Sometimes, not having ideal conditions means that things don't work the way
we wish they would, and sometimes not having ideal conditions means that
things work when they shouldn't.
-----Original Message-----
From: Steve Dresser
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2014 10:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: the Effect of Non-symmetrical Radials on Radiation Patterns
A long time ago, I read somewhere that anything within 1000 feet of an =
antenna will change its characteristics. After that, I decided not to =
worry too much about all the theory. Obviously, we should do the best =
we can, but as others have pointed out, if you spend all your time =
agonizing over getting it right, you'll never get on the air. Most of =
us (myself included) never come close to having the ideal antenna =
situation.
Steve
----- Original Message -----=20
From: "John Miller" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, September 12, 2014 10:51
Subject: Re: the Effect of Non-symmetrical Radials on Radiation Patterns
> You're not going to notice it all that much if the radials aren't the =
same=20
> all the way around, differences in direction will be very slight at =
best. I=20
> think I notice my metal house in the way more than I do the fact that =
I have=20
> different length radials.
> ----- Original Message -----=20
> From: "Richard B McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, September 12, 2014 9:40 AM
> Subject: Re: the Effect of Non-symmetrical Radials on Radiation =
Patterns
>=20
>=20
>> Hi Perry!
>>
>> Thanks for your below. Yeah, I am a little worried about radial =
symmetry.
>> My radial pattern will be a bit more bowtie in shape rather than a =
circle.
>> Regrettably, space limitations cause this : ( Do you have any ideas =
on=20
>> how
>> to go about addressing that so as to improve the effective radiation
>> (transmition?) pattern?
>>
>> 73,
>> Richard KK6MRH
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>
>> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2014 9:26 PM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: RE: [KenwoodTS-2000] TS-2000 Internal Antenna Tuner Basics & =
the
>> Effect of Radials on SWR
>>
>>
>>
>> The radials should be about a quarter wavelength on each band of =
interest.
>> You can actually get by with shorter lengths as the "ground" will =
tend to
>> shorten the physical length needed for an electrical quarter =
wavelength.
>> Most studies show that you need a minimum of 16 radials for each band =
is
>> needed for best performance. SWR is just one measurement of the =
antenna's
>> efficiency. Radiation resistance is the other and is highly dependent =
on=20
>> the
>> radial field.
>> I'd scrap the metal mesh as steel isn't the best conductor and will =
be a
>> pain to lay. Also shielded wire is a waste. Just use 12 gauge THHN =
(your
>> electrician friend should be able to get that) insulated copper wire.
>> Actually anything bigger than 20 gauge or so is OK. You can use an
>> electrical panel grounding tie strip to connect all the radials to =
the
>> antenna's grounded base. The radial can just be laid on the ground =
and
>> fastened down with "weed stop" fabric "staples" that look like =
oversized
>> hair pins. You can even make your own from stiff wire. In a few =
weeks, the
>> grass will have covered the wires.
>> Any none symmetry of the radial field will tend to skew the antenna's
>> pattern in the direction of the best radial coverage.
>>
>> Perry K4PWO
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [log in to unmask]
>> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>>
>> Sent: Thursday, September 11, 2014 9:43 AM
>> To: Richard B McDonald
>> Subject: [KenwoodTS-2000] TS-2000 Internal Antenna Tuner Basics & the =
>> Effect
>> of Radials on SWR
>>
>> 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=20
>> antenna
>> tuner. I seem to always get a "SWR" CW squawk : ( I *think* I should =
get=20
>> 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=20
>> 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=20
>> line
>> has been a fair amount of work. My radials will be the final step; =
and=20
>> that
>> should happen within a few days. The radial system *will be* the=20
>> following:
>>
>> * 10'X4'W 19 gauge galvanized steel industrial mesh, centered at the =
base=20
>> 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=20
>> (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=20
>> I
>> were to ask her to read it for me.
>>
>> All of the foregoing are, I suppose, a result of my inexperience and=20
>> normal
>> learning curve growing pains attendant with being brand new to all =
this :=20
>> (
>> 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
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>> Posted by: "Richard B McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Yahoo Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>> __._,_.___
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>>
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>> ________________________________
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>
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