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Field antenna tip

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wayne burdick

Field antenna tip

Administrator

Hi all,

This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in a tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU (KXAT2) can handle just about anything, but this particular combination of lengths wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after matching. It probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.

The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting or splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around one of the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.

The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the other bands (up through 10 m).

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Leroy

Re: Field antenna tip

Thanks for the tip Wayne. I have a lot of fun using random wires with my
KX2, will try this out.

The coolest QRP rig ever.

Leroy AB7CE

-----Original Message-----
From: Wayne Burdick
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2016 1:45 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector
Cc: [hidden email]
Subject: [Elecraft] Field antenna tip

Hi all,

This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in a
tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU (KXAT2)
can handle just about anything, but this particular combination of lengths
wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after matching. It
probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.

The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a
simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting or
splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around one of
the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.

The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the other
bands (up through 10 m).

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Barry K3NDM

Re: Field antenna tip

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Wayne,
What a novel solution! That's one that would never have occurred to
me! Glad it worked!

73,
Barry
K3NDM

------ Original Message ------
From: "Wayne Burdick" <[hidden email]>
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>
Sent: 7/25/2016 3:45:53 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Field antenna tip

>Hi all,
>
>This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in
>a tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU
>(KXAT2) can handle just about anything, but this particular combination
>of lengths wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after
>matching. It probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.
>
>The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a
>simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting
>or splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around
>one of the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.
>
>The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the
>other bands (up through 10 m).
>
>73,
>Wayne
>N6KR
>
>______________________________________________________________
>Elecraft mailing list
>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>Message delivered to [hidden email]

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wayne burdick

Re: [KX3] Field antenna tip

Administrator

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

On Jul 25, 2016, at 1:17 PM, Charles Cupp <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Which binding post Wayne?does it make any difference?

No. It's entirely ad-hoc/empirical. I wound up maybe 15-20 turns. Definitely not critical, but not guaranteed, either :)

Wayne
N6KR

> Charly XF1/W6CUP - on the air in Cabo San Lucas
>
> Sent from my iPad Mini 64gig---(Life is too short to Fly Coach)
>
> On Jul 25, 2016, at 12:45, Wayne Burdick [hidden email] [KX3] <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Hi all,
>>
>> This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in a tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU (KXAT2) can handle just about anything, but this particular combination of lengths wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after matching. It probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.
>>
>> The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting or splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around one of the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.
>>
>> The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the other bands (up through 10 m).
>>
>> 73,
>> Wayne
>> N6KR
>>
>> __._,_.___
>> Posted by: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
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EUGENE GABRY

Re: Field antenna tip

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Here ya go Wayne, a 160m loading coil! http://www.slickpic.com/users/GeneGabry/albums/N9TFHamStationPhotos/?wallpaper#2743010

This was from my one time 160m inverted "U". No matter how many times I tried shortening and lengthening the end, 2:1 was the best VSWR I could achieve. Until I added 21 turns around a "full" tube of caulk. Must have been the dielectric constant of the caulk material ;)

73 Gene, N9TF

----- Original Message -----

From: "Wayne Burdick" <[hidden email]>
To: "elecraft" <[hidden email]>
Cc: [hidden email]
Sent: Monday, July 25, 2016 2:45:53 PM
Subject: [Elecraft] Field antenna tip

Hi all,

This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in a tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU (KXAT2) can handle just about anything, but this particular combination of lengths wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after matching. It probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.

The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting or splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around one of the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.

The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the other bands (up through 10 m).

73,
Wayne
N6KR

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Rick Tavan-2

Re: [KX3] Field antenna tip

In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Was this on the hot side or the counterpoise?

/Rick

On Mon, Jul 25, 2016 at 12:45 PM, Wayne Burdick [hidden email] [KX3] <
[hidden email]> wrote:

>
>
> Hi all,
>
> This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in a
> tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU (KXAT2)
> can handle just about anything, but this particular combination of lengths
> wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after matching. It
> probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.
>
> The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a
> simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting or
> splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around one of
> the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.
>
> The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the other
> bands (up through 10 m).
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
> __._,_.___
> ------------------------------
> Posted by: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> ------------------------------
> Reply via web post
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--

Rick Tavan
Truckee, CA
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Peter Pauly

Re: [KX3] Field antenna tip

I'm starting to think Wayne is the MacGyver of the ham radio world.

On Tue, Jul 26, 2016 at 1:24 PM, Rick Tavan <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Was this on the hot side or the counterpoise?
>
> /Rick
>
> On Mon, Jul 25, 2016 at 12:45 PM, Wayne Burdick [hidden email] [KX3] <
> [hidden email]> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in a
> > tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU
> (KXAT2)
> > can handle just about anything, but this particular combination of
> lengths
> > wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after matching. It
> > probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.
> >
> > The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a
> > simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting
> or
> > splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around one
> of
> > the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.
> >
> > The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the other
> > bands (up through 10 m).
> >
> > 73,
> > Wayne
> > N6KR
> >
> > __._,_.___
> > ------------------------------
> > Posted by: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
> > ------------------------------
> > Reply via web post
> > <
> https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/KX3/conversations/messages/59470;_ylc=X3oDMTJyOXFzMTJwBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE0BGdycElkAzc0NTIwOTQ3BGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTA2MzEwOARtc2dJZAM1OTQ3MARzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNycGx5BHN0aW1lAzE0Njk0NzY5Mjg-?act=reply&messageNum=59470
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> >
> > • Messages in this topic
> > <
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> >
> > (1)
> > ------------------------------
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> --
>
> Rick Tavan
> Truckee, CA
> ______________________________________________________________
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wayne burdick

Re: [KX3] Field antenna tip

Administrator

In reply to this post by Rick Tavan-2

Hot, though it wouldn't matter. I was just using the post as a coil form.

Wayne

On Jul 26, 2016, at 10:24 AM, Rick Tavan [hidden email] [KX3] <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
> Was this on the hot side or the counterpoise?
>
> /Rick
>
> On Mon, Jul 25, 2016 at 12:45 PM, Wayne Burdick [hidden email] [KX3] <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
>
> This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in a tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU (KXAT2) can handle just about anything, but this particular combination of lengths wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after matching. It probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.
>
> The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting or splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around one of the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.
>
> The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the other bands (up through 10 m).
>
> 73,
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
>
>
> --
>
> Rick Tavan
> Truckee, CA
>
> __._,_.___
> Posted by: Rick Tavan <[hidden email]>
> Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (5)
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>
>
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wayne burdick

Re: [KX3] Field antenna tip

Administrator

Like this, but just the "hot" wire (the one up in the air). The counterpoise wire was used as-is, with no ad-hoc inductance in series.

Wayne

On Jul 26, 2016, at 7:38 PM, shawn Bado <[hidden email]> wrote:

> wrapped around only as a form or left on there?
>
> something like this??
> (imagine there is a counterpoise on black post as well)
>
> <image1.jpeg>
>
> KK6NLZ
>
> Bado...
>
> On Jul 26, 2016, at 1:22 PM, Wayne Burdick [hidden email] [KX3] <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Hot, though it wouldn't matter. I was just using the post as a coil form.
>>
>>
>> Wayne
>>
>>
>> On Jul 26, 2016, at 10:24 AM, Rick Tavan [hidden email] [KX3] <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Was this on the hot side or the counterpoise?
>>>
>>> /Rick
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jul 25, 2016 at 12:45 PM, Wayne Burdick [hidden email] [KX3] <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi all,
>>>
>>> This weekend I was using the KX2 with a random length of wire tossed in a tree and another random length laid on the ground. Normally the ATU (KXAT2) can handle just about anything, but this particular combination of lengths wasn't working well on 40 m; SWR was still around 3:1 after matching. It probably looked like an end-fed half wave to the tuner.
>>>
>>> The wires were connected to a BNC-to-binding post adapter, suggesting a simple workaround. Rather than adjust the length of the wire by cutting or splicing, I simply reeled in a few feet of it and wrapped it around one of the binding posts, forming an inductor of perhaps several uH.
>>>
>>> The ATU was then able to match the antenna on 40 m, as well as the other bands (up through 10 m).
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Wayne
>>> N6KR
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>> Rick Tavan
>>> Truckee, CA
>>>
>>
>>
>> __._,_.___
>> Posted by: Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]>
>> Reply via web post • Reply to sender • Reply to group • Start a New Topic • Messages in this topic (6)
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>>
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