[Elecraft] longwire & the auto tuner

[Rolf Moberg, OH6KXL]

Michael Babineau wrote:
> Try about 87 feet (26.5 meters) of wire. This is a good length to cover 
> most of the HF bands  as it is not near a multiple of a 1/2 wave on any of 
> the bands

I installed 26.5 meters end fed wire today. 13 radials are buried about 
2 to 5 centimeters below the ground. Their lengts are between 10 and 30 
meters. Feed end of the antenna is about 3 meters from ground. The other 
end is about 8 meters. First impressions with newly built K2 with SGC 
231 coupler.

80m: performance OK for local work
40m: Europeans heard. OK
30m: Europeans. OK.
20m: band dead or antenna performance very poor due to low height
17m: Europeans. OK. band not open
15m: K2 is giving _only_ 4 or 5 watts output!
12m: K2 is giving _only_ 4 or 5 watts output AND when pressing TUNE K2
      will switch immediately to receive mode.

K2 gives 10W or more in 15m and 12m when driving to dummy load. Is this 
phenomenon in 12m normal? (switching to receive mode)

20m is SO quiet that S meter is almost constantly showing nothing.

By the way, do you have dealers in USA who are selling baluns for dipole 
antennas which are supplied with N connectors? I cannot find them from 
Finland. If you know, please let me know the dealer, privately.

Rolf Moberg
oh6kxl