[Mobile-Portable] Question about HF mobile - film at 11:00

[Paul Goble]

Chuck:

I found your treatise to be very interesting!  I just changed HF antenna mounts and am using the same ground connection as before, but now the only bands my screwdriver will tune are 80m, 20m and 17m.  Used to be able to tune 'em all!  What surprises me is that the 1.5:1 SWR bandwidth on 80m is several 10's of KHz more than previously.

So this is generally caused by insufficient ground?  That is my assumption, but I sure could us a "sanity check" - HIHI!

TIA,

Paul ND2X/5
http://www.nd2x.net/pix/new.jpg


Chuck Mabbott <aa8vs at yahoo.com> wrote: Mobile set ups can get odd, to say the least.

How is the antenna grounded?  Mag mount or fastened to
the bumper?  

If mag mount on trunk lid the and the ground is not
sufficient 15, 17 & 20 will tune fairly decent but you
usually can't get 40 40 below 2. something.  
Run a ground strap 3/4 - 1 inch wide or better from
trunk lid to frame of car.  As I recall the ground
connections have an impedence around 8 ohms so the
connection is critical.

<SNIP>