Aerial problem?

[Singularity35]

So here I am with some old iron(pre-loved ic-738) and a dipole for 40 meters. I was already on air and making good contacts in the Philippines. Then I decided to reposition my dipole and while I was doing it managed to kink the wire. In my new position my built in swr meter now indicates infinity where it once barely moved. Darn!

My forward power selector on the meter says I am throwing just 50% of my power when it used to be 100% on that frequency. On another frequency however, I am still throwing 100%(as the meter tells me). My SWR setting now indicates 3:1 on this frequency.

I put the aerial back into the previous position and I'm still getting the same readings.

I would appreciate any ideas. *desperate*

 

[RatsoW8]

By "kink the wire" I'll assume for now that you meant one of the legs of the dipole.. That will have no effect. You most likely have a short or open in the coax or the connection at the antenna or transmitter end if SWR is reading infinity. .

 

[222DBFL]

Yup gotta agree with ratsow8 here. If the vswr is over 3.1:1 sonething is shorted or wide open. Check all the connection points and make sure you didn't kink any of the coax or have a bad connextor or connection to the dipole itself. Maybe a solder joint came loose. That or the wire is broken inside the area of the kink. That would affect the vswr. Hope you get it sorted.

 

[Singularity35]

Thanks for the replies. I switched coax and that seems to have fixed the problem. I didn't know this hobby could make me climb my roof in the dark though.