[Lowfer] Field Strength

[Bill Ashlock]

J. B.

I would retune the variometer so that the current reading is, again, similar 
to what it was before and see if the FSM reading changes. The FSM may be 
reading stray RF current and/or voltage that is not representative of the 
actual radiated signal from the antenna. That is why I never use a local FSM 
for tuning and rely only on the antenna current or an SVM at least 1 WL away 
(IE: the far field rather than the near field) to tell me how well the 
antenna is tuned.

Bill


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J. B. Weazle McCreath" <weazle at hurontel.on.ca>
To: "Discussion of the Lowfer (US, European, &amp; UK) and MedFer bands" 
<lowfer at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 5:07 PM
Subject: [Lowfer] Field Strength


> Hello Lowfers,
>
> I have a field strength meter sitting on the shack window sill
> so I can tell that EAR is still beaconing.  Earlier this week I
> noted that the reading was only about half of  the normal, so
> I investigated.  Using the RF ammeter permanently installed
> at the antenna feed, I tweaked the variometer and managed
> to retune to the normal antenna current which I'd recorded
> at an earlier date.
>
> Returning to the shack, I expected to see the FSM showing
> the increase, but it didn't.  Nothing has changed in position,
> so it can't be that, but I'm puzzled about the low reading on
> the FSM. All of the meters at the antenna (PA current/volts
> and antenna current) are reading what they always have.
> Any ideas from you gurus?
>
> 73, J.B., VE3EAR - VE3WZL
> Solar and wind powered
> Lowfer " EAR"  188.830
> EN93dr
>
> http://www.hurontel.on.ca/~weazle
>
>
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