Sky High SWR

[kopcicle]

http://www.w5dxp.com/notuner/notuner.HTM

Says it better than I could.
I just know that a half wave of ladder line feeder at a given frequency does not work .
The W5DXP method avoids this .
I have used this and in several instances it worked well.
Note that my balun is at the back of the tuner. There was no coax.
http://www.qsl.net/ea4bb/EA4BB/Old_Radios_files/MN2700.pdf
Note also that the Drake tuner is a Pi-L which is a bit different than a common "T" Transmatch.
Entry to the house was through ...
http://www.sundialwire.com/porcelaintube.aspx
I bored the holes and inserted the tubes from either side .

 

[Keith Thompson]

Sorry it took so long to get back, but I followed your advice quoted below. I ran the ladder line directly to the tuner and I've had terrific success and good audio reports ever since.

Last night alone I worked three stations from Italy and one each from Belgium, Northern Ireland, England, Jamaica, the Netherlands, and Denmark on 20 meters at one sitting. Still tuning and tweaking, but very happy with the results.

Thanks again to you and everyone else who contributed to the solution.

73

Keith, AC1EG

OK Keith: Couple things: First the Ladder line on that antenna is part of the antenna, and really a matching stub. That needs to be fully extended. So uncoil the excess let it droop down past the eve and then bring it back to the balun.
As you can see below is a quote directly off HRO website: BALANCED ANTENNA TUNER required.
I am sorry I totally disagree with the Mfgr., that using a 4:1 current Balun and the radio's internal tuner with a random length coax to connect with, will make this antenna work 80-10m as stated. My 2 cents!
The correct way I would suggest, has been stated already A BALANCED External Manual tuner with Ladder Line connected directly.
Sorry but the Mfgr. is in business to SELL antennas, and I disagree with much he states on his website in regards to this working effectively and 80-10m using a radio's internal tuner.
However you may get it to do so by bringing the coax from the Balun directly to radio...shortest possible length.
Then ground the Balun and radio to your nicely done ground buss via like a #6 piece of std building wire. Try it that way.
To get better quickly try uncoiling the Ladder line...Do not cut it off and let it loop as straight down as possible from the feed point. Then bring it to the Balun as you have done.
See if this improves the performance.
My suggestion is to look to purchase a BALANCED ATU...ie...
https://www.mfjenterprises.com/Product.php?productid=MFJ-974HB
http://www.palstar.com/en/bt1500a/
Old JOHNSON MATCHBOX...(google Link Coupled Tuner) designed specifically for Twinlead feed antennas.
However any antenna tuner with a BUILT-IN 4:1 balun should work well...These above will be more efficient.
Or build one...really not tough. I use a HB Double "L" style much like the Palstar

Great info here:
http://www.somis.org/bbat.html
http://ka4cid.blogspot.com/2008/12/w4mmq-legacy-balanced-antenna-tuner.html
https://twit.tv/shows/ham-nation/episodes/262

My antenna is essentially a homebrew "LAZY H"(google that+W8JK antenna) laying Horizontal feed directly via the 300 Ohm KW+ rated Twinlead and tuned with either my HB Double "L" or my PALSTAR AT4K tuner.
Does pretty damn nice job 80m -15m for an antenna only about 40ft above ground.
Ok enough for now...Enjoy the experimentation...that's some of the great fun of Amateur radio...messing with antennas!
All the Best
Gary/W9FNB

GRANITE STATE Cobra-Ultralite-JR
3.5 - 30 MHz 73 Foot Dipole with Ladder Line - Requires Balanced Antenna Tuner