Posted by
Phil Shepard on
Jun 27, 2012; 4:38am
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/K3-KX3-Operating-Tip-APF-audio-peaking-filter-for-weak-signal-CW-work-tp7558208p7558243.html
As an example, I used a 40m Extended Double Zepp for field day. This is an
180' wire center fed with ladder line. My FD installation had about 60' of
ladder line hanging down to the rig. Ordinarily, I would use a toroid to
make a balun to the rig, but I didn't have a suitable form in my junk box,
so I hooked the ladder line to a BNC to dual banana binding post adapter.
The KX3 ATU did fine in matching from 80 to 10m, except on 40m. On the
other bands, the match was 1:1 or close, but on 40m, the tuner struggled to
get down to 3:1 or so. I added a 33' "radial" wire to the ground side of
the banana adapter and ran it under the antenna, keeping it 2 to 3' above
the ground. With this addition, the ATU could usually get close to 1:1 on
40m. The antenna seemed to play well, so the efficiency must not have been
too bad. I was impressed with the KX3 for many reasons, including its ATU.
73,
Phil, NS7P
-----Original Message-----
From:
[hidden email]
[mailto:
[hidden email]]On Behalf Of Wayne Burdick
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 9:09 PM
To: Jeff Herr
Cc: 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] "random wire" and the KX3 ATU
Jeff,
The KXAT3 has a very wide tuning range and is specifically designed
for use with random-length antennas. Typically any wire longer than
20' or so can be tuned up on 40-6 meters. A 74-foot antenna will
probably be tunable to reasonable SWR on 160-6.
A random wire antenna can work very well -- comparable to a vertical
or dipole depending on the band, radiation angle, and your ground
system (if the random wire is worked against radials).
I use random wires almost exclusively. The KXAT3 does an excellent job
with them. It will also do other magic tricks like make an 80-meter
dipole work on all bands, or a 20-meter yagi work on 30-6 meters, etc.
Efficiency will vary, but the transmitter will be happy.
73,
Wayne
N6KR
On Jun 26, 2012, at 7:55 PM, Jeff Herr wrote:
> I know folks who have had bad experiences using a "random" wire with
> an ATU.
>
> Although I ordered a buddipole with the kx3 I still am interested in
> getting
> A 74 foot length of wire up in the pine trees (I will have a
> counterpoise)
> while up in the
> Lassen national forest.....we go there a lot.
>
> When I mention this I am met with much skepticism.
>
> Am I way off base? Is this beyond the capabilities of the tuner?
> Is there a descriptive spec for the tuner that describes the range
> of it
> matching capability?
>
> WW6L
>
>
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