[Elecraft] KPA1500 RFI on 12m

[Bob McGraw K4TAX]

Except for my 6M yagi, all of my antennas are non-resonant antennas.   
My favorite is the 256 ft center fed wire {resonant at 1.825 MHz}  with 
a balanced feed.  The  balanced feed runs from the feed-point on the 
antenna all the way to the hybrid Guanella 4:1 balun that sits on the 
shelf just above the KAT500.  The coax jumper from the balun to the 
KAT500 is about 12" in length.   Thus the balanced line comes in all the 
way to the operating position.    This configuration will work all 
bands,  160M - 6M with ease. And there are NO RFI issues with the KPA500 
and the KAT-500 at 500 watts.

I find most hams cut an antenna length by formula, leave a few inches to 
trim, and then trim for best SWR.   This does not make a resonant 
antenna.    A resonant antenna is resonant depending on its electrical 
length based on frequency.   SWR and Impedance should be addressed by 
means than trimming the length.   Height above ground affects impedance.

73

Bob, K4TAX


On 10/25/2019 3:37 PM, Wes wrote:
> Sorry about that mess; that will teach me to try and respond with an 
> iPhone.
>
> What I was trying to say is that I run a KPA500 and KAT500 into 
> non-resonant antennas on all of the WARC bands and still manage to 
> crack pileups.  On 12 and 17 meters I tune my tiny OB7-3 Optibeam 
> tribander.  Of the current DXpeditions,  I've worked VP6R on 19 slots 
> and I work FT8 with great reluctance.  I've worked 5K0K on 14 of 25 
> slots without using FT8.  For the recently completed ZK3A expedition I 
> worked them of 24 of 37 slots and was on Clublog's stats number 20 in NA.
>
> I'm pretty sure that I never have the commanding signal in a pileup.  
> BTW, I use a K3S without a second RX and I don't have a separate RX 
> antenna for 160, things everybody knows you must have to work DX.  
> IMHO, knowing how to use the hardware you have is more important than 
> having more hardware.
>
> Wes  N7WS
>
>
> On 10/25/2019 9:00 AM, Wes N7WS wrote:
>> I run a KPA500 and KAT500 into an Ppitbe
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Oct 24, 2019, at 1:24 PM, Michael Walker <va3mw at portcredit.net> 
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi Eric
>>>
>>> I think you are asking a lot for a tuner to run at any power into a
>>> non-resonant antenna and break a pile up.  :)
>>>
>>> You would actually have better success with a 12M dipole then trying 
>>> to get
>>> a non-resonant beam to direct your signal.
>>>
>>> If I was in your shoes, I would quickly toss up a 12M dipole with some
>>> string and bubble gum as you would have a much higher radiated signal.
>>>
>>> Mike va3mw
>>>
>
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