[Elecraft] KX3 SWR change during a SOTA

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike,

Do you have a good return path for the RF from the antenna?  If not, 
then yes, your body and its coupling to earth will have an effect on the 
tuning that will vary with power level.  A good counterpoise should cure it.
If that is not your problem source, then look for a connection problem 
in your antenna system - a loose connector can cause that behavior - OK 
at low power but not good when the power increases.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 12/6/2013 2:02 PM, Mike Herr wrote:
> On a SOTA in Death Valley I noticed something strange. Using a buddistick,
> I would touch up the SWR using the KX3 internal tuner. 1:1, ok, now
> transmit. The SWR would jump up. It would take a couple of cycles to get it
> to calm down again. Now thinking about it, When I first pressed the ATU
> tune, I was not holding the rig, it was sitting on the ground. When I
> started using the rig I had the head phones on and the paddle on my leg or
> the mic in my hand. Likely those two things were affecting my "ground"
> Anyone else see this? Now I need to go back out and experiment with it.;)
>