I chuckled a little over Steve's question only because the guys did forget
to mark which cable was for which antenna. So, Steve, that really wasn't a
stupid question. We checked both antennas out with the antenna analyzer, and
with it, I think we were able to determine which was which, but with the SWR
so high on both of them, it really is a legitimate question to ask. I think
I have determined which coax goes to which antenna, but as I sit here, I am
not 100% certain.
Now, regarding the VHF/UHF dual band vertical, the Jetstream, the Workman,
and the Tram are identical antennas, or at least, the model of the Jetstream
I have is identical to a model with the Workman and the Tram brand names on
them, and so, the problem Mike pointed out could very well be a problem I
have with my Jetstream. That is something we'll definitely check out.
Ron, K8HSY
-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of Steve Forst
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2014 9:42 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Huge disappointment!
I'll take my chances and ask a dumb question. Any possibility you mixed
up the 2 cables? Wrong antenna going to wrong radio?
73, Steve KW3A
On 7/11/2014 10:32 PM, John Miller wrote:
> I now wonder what was used to seal the coax at antenna ends, I hope it
> wasn't anything that might have had the wrong action.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Colin McDonald" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2014 9:59 PM
> Subject: Re: Huge disappointment!
>
>
>> yep, a standard dual band type antenna will show a short on an ohm
>> meter across the feed point/coax that is connected...
>> same with a balun.
>> I would have thought maybe the balun is bad on the 80 meter loop, but
>> because both coaxes are showing a short, I think it has to be
>> connecters or coax if it's old or has been seriously damaged during
>> installation.
>> A serious excersism is in order me thinks.
>>
>> 73
>> Colin, V A6BKX
>>
>> --------------------------------------------------
>> From: "Butch Bussen" <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, July 11, 2014 5:28 PM
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Subject: Re: Huge disappointment!
>>
>>> First thing to do is check coax with an ohm meter and see if you
>>> show a short. Some antennas do and I usually check this out before
>>> just so I know. You obviously have a short on the loop likely the
>>> coax. Who soldered those and did they check after soldering?
>>> Stupid question I know. Also, I am not sure if the dual band would
>>> show a short or not, but I'd check it. SLimple thing to try is redo
>>> the connector on the bottom end, easy to do and if you're lucky,
>>> that may be where the problem is. Good luck.
>>> 73
>>> Butch
>>> WA0VJR
>>> Node 3148
>>> Wallace, ks.
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, 11 Jul 2014, Dr. Ronald E. Milliman wrote:
>>>
>>>> I was so excited. Last night I told my wife, Palma, that I felt
>>>> like a kid on Christmas Eve in anticipation of finally getting the
>>>> guys over this morning to help me get my antennas up. Well, the
>>>> fellows from the local ham club came over early this morning, and
>>>> we got busy working on all the little details in preparation for
>>>> erecting my antennas, the Dual Band vertical for
>>>> 144 and 440 and the full-wave, 80 meter loop. We drilled holes in
>>>> the foundation and wall for my coax and ground wire, got the loop
>>>> attached to the pulleys and the vertical on top of the mast.
>>>> Finally, it was time to hoist up the mast and position it in the
>>>> wall bracket and secure the base.
>>>> Then, the time came to connect the coax fittings and check it out
>>>> with the antenna analyzer. Much to everyone's shocked and massive
>>>> disappointment, we got SWR readings of 25 to 1, and even 31 to 1,
>>>> which is as high as the meter would go. That is when the sick
>>>> feeling developed in my stomach. What greatly exacerbated the
>>>> situation is that we got almost equally high SWR readings on both
>>>> coaxial feedlines. Just to see what would happen, I connected the
>>>> loop to my TS-590, and tuned across 20 meters and could hear
>>>> nothing. I started unscrewing the coax fitting from my rig, and as
>>>> I did, the noise level in my TS-590 got really loud and then,
>>>> dropped back to very low. That is when I discovered that if I
>>>> completely unscrewed the outer shell ground side of the PL259 and
>>>> just kept the center conductor plugged into the antenna input jack,
>>>> that the noise level remained quite high, and as I tuned across the
>>>> band, I could hear several signals, still not what I would expect,
>>>> but I could hear signals. As soon as I screwed the outer ground
>>>> shield on the antenna jack, the radio went almost completely dead
>>>> again. Sounds like something is shorted somewhere, huh?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> To have one antenna system not work is one thing, but to have both
>>>> of them not work is almost beyond chance. So, the guys left, and I
>>>> still don't have any operational antennas. I'm not sure what we are
>>>> going to do, but I think we need to do two things: One is to
>>>> disconnect the coax from the ballun I have connected to the loop
>>>> and connect a dummy load to the coax and see what it shows on the
>>>> SWR meter, and second, connect the antenna analyzer directly up to
>>>> the ballun which is connected to my loop and see what it shows us.
>>>> Those steps will help us isolate the problem. As for the vertical,
>>>> I don't know what to do with that one because it is way up on the
>>>> top of the mast, and it was one hell of a job getting that mast
>>>> erected up and in place.
>>>> It
>>>> took five guys to do it, and it was all they could do to keep it
>>>> under control while they worked it up and in place.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> So, guys and gals, it will be a little longer before K8HSY is up
>>>> and operational on the ham bands.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> 73,
>>>>
>>>> Ron, K8HSY
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Dr. Ronald E. Milliman
>>>>
>>>> Retired Professor of Marketing
>>>>
>>>> President: A3 Business Solutions (a3businesssolutions.com)
>>>>
>>>> President: M&M Properties
>>>>
>>>> Chair: American Council of the Blind's PR Committee
>>>>
>>>> Chair: American Council of the Blind's MMS Committee
>>>>
>>>> President: South Central Kentucky Council of the Blind (SCKCB.ORG)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>
>
>
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