Rick,
I'll say "amen" to everything John said. the fact that things get worse in
the wind would make me look hard at the antenna and it's coax connection. If
the antenna is ground mounted and the coax isn't flopping around in the
wind, more likely the antenna itself, but that coax connection should be
checked carefully with a meter if you have one.
Since you have an amp, you should have a dummy load. Disconnect the coax
from the antenna and connect to your dummy load. If you see the same
problem, the fault is between rig and dummy load. Check all connections
for tightness.
Most likely you will find the problem isn't there anymore and that leaves
the antenna as the culprit. Check all screws and clamps for corrosion
and tightness. Remove any corrosion and apply penatrox or similar to the
joint. Make sure all is tight and get back on the air.
73, Steve KW3A
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 11:47 AM
Subject: Re: SWR problem.
> yup, you have a bad connector on the coax, bad coax, or possibly
> something's
> loose or corroded on the antenna, but it's definitely something you need
> to
> check and I'd look where the coax connects to the antenna first. I don't
> know that antenna, but it very well may be the PL-259 at the antenna is
> there is one, it may need to be resoldered, it might even just be loose.
> Also I'd make sure everything on the antenna's nice and tight.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Rick" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 11:38 AM
> Subject: SWR problem.
>
>
>> Hi list.
>> I have an SWR problem.
>> Let me describe my set up first.
>> I am using A Kenwood TS-430 going into a Heathkit SB-220.
>> The SB-220 goes into my TW-1 Talking meter.
>> The meter goes into my MFJ versa tuner, and the tuner goes into A
>> Cushcraft
>> R7.
>> I can Tune the SWR down to 1.0 to 1, wait 5 minutes and it's up to 2.9 to
>> 1.
>> Wait another 5 minutes and it's down to something like 1.4 to 1.
>> All with out changing anything.
>> Could it be bad coax?
>> It really gets bad when it gets windy.
>> Thanks in advance for any help.
>
|
