[Elecraft] High SWR problem

Sun Aug 17 15:42:00 2003

Edward there are no stupid questions, just stupid answers.  So I'll do
the stupid answer.  Where do you have your SWR/Power meter...is it
between the rig and the tuner or between the tuner and the antenna.  I
hope between the rig and the tuner, because the tuner becomes part of
the resonant circuit....a meter after the tuner will always read the
antenna not the tuned circuit you are creating.

If you have it properly setup, on what bands are you trying to tune up
on and I take it you mean that your running a 20 meter long wire
(ie...in English units a little more than 60 some feet...correct???

Gregg R. Lengling, W9DHI

Politics is the art of appearing candid and completely open, while
concealing as much as possible.   -States: The Bene Gesserit View

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Edward Kenworthy
Sent: Sunday, August 17, 2003 2:29 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: [Elecraft] High SWR problem

I'm a newbie, so please feel free to state the obvious :-)

I've installed a 20m long-wire - on the basis that it was an easy way to
get
on the air. Problem is, I simply cannot reduce my SWR below "infinity"
:-(

I'm using a manual ATU and following the instructions I started at the
suggested settings then adjust the transmitter and antenna knobs (I
assume
these are capacitances) with a fixed, recommended, inductance. But the
SWR
doesn't budge

My house is a single storey and the longwire is attached at one end to
the
base bottom of the pole on which my VHF/UHF vertical is sited - so the
long-wire is about 8' above the ground. It runs for about 5m near one
side
of the house (it's an L-shaped house) and by near I mean 1 foot or so
away,
and the far end is attached to a branch of an oak tree. Both ends are
insulated and attached using some kevlar cord.

My RF earth is a 4' copper rod wired to my ATU and transmitter using
*braided* tinned copper wire.

The ATU manual says, in essence, my RF earth is crap. 1 rod and using
braided is bad idea it says. OK fair enough, but isn't the point of a
long
wire that it's easy - if I have to install an ultra-efficient earth
system
with multiple rods etc then that rather defeats the point.

So, anyone have any suggestions ? Is it the location of the long wire
(I'm
wondering if running it near the house is the problem) or is it my rf
earth
?

If the latter - then is the long-wire a waste of time and should I just
go
for a dipole (I believe I don't need an RF earth for a dipole - is that
right ?

HELP!

Edward

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