[Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 issue

[Dave]

Also check the ladder line at the ends for possible breaks.

I had one of the “optimized” G5RV antennas sold by W8AMZ which used solid wire in the ladder line. Due to flexing in the wind the wire broke where it entered the epoxyed pvc end cap (SO-239 connector) the plastic jacketing was still in place so the wire would be fine under 20 watts tune but would arc under high power.

The fix was to rebuild the antenna using copper clad stranded ladder line.

Dave wo2x

Sent from my iPad

> On Jan 27, 2019, at 8:28 AM, Jack Satterfield <jack at satterfield.org> wrote:
> 
> Michael..good suggestion, will do later when the rain stops.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jack
> 
> W4GRJ
> 
> 
> 
> From: Michael Blake [mailto:k9jri at mac.com] 
> Sent: Sunday, January 27, 2019 8:17 AM
> To: Jack Satterfield
> Cc: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KAT500/KPA500 issue
> 
> 
> 
> Jack, I had a similar thing happen and it turned out to be a tree branch had
> grown into the antenna path and when on high power the antenna was arcing to
> the tree branch.  Might not be a tree branch but look for any signs of
> possible arching in the antenna, feed line or connectors.
> 
> 
> 
> 73 - Mike - K9JRI
> 
> 
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> 
> On Jan 27, 2019, at 8:10 AM, Jack Satterfield <jack at satterfield.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> After 5 years of perfect operation, now a very strange issue
> 
> Bypass SWR 3 or 4:1
> 
> KAT500 tunes to 1.3:1
> 
> Switch amp to operate, operating SBB on first voice KAT500 goes full scale
> swr and amp faults on high swr
> 
> Never had a issue before, antenna is g5rv
> 
> Any ideas appreciated.
> 
> Jack
> 
> W4GRJ
> 
> 
> 
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