[30m] My DK3 Screwdriver Antenna setup

[Jason Hsu, AA0II]

The upper whip is the 102-inch whip from Hustler.  The Quick Disconnect
is the Hustler QD-2.  The balun between the coax and antenna is a 1:1
Array Solutions balun.  Two #12 wires terminated in ring terminals
connect the balun to the antenna.  (Yes, I've checked and double-checked
to make sure they are connected properly.)

The mount is a wood +-shaped platform with the 1-inch stud attached to
the middle.  The DK3 unit rests on the stud and platform.

The ground connection consists of:
1.  #12 wire attached to one of the bottom (ground) screws of the
antenna with a ring terminal.  The other side of this wire (just a few
inches long) is attached to small pre-tinned copper ribbon.  This ribbon
is attached to a strip of aluminum foil attic insulation with aluminum
foil duct tape.  For good measure, I used aluminum foil and aluminum
foil duct tape to join the two sides of the foil insulation.  The foil
attic insulation strip is attached to a much larger sheet of aluminum
foil attic insulation with aluminum foil duct tape.  This is a brand new
installation - I previously used copper wire attached to a strip of
aluminum foil attic insulation and thought that the problem was
corrosion.  But I didn't see any corrosion in the old ground wire, and
replacing it didn't fix my problem.
2.  I have two sheets (several feet long) of foil attic insulation under
the antenna and mount.  The antenna ground wire and the radials are
attached.  I thought that a dirty ground plane was the problem, so I
just replaced these foil sheets.  But that hasn't solved the problem.
3.  The 16 radials consist of buried aluminum wire, which I installed
this spring.  These wires are attached to strips of aluminum foil attic
insulation, and the same side of these strips is attached to the larger
foil sheets.  I now use aluminum foil duct tape in addition to the
water-filled plastic jugs I was previously using to join the radials to
the foil insulation.  But this hasn't solved the problem.

I also thought that the fingerstock inside the DK3 might be a problem.
The golden glint of the fingerstock inside tells me that it's still
there.  (I did have to take apart the antenna once before to replace the
motor.)  But I'd rather not take the antenna part again unless it seems
likely that the problem is inside the DK3 and not outside.

Jason Hsu, AA0II