[Elecraft] Using "Buddi Pole" Deluxe Antenna with K3

[Tom W8JI]

Antennas are a magical gray world of what makes everyone 
happy, but they all work a certain scientific way that we 
cannot change.

The Buddipole, being a shortened and "offset feed" antenna, 
is going to have a whole lot of feedline radiation and 
common mode back to the rig. It would take extraordinary 
efforts to stop the common mode. This does not mean we would 
always NOTICE the common mode, it just means it would be 
there. Many times this common mode is how very small 
antennas get most of their radiation.

Some people will love them, some will hate them, mostly 
because of the things we don't even realize are affecting 
the performance.

The proper way to tune one is to tune the antenna for lowest 
SWR with the tuner off at the desired frequency, and then 
use the tuner for touch-up only.


73 Tom