meter. any sugetions?
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jyd
Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 8:38 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

i have had 3 of those and had problems to
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Taz
Posted on Sunday, July 14, 2002 - 11:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

well, thats why you see me RECCOMMENDING THE IMAX-2000 ALL OVER THE FORUM!
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Marconi
Posted on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 12:30 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

10ring, just some ideas.

I am looking at my old docs on page 4, detail 1C. If you have the same docs and this detail shows a cutoff section of the first tube in the radiator, installed in a round insulator that goes inside the base assembly BA1P somehow, and a hose clamp (W10P), which holds the top of RO29 connector for the top of the orbital coil, then let me know how the insulator goes into the base assembly and what holds it in there.

I am not sure how the base section goes together, but I think this area should provide insulation between the radiator and the base of the antenna, if the RO2P strap to the coil is not attached. Maybe check this area for insulation and make sure the radiator is not shorted somehow.

BTW, several times the docs mention the bottom of the antenna, and where it is relative to the 240" measurement you are using. Have you figured that point out yet? The big caution box titled (NOTE) is very vague concerning the hole for the mounting bracket C13P. Is this point the bottom of the base assembly BA1P? Or, does it mean the bottom of the hole under the bracket C13P?

Sorry, I don't have any real solutions. Good luck.

Marconi
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jyd
Posted on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 9:41 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

dont cut
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Marconi
Posted on Monday, July 15, 2002 - 7:17 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

You are right jyd, don't cut anything on this antenna. Since you have had three of them, maybe you could answer my question to 10ring. How is the insulator installed in the base and what holds it in there? Anyone else knows, let me know.

Marconi
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10ring
Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2002 - 1:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I found the problem. and to say it plain and simple I screwed up and atached the the wire to the hoop on the wrong side!!! turned out to be a case of whats wrong with this picture. marconi,the insulator is pvc pipe thier is one srew that goes through the pvc into radiator and the srew that holds p08p bracket to the base goes through the pvc inside the base. note when checked this ant. will read a dead short and the 240" for 27mhz is over all length of the ant. from the end of the base to the tip of the radiator. this measurement was right on the money for me and only shortened it by a 1/2"
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Marconi
Posted on Sunday, July 21, 2002 - 10:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Yes, I think you are correct about the top and bottom of this antenna and the wire tap probably should be somewhere towards the ground side of the coil instead of the radiator side.

Maybe you could clarify the base assembly section of this antenna for me. Are you saying that Maco no longer uses two pieces of molded plastic as insulators that holds the radiator inside the base assembly? I recall that the radiator used to go down thru the top insulator and this insulator had a groove in it that sat down over the top of the base assembly. I thought that down inside the base assembly there was another insulator and the base of the radiator sat inside its grove. Seems that I recall this bottom insulator was attached with brads down inside a few inches and insulated and supported the base of the radiator inside the base assembly. If this has been changed to a solid piece of PVC pipe then that is fine, but I would like to know.

BTW, do any of you know what is different between the regular V 5/8 and the 5000 watt version? If you can order this as a retro-fit kit, what is included?

Well I am glad you got your Maco working. It usually is the little things that we overlook.

Marconi
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10ring
Posted on Monday, July 22, 2002 - 4:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

No two piece insulator in mine just the base, pvc pipe, and then the radiator the pvc sticks out of the base about a inch whier a small self tapping screw goes through the pvc and into the radiator to hold the radiator. looks like they used some silocone to glue it together also. as for the diffrence between the regular V 5/8 and the 5000 I have been told its just the wire going from the conector to the hoop ring if I have to up date i'll just call maco @(901)794-9494 and have them send one . I spoke with them once and the seem like good folks to do busines with. I am also happy to say with my ant. @ 40' I am getting excellent perfomance from it with my 2970 backing it up I could not be more pleased with the money I spent.
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Marconi
Posted on Monday, July 22, 2002 - 10:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Good to hear your V-5/8 is working well. It is a fine antenna. My docs, taken from the Maco website, still shows the insulating section in the base just like the old Wilson/Maco antennas used to be and as I described above. It is interesting to know this has changed, albeit works the same.

BTW 10ring, I am not suggesting that you need an up grade here. I was just curious as to what they did to allow more watts. I asked about the 5000 watt mod because I have been told that the old insulators were the problem with the big watts which might make some sense.

Marconi