Twin 13B2 Cushcraft Yagi's Together. And SWR Water Problems These all Seem to Have

[@captlarry-3525]

What you want to do on the matching connections is use some electricians anti-corrosive grease ( Gardner Bender No-0x) this will prevent corrosion, but leave the connections clean and adjustable. What you have done is nuts. When water does get in.. you wont know it.. and when you want to re-adjust the match... you wont be able to do it ... If you have a 1:1 match across 4 mc... you are transmitting into a resistor or a carrot.

[@JLPicard440]

Ok thanks!

[@mikemcdonald5147]

good video to find I just bought and am putting some of these together so glad to know about the liquid tape idea.

[@JLPicard440]

Yep, those MFJ matching boxes leak like a sieve! They must be sealed if they're going to last...thanks for the comment

[@halhunter1974]

The Flex Seal advertised on TV also works very well.

[@krazytrinisteve]

@@JLPicard440 Rudy, opened mine and filed with water and they have not been up for months. Geeze how much was in there originally!

[@kumpadiadventure]

Can i ask wht the size of the spacing between the two antenna ang the size of the phasing harness tnx..

[@JLPicard440]

If I remember right it was about 9 feet and something. If you get the manual for the 13B2 it has the correct spacing for phasing 2 antennas or 4 antennas..

[@JeffK134]

Hello Rudy, I’m curious how far the 26B2 was able to reach running barefoot? Interested in your distances for both regular and band opening conditions. Thanks & 73

[@JLPicard440]

It depends on conditions, terrain and of course and the other stations setup. There isn't really just a "range" you can pin down. 30-40 miles base to base was easy, 25 miles base to mobile was pretty easy. I've talked much further and less far of course, I'm just talking on the average.

[@1OFGODSOWN]

That sounds great but Condensation will build up inside them if you live where humidity is an issue as it is here in Northeast Florida. I sold mine & went to an old Cushcraft 215WB which does not have that useless POS water gathering box.

[@JLPicard440]

1OFGODSOWN 1OFGODSOWN humidity is a issue here in Virginia in the summer time.. after sealing this box, they’ve been working fine since the making of the video... I forgot when but probably 2 years ago... but I’m sure the older ones are better... especially since MFJ got a hold of them😀😀

[@lemmiegower8975]

So did anyone think about drilling a weep hole in the bottom of the box to let it breath & drain. One 1/8” hole should be big enough.

[@JLPicard440]

Yes that's a good idea.. I didn't do that, but I am certainly not opposed to it.. My poor antennas have been down for almost a year now.. they're sitting in the back yard and who knows the condition of those boxes now.. ☹️

[@mikesimpson6757]

What was the SWR of the VHF antennas?

[@JLPicard440]

I have taken it down, but I seem to remember they were about 1.3. I'm going to try and put them back up one day, but still haven't.

[@robertk4vl412]

tell me more about you matching harness. did you use 75ohm coax or 50?

[@JLPicard440]

Robert Forest Hi Robert,... I used a homemade power divider made out of copper tubing and aluminum square tubing.... the power divider is close to 4 feet long... from there I used two equal length 50 ohm lmr-400 to each antenna... I can try to post a link to plans if your interested

[@robertk4vl412]

Take a Bath Productions I would like to see your plans. I have 2 13b2's I am planning to cophase

[@JLPicard440]

I uploaded the PDF file to my google drive. Let me know if you have trouble viewing it. Thanks... drive.google.com/file/d/0B_jTWbEq1NOpZ1VfYkhEMlZ4cG8/view?usp=sharing

[@robertk4vl412]

Take a Bath Productions thank you I will check it out

[@AllenJamesSupero]

can you show pictures what inside the box? please

[@JLPicard440]

It's up in my tower 75' high!. Basically I just added lots of liquid tape to the inside. All around all the entry holes, around the cover before putting it back on and so fourth. Video is a couple years old, and SWR is still like day 1! Last time it lasted about 6 months before I started having trouble.

[@Sky1]

Humn vertical? I may consider flipping mine if we continue with no 2 meter ssb activity. I have a pr of 13b2's that have been up for at least 10 years no problem with water and did not do that seal stuff only the connectors. My phasing harness and divider was made by M2. My only regrets is that my tower wasn't taller :-)

[@JLPicard440]

johnnieace45 I can't explain it... there are several of us here in va that use these on FM simplex and pretty much everybody had the same thing happen after about 6 months SWR was almost 2:1 take them down and open the box and always find moisture.... could be when they're vertical they are more susceptible to water getting in vs. flat.... or I'm sure the climate could have to do with it too... it's pretty wet in Va. yea not much SSB here either...

[@jenniferjenny5999]

What in the crystal meth is going on around here

[@JLPicard440]

?

[@1OFGODSOWN]

Pathetic design.I Sold both of my 13B2 yagis because even sealed they filled up with moisture from condensation.They talk great when they work but I replaced them with a CUSHCRAFT 215WB because they don’t have any issues with water & I think they are the best 2 meter Yagi that Cushcraft ever made by far.They make Long Haul 2 meter QSO’s Easy on SSB or FM.

[@JLPicard440]

Oh very good... I'll check them out. Thanks for the feedback.. 😊