Mike:

Thanks for another set of good ideas and suggestions.

Now, I think I know what I'm going to be doing this week-end!!!  (smile)

In answer to your question, the extra 100 feet of RG8X coax is not connected 
to the Alpha Delta DXCC.

It is connected to my Carolina Windom, which, as I think you know, took a 
dump on me last week-end.  The windom, including the extra 100 feet of coax 
as a tuning stub for 160 is connected to a completely different antenna port 
on my MFJ feed through panel, and on my Tentech 238A manual tuner.

73 from Tom Behler:   KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Duke, K5XU" <[log in to unmask]>
To: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2011 8:40 PM
Subject: Your RF Problem


Tom, with a counterpoise, you just leave the other end of the wire
unattached to anything, other than maybe tied up with string somewhere
to keep it out of the way.

If the Rig Runner does not have a separate earth ground connection,
just fasten a quarter wave counterpoise for 20 meters onto one of the
negative terminals of the box. It can even be a terminal that is
already in use. In fact, you might want to go ahead and stick a
counterpoise on the negative terminal of the TS480 right at the Rig
Runner.

Same thing goes for the ground terminal of an external tuner if you
are using one. And, don't forget to put one on the ground terminal of
the 811H. If it happens to not be grounded well for some reason, that
counterpoise will give its rf somewhere to go other than back down the
shield of your patch cables and control cables.

That reminds me, give the amplifier keying and A L C cables and your
foot switch the rf choke treatment as well.

While writing this, I thought of one other question.

Is that extra 100 feet of coax that you were using on 160 also in the
line between the TS480 and the DXCC?

If it is, try removing it. I'd almost bet doing so will fix the
problem.

I have encountered a very few situations like the one described by
John Miller, where removing the counterpoises made things better. But,
for me at least, those situations are by far the exception. When I was
living in second floor apartments, any antenna or radio I had would
play noticeably better with a counterpoise.

When you start messing around with grounds and RF, you soon understand
the expression "mad scientist."
Sometimes, it's like searching for water with a willow stick.





Mike Duke, K5XU
American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs