Here's a follow-on question to the reflector... Vernon's set-up brings a question to mind. He says he's using a 4:1 balun on his vertical. At first brush that seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Isn't a vertical unbalanced? Certainly the coax is unbalanced. When you're mating an unbalanced feedline with an unbalanced antenna, wouldn't one be better off using an unun rather than a 4:1 balun?
In further support of my line of questioning, I've read numerous, albeit anecdotal, reports of people being displeased with the performance of their vertical, particularly the untuned ones like Zero-Five for example. But when they add an unun they are then amazed at how the antenna allegedly "sprung to life." 73, Dave AH6TD On Mar 8, 2011, at 6:20 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote: > Yes. I can see the S-meter go from 3-4 down with static down to > nothing with quieter static. My best guess is that I am not trying > the right times at the right places. > > Thanks to everyone for the help. > > --Vernon N7OH > > On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 8:12 AM, Ross Primrose N4RP <n...@aiko.com> wrote: >> Does the received noise decrease when you disconnect the antenna? >> >> 73, Ross N4RP >> >> On 3/8/2011 1:06 AM, Vernon Mauery wrote: >>> At the risk of exposing what a n00b I am when it comes to HF, I really >>> need some help. I recently (last month) purchased a K3. First HF >>> radio I have owned. I got my license 2 years ago and have spent most >>> of the time since playing with VHF. I have been trying to teach >>> myself CW and decided that it was time to step into the HF waters. I >>> studied, ogled, and dreamed of my ideal HF transceiver. I finally >>> found the K3 and having looked (at least a cursory glance) at all the >>> others, I was sold. I saved my pennies and purchased. I also got >>> myself a 43' untuned vertical antenna, balun, and radial wires. >>> >>> My setup: K3/100 has 100 feet of low loss 400 coax out to the 43 foot >>> vertical on the hill in my back yard. It has 8 25 foot radials and a >>> 4:1 balun. The K3 has the KATU3, KPA3, KTCXO3-1, KFL3A-400, and >>> default 2.8KHz filters. I assembled it and did followed the >>> calibration instructions as well as I could. I think I got >>> everything, but obviously I missed something. Or maybe I just need an >>> elmer to tell me what to do. >>> >>> I cannot seem to find any signals that make the S meter go above a 3 >>> or 4. I have the RF gain turned up a fair ways (mostly to the top), >>> and I can hear static. As I tune up some of the bands on SSB, I can >>> hear a tone that changes higher in pitch as I tune up in frequency. I >>> have tried listening for CW, but I am hearing nothing as I scan >>> through the bands. I had a 10m horizontal dipole taped to my wall for >>> a while until I found time to run the coax out to the back yard. I >>> had hoped that since it was resonant on the 10m band, maybe it would >>> be able to pick up something, but it was no better (or worse) than my >>> vertical. >>> >>> As far as I can tell, the radio seems to transmit. I can see the >>> power meter moving and the SWR meter moving. The ATU seems to be able >>> to find acceptable settings on most of the bands with the vertical. >>> But I can't hear them. You can't work them if you can't hear them, >>> right? >>> >>> This is a desperate plea for help. Is it the radio or me? Please >>> have pity on the n00b and walk me through my first HF contact. >>> >>> --Vernon N7OH >>> ______________________________________________________________ >>> Elecraft mailing list >>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>> >>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> >> >> -- >> FCC Section 97.313(a) “At all times, an amateur station must use the >> minimum transmitter power necessary to carry out the desired >> communications.” >> >> ______________________________________________________________ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
