[Elecraft] Forty Meter SSB

[Dave New]

Richard,

During DX SSB contests, DX tends to transmit below 7125 kHz (where US  
cannot transmit SSB) and listen above, sometimes above 7200 kHz, so I  
tend to tune a 40 meter antenna to the center of the band 7150 kHz,  
and use the internal tuner in the radio to 'touch up' the SWR near the  
upper and lower band edges.  The important thing, to me, is to keep  
the transmitter happy, so it doesn't 'fold back' when the SWR goes  
above 1.5:1.  If the coax is not too long, and is not too lossy (and  
at 40 meters, it really shouldn't have much loss), you won't lose much  
by tuning at the radio end, to match the coax to the transmitter.

I use a ZS6BKW dipole and tune it at the radio end for use on 40/60/80  
meters with a 75 ft. piece of RG-8/X coax.  It is only 35 ft. high, so  
it is much more useful stateside, but nevertheless I don't sweat the  
additional loss due to higher SWR on the coax at those frequencies.

Donning flame suit...

73,

-- Dave, N8SBE

Quoting Richard <FlatHat at comcast.net>:

> Is there any area within the 40-meter SSB segment where DX tends to  
> congregate or appear? I ask this for antenna tuning purposes.
>
> Cheers,
>
> Richard — W4KBX
> ______________________________________________________________