[Elecraft] An Antenna Problem I Can't Figure Out

[Don Wilhelm]

Bill,


What is the results if you connect the antenna to the K3 (without the 
KPA500).
Even though it may show a DC short, that may be only at the DC 
measurement.  At RF, what is the impedance.  An antenna analyzer 
measurement may be helpful in determining the actual impedance at frequency.

Bottom line - if the antenna analyzer indicates something near 50 ohms 
resistive, either the K3 or the KPA500 should operate into it with no 
problem.

Look for coax connections that are not tight - finger tight is not good 
enough for UHF connectors.  What will be OK at low power levels may not 
be OK when the power is increased to 100 or 500 watts.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 8/27/2011 9:34 PM, Bill Drobnes wrote:
> I am trying to temporarily use a 20 m Hamstick on my
> Outbacker  tripod.  The base I am using checks out fine with
> nothing attached. In other words, the top where the antenna screws in shorts
> with the pin on the UHF connector on the bottom of the base and is isolated
> from the tripod. When I connect a non-terminated coax to the base connector
> everything continues to check out as above. However, as soon as I connect the
> other end of the coax to ANT 1 of the K3, everything is shorted together (the
> top where the antenna screws in shorts with the tripod) and the KPA500 shows
> infinite SWR. The Hamstick folks couldn’t figure it out and HRO here in Phoenix
> was kind enough to exchange the Hamstick for another, with no effect. Any ideas
> and/or explanations? Thanks and 73, Bill N4IEZ / F4WAE
>