[[Antennas] Suggestions Please]

[George, W5YR]

I would get rid of the 4:1 balun first thing, Kevin. It is only making bad
conditions worse. Use a 1:1 balun - the W2DU style with beads on coax is
very effective. I use three of them to transition from ladder lines to
coaxes into the shack.

Second thing you can try if that doesn't solve the problem is to change the
feedline length a bit. You can change either the coax or the ladderline
length, whichever is most convenient. It probably will take only a few feet
more line to improve matters. But, I think that the balun is the primary
culprit here.

What probably is happening is that you have an impedance at the sending end
of the coax that the tuner is unable to handle; i.e., a large voltage at
the end of the line due to a high impedance there. Your 4:1 balun is just
making the problem 4 times worse than a 1:1 balun. 

I have used the same antenna as yours but with a 1:1 balun and had no
problems on any band using the MFJ 989C tuner. But at a maximum of 100
watts . . .

72/73, George W5YR - the Yellow Rose of Texas   QRP-L 1373 NETXQRP 6       
Fairview, TX 30 mi NE of Dallas in Collin county EM13qe SOC 262 COG 8  
Amateur Radio W5YR, in the 56th year and it just keeps getting better!
Icom IC-756PRO #02121  Kachina #91900556  IC-765 #02437

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Michael Goins wrote:
> 
> you are arcing because of some unknown impedence that the tuner doesn't like
> on 160 (and 80 sometimes). Adding in the coils should hel, as would adding
> some length. YOu are in a sort of "best guess" position, so cut and try. I'm
> sure you'll find a length that the tuner likes.
> mike
> wb5yjx