Hey Steve!
I am using the 4:1 balun that came with the antenna. Indeed, MFJ recommends
43' radials along with additional random length radials.
So, is it "normal" that no match can be made absent radials? I am aware of
radials' effect on radiation patterns, but unsure of their effect on SWR;
and what exactly (if any) difference there is between these two concepts.
Additionally, aside from radiation patterns and SWR attributes, what is the
effect of radials on *reception* functionality?
73,
Richard KK6MRH
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve Forst
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2014 9:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: TS-2000 Internal Antenna Tuner Basics & the Effect of Radials
on SWR
Well now you've opened up a can of worms. This thing has to have radials,
the radials are the second half of the antenna.
I think the "magic" number of 43 feet is that it is 5/8 wave length on
20 meters.
What is between the feedline and antenna? Different mfgr's suggest
different types of baluns or what not..
73, SteveKW3A
On 9/11/2014 10:42 AM, Richard B McDonald wrote:
> Hi Steve! Your question (below) about my radial system leads me to
> ask everyone the following question: Is SWR affected by radials?
> Presently, I seem to have some trouble successfully using the
> TS-2000's internal antenna tuner. I seem to always get a "SWR" CW
> squawk : ( I *think* I should get an "A" CW squawk when the tuning
> was successful. Isn't that right? The following is a bit more background.
>
> Right now, *no* radials are laid-in. I have purchased all the
> materials for my radial system and made a plan, but I have not yet had
> time with my electrician friend (sighted) to lay it in. So far, just
> getting up this 43 foot 160M - 6M vertical and laying in the ~75 feet
> LMR-400 coaxial feed line has been a fair amount of work. My radials
> will be the final step; and that should happen within a few days. The
radial system *will be* the following:
>
> * 10'X4'W 19 gauge galvanized steel industrial mesh, centered at the
> base of the antenna
> * 4 ~43' 14 gauge shielded copper wires
> * About 8 ~7' random length radials like the last item
> * I may also connect to my neighbor's adjacent chain link fence ; )
>
> For now, I cannot even tell you what, exactly, my SWR is. My wife
> (sighted) cannot understand how to read the SWR meter (girls ; )). I
> will need a man to explain it to her; so she might then be able to
> tell me what it says if I were to ask her to read it for me.
>
> All of the foregoing are, I suppose, a result of my inexperience and
> normal learning curve growing pains attendant with being brand new to
> all this : ( So, all the advice I can get is greatly appreciated.
>
> 73,
> Richard KK6MRH
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 7:15 AM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: TS-2000 Internal Antenna Tuner & Mode Basics on 6M
>
> Richard,
>
> Just curious. What kind of radial system were you able to put under
> the vertical?
>
> 73, Steve KW3A
>
> On 9/10/2014 9:54 AM, Richard B McDonald wrote:
>> Hi Steve!
>>
>> Thanks so much for your below. This is very helpful. I *totally*
>> will soon upgrade to "General." The contest you mention below will
>> allow me to trial-and-error my way around my HF antenna. I will
>> report
> back about it.
>>
>> 73,
>> Richard KK6MRH
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: For blind ham radio operators
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 10, 2014 4:30 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: TS-2000 Internal Antenna Tuner & Mode Basics on 6M
>>
>> Richard,
>>
>> I'm not much of a 6 meter guy, although my new antenna will work on 6.
>> For what it's worth there is a VHF contest this weekend, starting at
>> 1800 UTC Saturday. I don't think you work CW, so most of the "good"
>> stuff will be USB with the main calling frequency at 50.125. Most of
>> the folks will be using horizontal antennas, but there is no reason you
>> can't make some contacts with your antenna. The other station will
>> just want your 4 digit grid square.
>>
>>
>> You may also hear 2 meter USB around 144.200 for this contest.
>>
>> As time goes on, you will learn what modes are used where and when
>> and so be in the proper mode at the proper place.
>>
>>
>> How is the antenna working? Since you do have a tech license, there
>> are places in the HF band where you can check it out and see how it
> works.
>> Maybe prowling around the bands will entice you to upgrade.
>>
>> 73, Steve KW3A
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 9/8/2014 12:21 PM, Richard B McDonald wrote:
>>> Hi!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I just got my 6M - 160M 43 foot vertical antenna up, and am now
>>> ready to explore HF for my first time. I want to start with the 6M
>>> band; since I
>> am
>>> only a technician for now. I have a Kenwood TS-2000. My questions
>>> relate to 1) use of the internal antenna tuner and 2) what mode to
>>> be in while scanning through the band listening for activity.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> About the internal antenna tuner, I know "SWR" in CW sounds if no
>>> match
>> can
>>> be found, but what should I hear if the tuning was successful?
>>> Also, is tuning only necessary before transmitting but not for
>>> receiving (just listening)? Basically, what's the best way to
>>> employ the internal antenna tuner?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> About "scanning" what I mean here is manually dialing through the
>>> band -
>> not
>>> auto scanning of any sort. So, when doing this what mode (e.g., AM,
>>> FM, USB, LSB) should I be in to best hear some activity? Also, am I
>>> correct that once I hear something I can then switch among these
>>> modes so as to better tune-in the activity?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Many thanks! This is all new to me; so any tricks are greatly
>> appreciated.
>>> This is especially so for how best to use the internal antenna tuner!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Richard KK6MRH
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
|
