[Antennas] antenna problem solving question

bill bill at w9ol.com
Thu May 8 09:27:55 EDT 2014


Before I tear up the coax to my antenna, maybe someone has a clue what 
went wrong here.

Suddenly, I no longer have resonance on any part of my 10, 12, 15, 17, 
20 Sommer yagi.
It has been working perfectly since installed.
Last qso on this antenna was May 6 which was a barefoot JT9 qso with 
Europe. No problem experienced.

But yesterday...May 7th, I had a surprise.
High swr on all bands, which trips my rig safety setting.
Select the dummy load as the antenna and it displays a perfect match.
I can't find my MFJ antenna analyzer. LOL, somewhere in the mess of a 
shack. But I will. LOL

To me, this sounds like the coax has failed or the antenna connector has 
failed.

my 80-40 wire dipole
my 30 meter dipole
even my 160 L
all work, (as well as expected)
but each of those has a separate coax.

coax is relatively new, maybe 4 years old with factory installed 
connectors from the amateur coax vendor here in Illinois.
(forget the rg8 similar number at this moment)

No big winds or lightning in the recent past.

So where should I start looking? At the antenna's coax connection?? 
Which is my first 'usual suspect'?

please and thank you for you help in advance.

-- 

A pessimist is never disappointed.
---------------------------
W9OL-Bill H. in Chicagoland



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