General Trasverter Operation Question

[wb2ssb]

I am using a cross-needle, MFJ tuner in between my XV-50 and antenna.
The interaction between the tune and transverter is confusing me a bit
and I was wondering if someone could educate me as to what is going on?

 

I set my transverter output power to something around 20 watts, as
measured on the XV-50 LED display ... then put K2 into tune mode ... and
then adjust the controls on the tuner to minimize the reflected power
and maximize the forward  power, which has the effect of minimizing the
SWR (indicated by the crossover poinit of the two needle indicators).
At least, that is what I think I am supposed to do.  But as I do this,
as I lower the SWR indicator on the tuner, the power output on the XV50
goes up into the red zone, lighting up all of the LED's on the front
panel.  This worries me, and I then back off the power control on the K2
until I am back to 20 watts or so as measured by the XV-50 display.

 

Am I on the right track here?  Or am I doing something stupid?

 

Thanks in advance to the kind soul who may take the time to straighten
me out!

 

-- WB2SSB

 


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[Don Wilhelm-3]

Why would you need a tuner between the K2 and the XV-50?  The XV-50 has an
input attenuator that provides a good 50 ohm load, and the K2 should drive
it just fine with only a piece of coax connected between the K2 and XV-50 -
the SWR on that coax line should be very close to 1:1.

73,
Don W3FPR


> -----Original Message-----

>
> I am using a cross-needle, MFJ tuner in between my XV-50 and antenna.
> The interaction between the tune and transverter is confusing me a bit
> and I was wondering if someone could educate me as to what is going on?
>
>
>
> I set my transverter output power to something around 20 watts, as
> measured on the XV-50 LED display ... then put K2 into tune mode ... and
> then adjust the controls on the tuner to minimize the reflected power
> and maximize the forward  power, which has the effect of minimizing the
> SWR (indicated by the crossover poinit of the two needle indicators).
> At least, that is what I think I am supposed to do.  But as I do this,
> as I lower the SWR indicator on the tuner, the power output on the XV50
> goes up into the red zone, lighting up all of the LED's on the front
> panel.  This worries me, and I then back off the power control on the K2
> until I am back to 20 watts or so as measured by the XV-50 display.
>
>
>
> Am I on the right track here?  Or am I doing something stupid?
>
>
>
> Thanks in advance to the kind soul who may take the time to straighten
> me out!
>
>

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[wb2ssb]

I am talking about a tuner in between the XV-50 and a rather depressing little end-fed dipole antenna!

        -----Original Message-----
        From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
        Sent: Sat 7/22/2006 9:18 PM
        To: Sanger, Joseph; [hidden email]
        Cc:
        Subject: RE: [Elecraft] General Trasverter Operation Question
       
       

        Why would you need a tuner between the K2 and the XV-50?  The XV-50 has an
        input attenuator that provides a good 50 ohm load, and the K2 should drive
        it just fine with only a piece of coax connected between the K2 and XV-50 -
        the SWR on that coax line should be very close to 1:1.

        73,
        Don W3FPR


        > -----Original Message-----

        >
        > I am using a cross-needle, MFJ tuner in between my XV-50 and antenna.
        > The interaction between the tune and transverter is confusing me a bit
        > and I was wondering if someone could educate me as to what is going on?
        >
        >
        >
        > I set my transverter output power to something around 20 watts, as
        > measured on the XV-50 LED display ... then put K2 into tune mode ... and
        > then adjust the controls on the tuner to minimize the reflected power
        > and maximize the forward  power, which has the effect of minimizing the
        > SWR (indicated by the crossover poinit of the two needle indicators).
        > At least, that is what I think I am supposed to do.  But as I do this,
        > as I lower the SWR indicator on the tuner, the power output on the XV50
        > goes up into the red zone, lighting up all of the LED's on the front
        > panel.  This worries me, and I then back off the power control on the K2
        > until I am back to 20 watts or so as measured by the XV-50 display.
        >
        >
        >
        > Am I on the right track here?  Or am I doing something stupid?
        >
        >
        >
        > Thanks in advance to the kind soul who may take the time to straighten
        > me out!
        >
        >



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[wb2ssb]

I wasn't even sure i had a problem ... are you saying that the behavior that i described below ... is abnormal?  should the power indication on the xv-50 not vary as i tune the tuner?  How should it behave as I adjust the tuner?
 
My antenna options are extremely limited at my 3rd floor apt qth ... i can try a vertical as well; next step.
 
Thanks, John.
 

        -----Original Message-----
        From: John D'Ausilio [mailto:[hidden email]]
        Sent: Sat 7/22/2006 9:34 PM
        To: Sanger, Joseph
        Cc:
        Subject: Re: [Elecraft] General Trasverter Operation Question
       
       

        end-fed dipole doesn't sound like a good idea .. very high impedance
        fed at the end. Feed it in the middle and your problem will likely
        disappear

        de w1rt/john

        On 7/22/06, Sanger, Joseph <[hidden email]> wrote:
        > I am talking about a tuner in between the XV-50 and a rather depressing little end-fed dipole antenna!
        >
        >         -----Original Message-----
        >         From: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
        >         Sent: Sat 7/22/2006 9:18 PM
        >         To: Sanger, Joseph; [hidden email]
        >         Cc:
        >         Subject: RE: [Elecraft] General Trasverter Operation Question
        >
        >
        >
        >         Why would you need a tuner between the K2 and the XV-50?  The XV-50 has an
        >         input attenuator that provides a good 50 ohm load, and the K2 should drive
        >         it just fine with only a piece of coax connected between the K2 and XV-50 -
        >         the SWR on that coax line should be very close to 1:1.
        >
        >         73,
        >         Don W3FPR
        >
        >
        >         > -----Original Message-----
        >
        >         >
        >         > I am using a cross-needle, MFJ tuner in between my XV-50 and antenna.
        >         > The interaction between the tune and transverter is confusing me a bit
        >         > and I was wondering if someone could educate me as to what is going on?
        >         >
        >         >
        >         >
        >         > I set my transverter output power to something around 20 watts, as
        >         > measured on the XV-50 LED display ... then put K2 into tune mode ... and
        >         > then adjust the controls on the tuner to minimize the reflected power
        >         > and maximize the forward  power, which has the effect of minimizing the
        >         > SWR (indicated by the crossover poinit of the two needle indicators).
        >         > At least, that is what I think I am supposed to do.  But as I do this,
        >         > as I lower the SWR indicator on the tuner, the power output on the XV50
        >         > goes up into the red zone, lighting up all of the LED's on the front
        >         > panel.  This worries me, and I then back off the power control on the K2
        >         > until I am back to 20 watts or so as measured by the XV-50 display.
        >         >
        >         >
        >         >
        >         > Am I on the right track here?  Or am I doing something stupid?
        >         >
        >         >
        >         >
        >         > Thanks in advance to the kind soul who may take the time to straighten
        >         > me out!
        >         >
        >         >
        >
        >
        >
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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

That's normal Joseph. Here's what's happening.

The XV output power is determined by measuring the RF voltage at the antenna
connector. That is converted into a level that lights the power LEDs. The
problem is that the output power measurement is ONLY accurate when the XV is
terminated in a 50-ohm non-reactive load. As you adjust your tuner for a low
SWR, you are changing the load the XV sees and so its output power
indication is thrown off.

Simply use enough output power to get a good indication on your SWR meter,
then adjust things for the lowest SWR you can get while ignoring the LED
power indicator. Then, when you have the SWR set to minimum, set your K2
output for 20 watts (or whatever you want) indicated on the XV. As long as
the SWR is very low when you set the power level, it'll be accurate.

Ron AC7AC


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

I am using a cross-needle, MFJ tuner in between my XV-50 and antenna. The
interaction between the tune and transverter is confusing me a bit and I was
wondering if someone could educate me as to what is going on?

I set my transverter output power to something around 20 watts, as measured
on the XV-50 LED display ... then put K2 into tune mode ... and then adjust
the controls on the tuner to minimize the reflected power and maximize the
forward  power, which has the effect of minimizing the SWR (indicated by the
crossover poinit of the two needle indicators). At least, that is what I
think I am supposed to do.  But as I do this, as I lower the SWR indicator
on the tuner, the power output on the XV50 goes up into the red zone,
lighting up all of the LED's on the front panel.  This worries me, and I
then back off the power control on the K2 until I am back to 20 watts or so
as measured by the XV-50 display.

Am I on the right track here?  Or am I doing something stupid?

Thanks in advance to the kind soul who may take the time to straighten me
out!

 

-- WB2SSB

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[Ron D'Eau Claire-2]

End fed dipoles can be very good if they're in the clear!

Sure, we'd all like 15 elements at 60 feet. And, sure, most of us have to do
with a little less...

Ron AC7AC

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

I am talking about a tuner in between the XV-50 and a rather depressing
little end-fed dipole antenna!


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[wb2ssb]

Makes perfect sense to me ... now that I have heard it!

Thanks very much, Ron.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ron D'Eau Claire [mailto:[hidden email]]
Sent: Saturday, July 22, 2006 11:17 PM
To: Sanger, Joseph; [hidden email]
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] General Trasverter Operation Question

That's normal Joseph. Here's what's happening.

The XV output power is determined by measuring the RF voltage at the
antenna
connector. That is converted into a level that lights the power LEDs.
The
problem is that the output power measurement is ONLY accurate when the
XV is
terminated in a 50-ohm non-reactive load. As you adjust your tuner for a
low
SWR, you are changing the load the XV sees and so its output power
indication is thrown off.

Simply use enough output power to get a good indication on your SWR
meter,
then adjust things for the lowest SWR you can get while ignoring the LED
power indicator. Then, when you have the SWR set to minimum, set your K2
output for 20 watts (or whatever you want) indicated on the XV. As long
as
the SWR is very low when you set the power level, it'll be accurate.

Ron AC7AC


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

I am using a cross-needle, MFJ tuner in between my XV-50 and antenna.
The
interaction between the tune and transverter is confusing me a bit and I
was
wondering if someone could educate me as to what is going on?

I set my transverter output power to something around 20 watts, as
measured
on the XV-50 LED display ... then put K2 into tune mode ... and then
adjust
the controls on the tuner to minimize the reflected power and maximize
the
forward  power, which has the effect of minimizing the SWR (indicated by
the
crossover poinit of the two needle indicators). At least, that is what I
think I am supposed to do.  But as I do this, as I lower the SWR
indicator
on the tuner, the power output on the XV50 goes up into the red zone,
lighting up all of the LED's on the front panel.  This worries me, and I
then back off the power control on the K2 until I am back to 20 watts or
so
as measured by the XV-50 display.

Am I on the right track here?  Or am I doing something stupid?

Thanks in advance to the kind soul who may take the time to straighten
me
out!

 

-- WB2SSB




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