Have you checked it with an antenna analyzer like an MFJ? That will show where your setup is resonant. Is the tripod sitting on grass or concrete?? It must be on grass or dirt to work properly.
73, Ted W4NZ -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of Bill Drobnes Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 10:06 PM To: Dale Putnam; Guy Olinger K2AV Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] An Antenna Problem I Can't Figure Out Thanks Guy.The coax and connectors seem to check out OK, and I switched the coax with a brand new one and got the same result.Also, this coax worked fine with a Yaesu ATAS 120 antenna I sold (unfortunately) last weekend.73, Bill --- On Sun, 8/28/11, Guy Olinger K2AV <olin...@bellsouth.net> wrote: From: Guy Olinger K2AV <olin...@bellsouth.net> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] An Antenna Problem I Can't Figure Out To: "Dale Putnam" <daleput...@hotmail.com> Cc: bdrob...@yahoo.com, "elecraft@mailman.qth.net" <elecraft@mailman.qth.net> Date: Sunday, August 28, 2011, 3:57 AM This sounds like a PL259 on one or the other end that is incorrectly dressed and soldered. I would guess something wrong in the PL259 that attaches to the K3. Before you throw the K3 in the drink, use a different piece of coax. All it takes is a very small gap that does not show up on an analyzer, but is arced across by 100 watts, or a short that makes contact when you bend it to get to the K3, or yada, yada, yada. Mechanical problems with coax, plugs, jumpers, cords and adapters, etc. are by far the most common problem with ham setups. 73, Guy. On Sat, Aug 27, 2011 at 9:44 PM, Dale Putnam <daleput...@hotmail.com> wrote: Hi Bill, Just to be sure I understand, With the coax connected to the tripod, the antenna connected to the tripod, with the only connection left to connect would be the coax to the radio... if you measure across the coax there is no short? And there is conductivity from the pin to the antenna? Just making sure I understand, Thanks, --... ...-- Dale - WC7S in Wy > Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 18:34:32 -0700 > From: bdrob...@yahoo.com > To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net > Subject: [Elecraft] An Antenna Problem I Can't Figure Out > > I am trying to temporarily use a 20 m Hamstick on my > Outbacker tripod. The base I am using checks out fine with > nothing attached. In other words, the top where the antenna screws in shorts > with the pin on the UHF connector on the bottom of the base and is isolated > from the tripod. When I connect a non-terminated coax to the base connector > everything continues to check out as above. However, as soon as I connect the > other end of the coax to ANT 1 of the K3, everything is shorted together (the > top where the antenna screws in shorts with the tripod) and the KPA500 shows > infinite SWR. The Hamstick folks couldn’t figure it out and HRO here in > Phoenix > was kind enough to exchange the Hamstick for another, with no effect. Any > ideas > and/or explanations? Thanks and 73, Bill N4IEZ / F4WAE > ______________________________________________________________ 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