OK, I need both of these DXCC like almost everybody else. I just hope my antenna problem does not pop up again at the wrong time. Keep reading.
So, I had an anomaly with my antenna a couple mornings ago. I fired everything up and my SWR was maxed out on the Mosley (20m-10m). The separate m2 6m beam and 5-EFHW's were all fine, so that eliminated the switcher.
Used my Rig Expert to check cables, auto antenna switcher and all. Everything checked out EXCEPT for the coax going from the switcher up the tower to the antenna, its SWR was off scale. Went out and looked things over from the ground and saw nothing suspicious. Came back in and rotated the antenna for a better look, took zoomed in pictures with my Nikon and everything looked good for a 10+ year old installation. Just one end of coax hold down tape flapping in the breeze, but it's been doing that since almost the original installation in 2012.
I did another check of the coax to antenna coax run and it was back to normal, just by rotating the antenna. Hit the power to it and the SWR was as expected. Now, I'm really frustrated as I may have a break in the rotating loop part of the cable as it's a single piece of RG-8 with no splices or mid connectors between shack and antenna. The other spot might be the crimped/soldered ring terminals on the coax to antenna points might be loose or corroded. But why would rotating the antenna change their contact to the antenna? Everything in that area is taped to the boom.
I am getting things together to make an RG-213 section from just below the rotor where it will connect to a home run LMR-400 from a pair of unused loop antennae down to the shack. From there it's just a short run up the mast to the Mosley boom, then through a big choke coil and out to the connection points. I will need a bucket truck or man lift in the near future to make this change out. BTW, has anyone got about 25' of new (or like new) RG-213 hanging around they would be willing to part with?
For the time being, all is back to normal, but I know I'm on borrowed time. I'm open to any other ideas from the brain trust on here.
73's
George - WB5JJJ
HoIP - 100105
HH - 4969