Hi.

Actually, a 1.4 to one SWR is almost right on the money for the theoretical 
SWR that one would see at resonance with a 50 ohm coax feeding a 72 ohm 
dipole.  I don't think you are going to do much better than that Jerry.

73, de Lou K2LKK



At 08:33 AM 7/1/2007 -0400, you wrote:
>Congrats on your first contact.   As for the dipole:  it isn't broke, so
>don't fix it.   1.4:1 is just fine.    You should make a swr  chart for this
>antenna.   Keeping to the portion of the band you are allowed to operate,
>check swr at the top, bottom, and 1 or 2 places in the middle of the band.
>keep a record of each frequency and it's swr, such as 14.250 = 1.4:1, 14.300
>1.3:1 etc.   Even check  in the portion of the cw band you can use.  This
>info can help in the future to figure out problems that may arise.
>
>Also knowing the swr curve of the antenna across the whole band will help
>you to know if you should shorten or lengthen the antenna if tuning is
>needed.
>
>73, Steve KW3A
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Gery Gaubert" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2007 1:01 AM
>Subject: good to go
>
>
> > Well we got the dipole up today.  Swr is 1.4/1 with total 100 watts.
> > Forward power is 99 and reflective is 6.  I worked a station in
> > northwest Arkansas he gave me a report of 5 9 and he sounded as though
> > he was sitting right beside me.  I know northwest Arkansas isn't all
> > that far but I was so excited to be able to get on that I forgot to log
> > his info which I regret now because afterall he was my first contact on
> > hf.  We didn't get the vertical up today, weather didn't cooperate and
> > night time came.  While the night time didn't bother me at all my
> > brother and my dad said they needed to see.  I will need about a 50 foot
> > length of coax to get the vertical up and my son and I can handle that
> > during the week.  Thanks to all who patiently took the time to work with
> > me on this, I can't thank you enough.  Maybe some day I can help others.
> > It really is neat once it all works.  I may try to tune the dipole some
> > more to see if I can get the swr lower but for now I will sit back and
> > enjoy it.  Also, my new general class appeared in the data base
> > Gery Gaubert
> > St. Charles Sheriff's Office Helpdesk Coordinator
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
>--
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>12:19 PM

Louis Kim Kline
A.R.S. K2LKK
Home e-mail:  [log in to unmask]
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Work Telephone:  (585) 697-5753