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Subject:
From:
Steve Forst <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
For blind ham radio operators <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Fri, 26 Jun 2015 09:34:29 -0400
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (145 lines)
Tom,

Just press the "5" key on the number pad to cycle through the meter 
settings: power, swr, alc.   Maybe not in that order, but it should be 
easy for her to figure out.

Maybe adding more coax  would make the tuner happy, but  more coax means 
less power getting to the antenna.    Probably not a big deal, but you 
also run the risk of gaining one band and losing another.

Nice you could work into Europe last night on 40.

Good luck, Steve KW3A

On 6/25/2015 10:26 PM, Tom Behler wrote:
> Steve:
>
> In the rush to get out here today, I forgot to grab my TW1, so don't know
> for sure about SWR.
>
> What I do know is that the antenna does not tune across the 20-meter band
> via the TS480 internal auto tuner.
>
> I think the auto-tuner in the  TS480 is a bit more unforgiving than the one
> in the TS590, but memory tells me that the threshhold for the TS480 tuner is
> approximately 3 to 1.
>
> If I can figure out how to do it, I may have my XYL look at the visual SWR
> meter in the TS480 on 20 meters within the next day or so.
>
> If  not, 20 meters will be off limits for me, at least for Field Day.
>
> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Steve Forst
> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2015 10:03 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Interesting Problem With Alpha Delta DXCC Antenna Out Here At
> The RV Camp Site
>
> Tom,
>
> Have you checked SWR at the bottom, top, and middle of the band?
>
>
> I know it took a long time  to get the antenna up.  Did you install it in
> such a way that it can be lowered for adjustment if need be?
>
> 73, Steve  KW3A
> On 6/25/2015 9:40 PM, John Miller wrote:
>>    I'd bet it's the coil of extra coax. Any time I ever dealt with a
>> coil of extra coax, it's caused some sort of similar problem unless
>> it's the 10 turns at the feed point to the antenna some antennas like.
>> Other than that, I've seen more than one coil of extra coax, and not
>> once has it ever led to anything good..
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2015 9:16 PM
>> Subject: Interesting Problem With Alpha Delta DXCC Antenna Out Here At
>> The RV Camp Site
>>
>>
>>>                 Hello, again, all.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Well, my Alpha Delta DX CC antenna is  finally up out here at the RV
>>> camp site.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> It is up a good 30 feet in the trees, with the  center and ends being
>>> at about the same height.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I have done some preliminary testing of the antenna, and all looks
>>> good, with one exception.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Specifically, the antenna tunes with the TS480 internal auto-tuner
>>> across the 10, 15, and 40-meter bands.  It even tunes across much of
>>> 80 meters, from about 3600 to about 3900 KHZ.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> However, I cannot get it to tune at all on 20 meters, once again,
>>> using the
>>> TS480 internal auto tuner.  I even put my MFJ auto-tuner extender in
>>> line, with no luck.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This is a bit disappointing to me, since 20 meters is one of my
>>> favorite field day operating bands.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> As I am scratching my head here to try to determine what might be
>>> going on, I have two theories.  First, it has to be understood that I
>>> am limited to keeping the antenna within my lot space, and have to
>>> work with the available trees.  This means that the legs of the
>>> antenna are probably only about at a 60-degree or so angle from the
>>> center.  In other words, the antenna is kind of like a folded  dipole
>>> in some ways.  I wonder if this could be de-tuning the antenna on 20,
>>> although I'm not sure why it also would not bbe de-tuning it on the
>>> other bands I mentioned.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> My second theory has to do with my coax feed line.  It turns out that
>>> I probably have about 40 extra feet of coax that I have coiled up
>>> underneath my station operating area.  I wonder too if this might
>>> have something to do with the strange 20-meter behavior.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Obviously, I'm happy that the antenna is usable on 10, 15, 40, and
>>> 80, so I'm sure I'll have a good Field Day exxperience.  But, the
>>> 20-meter problem does puzzle me.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Does anyone have any thoughts, or suggestions that I might try to get
>>> things working on 20 meters?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>

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