On 3/8/2013 10:30 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
The problem is that very large RF voltage are developed at the end of such a wire - well beyond what any compact or semi-compact tuner that doesn't use big air variable caps can handle. So we compromise.
Exactly. One specification (efficiency or SWR) alone does no define success. The TX must put power into it, and loads close to a half wave are very difficult for a tuner to match. Like I said -- avoid antennas within 10% or so of a half wave. Beyond that, get as close to a quarter wave with a decent counterpoise and call CQ.
This summer, W6GJB and I put a quarter wave whip on a tripod on a mountataintop threw a quarter wave of wire into some scrub trees, and connected it to his KX3. In about 10 minutes on 15M, we had worked AS, SA, and the Carribbean,. And if there had been skip to EU and VK, we would have worked them too.
73, Jim K9YC ______________________________________________________________ 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
