with no radials, you only have half an antenna. Half an antenna is just not
going to work receive or transmit very well.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard B McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2014 12:28 PM
Subject: Re: TS-2000 Internal Antenna Tuner Basics & the Effect of Radials
on SWR
> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
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