[PaQSO] Blunder stories

[TwelveVDC at aol.com]

I may not top it, but here's my Blunder Story. ("B.S.")!?

I typically run a popular Icom HF rig to a random length inverted L- 
configuration longwire, coupled with the Icom outdoor, remote tuner.   
Works ok, but you can't beat the convenience, even though there's  
always a compromise somewhere.

This year I tried a 40/80m dipole a few feet off the ground for NVIS  
just for the PQP, so the ouput coax bypassed the remote tuner, and my  
plan was to use just the INTERNAL tuner to match the antenna which  
would need a little help being so close to the ground. ( I  
disconnected the longwire completely because its path physically  
disected the dipole.)

That internal tuner groaned unhappily for a LONG time trying to find a  
match anywhere on both bands. The SWR was past "Infinity and beyond!"

I checked all my connections and everything was fine.  There I am,  
scratching my head when the proverbial light bulb in my head lit up. I  
never unplugged the remote tuner's CONTROL cable from the back of the  
radio! This ommission caused the radio to insist on trying to continue  
to tune the remote external tuner (where nothing was attached) and  
ignore the function of the internal tuner only.

Simply unplugging the jack to the Control Cable, forced the radio to  
employ the internal tuner as desired.  All was well after that, of  
course. I guess it's so obvious a solution that I overlooked it. Even  
though the RF out is going to another antenna, if the jack is plugged  
in, it will automatically look for the external tuner and it's  
attached configuration.

  - Pete / NL7XM