Tom,

You can probably use the antenna as long as you have a way to get the SWR 
down to something tolerable.  You may or may not get out well, and you run 
the risk of RF getting back into the shack, especially at higher power, but 
you won't know any of that until you try.  I'd start out by operating the 
radio without an amplifier, and if that works well, applying some power to 
see what happens.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 22:20
Subject: Re: Strange Power Readings With LDG TW1


>    So, Steve, in your opinion, is it safe to use the antenna, even though
> it's obviously not very efficient on the higher part of 75 meters?
>
> Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Steve Dresser" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 10:07 PM
> Subject: Re: Strange Power Readings With LDG TW1
>
>
>> Tom,
>>
>> Those readings are meaningless because the auto-tuner is engaged. 
>> They're
>> also meaningless because of the high SWR.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 28, 2011 20:27
>> Subject: Strange Power Readings With LDG TW1
>>
>>
>>> Hi, folks.
>>>
>>> Maybe I ought to go back to basic antennas 101 class, but I just found
>>> out
>>> something with my Carolina Windom 160 compact that doesn't quite make
>>> sense
>>> to me.
>>>
>>> I am testing out the antenna to see if water got back into it after the
>>> week
>>> of rain we have had here, and I discovered some strange power readings
>>> with
>>> my LDG TW1 talking watt meter.
>>>
>>> Right now, my Carolina Windom, such as it is, seems to be resonant on 
>>> the
>>> lower end of 80 meters--right around 3.600 MHZ.
>>>
>>> As expected, then, when I go to the upper phone part of the band, say
>>> around
>>> 3.976 MHZ, my sWR rises dramatically to a blistering 6.0 to 1.
>>> (ouch!!!!!!)
>>>
>>>
>>> Interestingly, though, the auto tuner in the TS590 tunes the antenna,
>>> which
>>> was a bit of a surprise to me.
>>>
>>> I then took some  forward and reflected power readings with my TW1, and
>>> was
>>> told that the forward power was 102 watts, while my reflected power was
>>> 52
>>> watts.
>>>
>>> Again, this is with the auto-tuner engaged.
>>>
>>> Can someone tell me what is going on here?
>>>
>>> To be honest, I'm still a bit hesitant to use the Carolina Windom, given
>>> the
>>> water problems I have had of late.
>>>
>>> Would this antenna be safe to use on the top part of 80 meters, since 
>>> the
>>> auto-tuner clearly tunes it, or am I just kidding myself here.
>>>
>>> And, could I safely use this antenna on the upper part of 75 meters with
>>> my
>>> Tentech 238A manual tuner and Ameritron
>>> AL811H amplifier?
>>>
>>> I guess I'm now a bit gun shy.
>>>
>>> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>>>
>>
>