Thanks,John.

The closest metal to my ladder line is the support mast for my DXCC and my
VHF/UHF  mobile antennas.

But it is really quite a distance from that mast--probably a good ten to 15
feet.

I'll have someone do a visual check on that just to be sure.

Tom Behler: KB8TYJ


-----Original Message-----
From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
On Behalf Of John Miller
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 11:42 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Question About Cobra Ultralite Senior Antenna

When I had mine, I found the ladder line needs to be in figure 8's in
different directions, not loops together or anything like that. I also found
that 10 to 15 feet off the ladder line had no effect on it at all. In fact,
when I got mine, they came with 100 feet of ladder line. They now come with
70 feet and I think I went all the way back to that 70 feet on mine and
actually found some improvement. Also ladder line can't be near anything
metal. Honestly though I never really had any issue with mine and miss it a
lot but I don't have 140 feet to string it where I live now even corner to
corner of the lot. I tried. I loved that antenna and if I move where I have
some land again, believe me, I'll buy another one. I sold that one to
someone who really wanted it because I don't see a move any time soon unless
I get a job in another part of the country which I hope to since around here
equal opportunity employment means nothing.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Behler
Sent: Monday, August 17, 2015 10:13 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Question About Cobra Ultralite Senior Antenna

Hello, everyone.



I guess this question is best directed to those who are familiar with the
Cobra Ultralite Senior antenna made by K1JEC, but I'll take thoughts from
anyone who is interested in replying.



Several years ago, I purchased a Cobra Ultralite Senior antenna from K1JEC,
or Granite State Antenna in New Hampshire.  My main reason for making the
purchase was to have operating capability on 80 and 160 meters.  The antenna
itself is up about 35 to 40 feet, and is strung between trees on my
property, and on a neighbor's property.



The antenna works well on 80 meters, and much of 160 meters, when tuned with
my MFJ 998 auto-tuner.



However, I have never been able to get it to tune on 40 meters.  In
addition, the tuning and performance are questionable at best on 20, 15, and
10 meters.  In fact, one problem I have noticed recently is that when tuning
it on 20 meters, using my MFJ998 auto-tuner and my ALS600, I actually get RF
coming through the PTT switch on my Heil gold line mic.  This, of course, is
not good.



All of this is prompting me to try to correct the situation.



Several months ago, I contacted Joe at Granite State Antenna in New
Hampshire, and he suggested that I make sure the excess ladder line is
coiled in several loops, and is off the ground. I just double-checked this,
and it is what we did when we installed the antenna.



A ham friend of mine has suggested that I cut off the excess ladderline, and
see if that helps.



I am reluctant to do this, because the instructions say not to do so, and it
is one of those steps that will be difficult to reverse.



I am thinking of purchasing some RF chokes to help with the issue, bbut I
still think there is a basic problem with my instalation.



Fortunately, my Alpha Delta DXCC tunes well on40 through 10 meters, but it
would be nice if I could get the Cobra to do the same.



Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.



Tom Behler: KB8TYJ