[Elecraft] KX3 antenna question: Using 'remote' groundplane andrandom wire

[Mike WA8BXN]

Hi Andrew, 
 
The best solution is to put a tuner in the trailer that automatically tunes
when it senses RF and a high SWR. Several manufacturers make such tuners.
Connecting the random wire to 100 feet of coax and then having the tuner in
your rig do the tuning will result in high SWR in the coax and a lot of loss
 
 
It would be better if you can't add a remote tuner to not use the trailer as
a ground and run your random wire into the shack and provide the best ground
system you can there. 
 
BTW, this is probably a question that will be of interest to many others, so
I am posting to the reflector. 
73 - Mike WA8BXN 
 
 
 
 
-------Original Message------- 
 
From: Andrew Moore 
Date: 8/26/2012 8:37:43 PM 
To: Elecraft 
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 antenna question: Using 'remote' groundplane
andrandom wire 
 
Forgive me for what may be a silly question, but I've looked through the 
ARRL handbook, done the Google searches, etc. And haven't found a solution. 
 
At the risk of starting a thread that may be more suitable for an antenna 
Forum, I'm asking the Elecraft list in hopes that the KX3, KX1 and K1 users 
May have had experience here. 
 
I've got two main operating positions: One in an aluminum-skinned trailer 
Which goes camping, and one in my shack with said trailer parked in the 
Yard. 
 
For the camping scenario, for ease of use and simplicity, the KX3 sits 
Inside the trailer with its built-in antenna tuner's ground connected to 
The shell of the trailer, and the hot side going to the random-length wire 
Tossed into the trees. Works great. 
 
For when I'm home in the shack, I'd like to take advantage of the trailer's 
Metal shell as a ground plane or counterpoise for a random-length wire, 
Which could be either the same one from the trailer, or a second one in the 
Trees. 
 
However, most of the random-length antenna solutions I've seen have 
Involved having the ground plane (or counterpoise) located at the tuner 
Itself, which in the case of the KX3 means at the KX3 itself, in the shack, 
About 100 feet from the trailer. 
 
Essentially what I want to do is to run the signal from the shack out to 
The trailer and have the radiator and ground plane "start" (and split off) 
There. However, I'll definitely need the tuner in this scenario, so will 
Having the tuner be located 100 feet before the split throw it all off, or 
Introduce imbalances along, say, a coax run from the shack to the trailer? 
 
I get the sense this may be a very basic question but I admit I'm no 
Antenna expert so I'm asking the gurus. 
 
To keep the noise level down, direct replies may be best, and I'll be glad 
To summarize to the group if there's interest. 
 
Thanks, 
--Andrew, NV1B 
Maineware.net