TV interference from the continent

[PerdioPal]

"Maybe the answer is remote relay switches when it's put on the chimney. Contact rating would be challenging." Vacuum reed relays are available that withstand many kV, could be a solution.

[Mike Watterson]

A friend has vacuum capacitors for remote tuning in his stock. The only reed relays I've ever seen are maybe 100V max and lowish current. I suppose a large motor driven custom switch is possible. I'm sure there are very high power switching relays for broadcast transmitter aerials.

I remember one 405 TV with wired remote that simply had a solenoid to push the turret tuner one way. A plastic rod with a spring loaded solenoid at each end could be used to make a three way two pole switch with big spacing. Default off would be the most used aerial. Could b housed in PVC pipe.

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
The Low VHF bands have been open here all week
I've had some really good QSOs on 6 meters (50mhz) the past few days with under 10 watts, in the old days us DX TV enthusiasts would have had a great time.

[PerdioPal]

3.5kV, first result from 'tinternet
https://www.rhopointcomponents.com/produ...ay-series/

[PerdioPal]

...and lots more voltage https://www.pickeringrelay.com/pdfs/60.pdf

[Mike Watterson]

Yes, those are serious relays. :D
Thanks for tip.

Today I tested a repaired military double discone that uses 4 x folding spring loaded whips for top half. Works well on 50MHz. The lower discone is four guy wires that are connected to four tent style guy ropes. Mast is 2 x multisection spring loaded folds that's wobbly till guys are done. Really needs two people to put it up, though if I add 4x plastic rope guys to top of bottom half folding mast it will be easy. Works well at 7MHz, acceptable at 5MHz and no use on 3.7MHz. SWR is high at 70MHz at about 3:1, but I suspect that can be fixed as the top whips are about 2.6m. Not sure why it works on 40m and 60m bands, perhaps I was tuning the feed cable!

A few shops were still selling Band I yagi for TV about 5 years ago (old stock?) even though that closed in 1999. I meant to get one but thought he was asking too much. Unlike actual Radios, a VHF aerial isn't that hard to make. The Band III TV closed 2012 and Band III DAB closed maybe April or May 2021, though was officially ended at the end of March 2021.