[K3PZN-List] Antenna Problems

Sat Mar 3 11:11:42 EST 2012

great email Curt ...... reset the ground this morning looks like some of the problem have disappeared.  Use your instructions and continue to troubleshoot 

thanks again Curt 

ray and Kerri 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Curt Milton 
  To: razor42 at hughes.net 
  Cc: k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net 
  Sent: Saturday, March 03, 2012 10:18 AM
  Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Antenna Problems

  Ray

  A G5RV antenna is designed to emphasize its radiation conditions over many bands - not its VSWR.  

  It is very difficult to make an antenna with a low VSWR on every band at the same time.  

  For a full-sized G5RV - its VSWR is best on 20m - but even here it may not get close to a 1:1 VSWR.  

  This website has a plot of VSWR vs frequency.  Note it will vary some versus height and installation particulars.  

  http://www.w8ji.com/g5rv_facts.htm

  Looking at this curve with my own eyes - with some kind of antenna tuner - it will be most useful on 20, 40 and 80 meters.  On the lower bands the high VSWR is less of a problem because coax loss is lower.  To a ham in 'olden times' these were the 3 most important bands.  The antenna might also be useful on 12m - but it depends where the resonance lands.  

  I suggest evaluating your antenna first on 20m - to see if you can find a place where VSWR dips some.  If you are using a normal VSWR meter I would check VSWR about every 50 kHz on 20m.  If its VSWR does not change and is very high, I might suspect you would have a connection problem.  

  Finding those dips on 40 and 80m may be a little tougher, so this is why I suggest evaluating 20m first.  Keep in mind your antennas behavior will be similar but not at exactly same frequencies to this one.  

  I agree it is a 'confusing antenna' from its VSWR response.  But it should be a very good antenna on 20m, and useful on 40 and 80m.  Some day when you want to add 15 and 10m, these are much smaller dipoles and these 2 dipoles can be feed with the same coax feed.  I do use one ladder line fed antenna here that uses no coax - and it is useful.  

  A bit complex - here is another description of this antenna:  http://www.qsl.net/aa3px/g5rv.htm -- yes this write up is by G5RV himself.  

  Meanwhile do not give up on the G5RV antenna - but do figure out if it has a changing VSWR vs. frequency.  I emailed the gang since I did not include an attachment, and that they would not type the same info to you.  I am good in phone book so call me if you need to talk.  

  Curt

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  From: Ray Wright <razor42 at hughes.net>
  To: Carroll County Amateur Radio Club <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net> 
  Sent: Saturday, March 3, 2012 7:50 AM
  Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Antenna Problems

  Sorry changed the subject to antenna problem.    Sorry for the additional 
  spam

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: "Ray Wright" <razor42 at hughes.net>
  To: "Carroll County Amateur Radio Club" <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net>
  Sent: Friday, March 02, 2012 9:48 PM
  Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Repeater Work Cancelled

  > hello everyone Ray KB3VWK
  >
  > Well Kerri Kb3wav and I got a G5RV antenna had got some LMR 400 from Mike
  > hooked it all up.  I have the antenna at 60ft on both ends and 40ft at the
  > feed point.  But I am still getting high swr's  Any help on correcting 
  > this
  > problem would be greatly appreciated.  I am going to work on the ground
  > tmw.  But would like to know if anyone in the club has a g5rv and how do 
  > you
  > have it set up.  It is feed with ladder line and the instructions call 
  > for
  > antenna tunner I am using an ldg 11pro.
  >
  >
  > regards ray
  >
  >
  > ----- Original Message ----- 
  > From: "Wayne" <M.Wayne.Wilson at comcast.net>
  > To: "'Carroll County Amateur Radio Club'" <k3pzn-list at mailman.qth.net>
  > Sent: Friday, February 17, 2012 8:52 PM
  > Subject: Re: [K3PZN-List] Repeater Work Cancelled
  >
  >
  >>
  >>
  >>
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