[Elecraft] 43 Ft Vertical and Elecraft Tuners

[Barry LaZar]

I know this isn't an answer to the basic premise of the raised question, 
but let me throw this out.

1. 43 ft. verticals that are ground mounted require a large, good ground 
system.
2. Depending on the band you are operating, the assumption of a high 
VSWR is correct.
3. High VSWRs on coax are a losing proposition.


I use an 18' elevated vertical with an elevated radial system and a 
tuner at the base of the vertical. The reasons I do this are:

1. Elevated radial systems need not be as extensive as ground based 
radial systems; I have 4 radials, two 9 footers and two 19 footers.
2. 18 ft. is as high as I could get and still have my radial system 
close to where I wanted it; the tree was too low.
3. A tuner at the base of the vertical allows me to run coax all the way 
with an VSWR less than 1.5:1 on all bands.

The question now is how does it play or compare. The answer is I don't 
have an absolute answer, but from what I see using WSPR at 1.5 Watts, it 
seems to play well. I only have only had the system up a few weeks and 
don't yet have enough experience with it to be more definitive. My gut 
tells me that this is a better overall system than expensive, commercial 
verticals. Almost everything is available from Home Depot except the 
tuner and a few insulators. I hope this has triggered some curiosity.

73,
Barry
K3NDM




On 9/2/2013 7:10 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
> 43 ft verticals have become a popular antenna, and while they have 
> some strong points, they present a very high SWR on most bands, so 
> they require a serious tuner to get them to load.
>
> I'd like to know of any stations using a 43 Ft vertical as a 
> multi-band antenna using nothing but an Elecraft antenna tuner for 
> matching -- that is, no "baluns", transformers, loading coils, or 
> additional matching networks.  I'd like to know the bands on which you 
> are able to match it well enough to get full power from the rig (or 
> the power amp). I'd like to know if the tuner is located at the base 
> of the antenna, or, if in the shack, the length of feedline between 
> antenna and tuner.
>
> Thanks and 73, Jim K9YC
>
>
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