[Elecraft] UPDATE KPA1500 on 160M

[Ronnie Hull]

The original thread has gone off on some tangents. I truly appreciate all the suggestions.

I seem to have cured the problem!

ORIGINAL ISSUE was using a new W7FG 160m doublet with 600 ohm true ladder line. The ladder line was hooked to a Balun Design 4:1 ( as recommended by the seller of the antenna). The antenna would be matched great in 160M by the internal ATU in the K3 but with the KPA1500 inline it all went north really fast, resulting in the 1500 faulting out

Earlier today I swapped in a DX Engineering maxi core 4:1 and it worked a hell of a lot better but the KPA1500 still could not match it better than 9:1

Mind you this antenna matches superb on other bands with the KPA1500

Also the KPA1500 works great into a dummy load so I knew the issue was the antenna or part of it 

Last I put in line a DX Engineering maxi core 6:1 and BAM... it worked!
The KPA1500 matches to 2.5:1 which is good enough for now.

Next I will experiment with the 600 ohm ladder line length. Right now I’m using 57’.  I will add 10’ tomorrow and see what shakes out and will let you fellas know

Thanks for all the help and suggestions!

Ronnie W5SUM



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