Ken W0CA wrote: > time. My problem is the antenna will not stay on frequency. It will tune on > any frequency easily but the only time it will stay on frequency is in the > middle of the night with no wind. I talked to MFJ and Tom recommended I > tighten the spring on the capacitor. I did and it improved but again this > week end I saw it jump and drift. I had it tuned up on 14.058 and it dropped > down to 14.007. Another time it jumped from 14.058 to 14.076. I know others
I have one of these (now in storage) and that spring arrangment is IMO a kludge. When I got mine, the shaft was misaligned and it didn't even work. One way to deal with its loose tuning is to always tune past the desired frequency then come back in the direction (I forget which) which results in less frequency change afterwards. That said, this antenna is very narrow, and it is neither temperature compensated nor digitally stabilized. Mechanical vibration and temperature changes WILL throw tuning off, and we should be prepared to live with it. Remember, an old Heathkit VFO would easily drift 100 Khz if we hung its coil out where the loop is. Just beep the tune switch and keep going.. Cortland KA5S _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: [email protected] You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
