Finally up and running

Everything worked out eventually, and now I have a Kenwood ts-520s, Nye key, and 20m dipole in the attic, radiating north-south.

I struggle with reading CW, but it's what I'm trying to do. All with time right?

I've heard Puerto Rico, so the antenna is at least functional. I have no separate tuner. I have no idea what my SWR is. I'm using about 35' of tv coax stripped on the ends, with the grounds worm clamped to the outside of the connector, and bent center pins to make good contact. - very cheesy, I agree, but it's working at the moment. I can pick up W1AW when the bands are good. I might need to try getting another antenna, but I'm budget conscious at the moment. Since I have a good bit of wire, I might try to put out a 10m or ?

Anybody feels like trying to make contact, let me know. Somewhere in the <14.100 range.

hey man, I have storms in my AO, sorry....I'll check this thread through the weekend to see if anything is happening!

We have storms rolling in also, usually Florida is an easy contact for me on 20 and 40. I would try CW but I have been lazy on practising and I cant copy worth a crap right now. You will like the 520, it is a great little radio and it also has a great receiver.

I would not worry so much about SWR on that rig or a tuner for that matter. As long as the antenna is cut somewhat close the PI output circuit when you tune the finals will tune it. The only time you have to be careful is when you have a gross impedance mismatch, like running a random wire or when you are running a 20 meter dipole on all bands like I do. As a matter of fact I run my SGC-239 with my TS-520S

I'm having a hard time visualizing this, any chance you could post a photo? Kudos on learning CW, you won't regret it. I'd give you a call, but my only HF rig at the moment is an MFJ-9040. Having a ball with it though.

The copper is folded twice, and makes a good contact. The braided shield was separated, and twisted, with the foil removed. The picture shows a couple strands that look like they could be problematic, but that is purely from the camera angle. If you shake or move the coax, there is NO intermittent connection. Signal is strong, no static free (ya know the loose connection static I speak of?) No pretty I agree, but solid for the moment. The connection on the antenna balun is the same.

RG-6 coax?

PVC Jacket, Flame Retardant with lifeTime™ - CATV UL Listed Single Flooded Quad shield RG6

After my cable tv install, a few extra feet of this were left behind. 300' or so.

Sweet! Radio Shack sells F to PL-259 Adapters (Model 278-258, $4.49). Screw one of these onto your balun, another onto your transceiver, and you're ready to accept CATV-style F connectors.

Radio Shack and Home Depot have F connectors for RG-6QS coax. There are videos on Youtube showing how to install them.

20m seems to be very alive at the moment. I'm answering a few contesters at the moment. I thought my dipole facing North/South would really only work across the eastern seaboard. So far I've heard Spain, Italy, Germany, Puerto rico, lots of the east coast, and Idaho.

I've got a 20m dipole with balun, in the attic, and I'm getting some noticeable feedback across the various electronics in the house. Suppose now is a good time to consider moving the antenna outside??

Actually in a north south orientation you will hear Europe and Russia quite often. As a matter of fact it will also work great for working the south pacific, japan, and Australia. When you are working Europe mid day, you are usually shooting over the north pole, and it is common for EU stations to beam over the north pole to try and work West coast stations. In the very early mornings and evening times you can work japan and Australia shooting grey line over the north pole and back down.

Oh and yes you can find some F to SO-239 adapters, it will help keep the connections solid.

Just could not wait to get on the air I see

I'm way too anal to live with that kind of antenna connection. But more power to you if it pleases you.

Guilty. Got one connector on the radio now, borrowed a SWR meter, and needed to add about 6 inches to each leg of the dipole, and now I'm down to pretty much nothing in the 14.0 - 14.200 range.

I missed it... just how long are the legs, or overall length, of your attic dipole?

20m. Started with each leg 16.65' (used 16'-8") That put 0-SWR about 14.600. Did a little math and came up with needing to add 6" to each leg. I added that, and now have below 1 SWR from 14.0 - 14.300. Didn't worry about checking further, only interested in CW at the moment. I'll graduate to more stuff later.

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