Jeff, The KXAT3 has a very wide tuning range and is specifically designed for use with random-length antennas. Typically any wire longer than 20' or so can be tuned up on 40-6 meters. A 74-foot antenna will probably be tunable to reasonable SWR on 160-6.
A random wire antenna can work very well -- comparable to a vertical or dipole depending on the band, radiation angle, and your ground system (if the random wire is worked against radials). I use random wires almost exclusively. The KXAT3 does an excellent job with them. It will also do other magic tricks like make an 80-meter dipole work on all bands, or a 20-meter yagi work on 30-6 meters, etc. Efficiency will vary, but the transmitter will be happy. 73, Wayne N6KR On Jun 26, 2012, at 7:55 PM, Jeff Herr wrote: > I know folks who have had bad experiences using a "random" wire with > an ATU. > > Although I ordered a buddipole with the kx3 I still am interested in > getting > A 74 foot length of wire up in the pine trees (I will have a > counterpoise) > while up in the > Lassen national forest.....we go there a lot. > > When I mention this I am met with much skepticism. > > Am I way off base? Is this beyond the capabilities of the tuner? > Is there a descriptive spec for the tuner that describes the range > of it > matching capability? > > WW6L > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[email protected] > > 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:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
