Re: "random wire" and the KX3 ATU

Posted by Jim Rogers, W4ATK on Jun 27, 2012; 11:51am
URL: http://elecraft.85.s1.nabble.com/K3-KX3-Operating-Tip-APF-audio-peaking-filter-for-weak-signal-CW-work-tp7558208p7558248.html

        I would be in real trouble if I could not use wire antennas. All of my antennas are in my attic. They consist of a full wave 40M loop fed thru the little Elecraft balun via a short run of 450 ohm ladder line, a 65' marconi (end fed "random" wire) in an "inverted U" configuration fed thru a Balun Designs UNUN , and a 5 band vertical dipole that is center loaded. The ATU in my K3 does an excellent job of matching this variety of antennas. I get great signal reports, particularly off of the "inverted U" on 40,75, and 80 meters and find myself busting DX pileups with a barefoot K3/100. It is quite interesting to switch between the antennas and note the performance under varying band conditions.

73s Jim, W4ATK

On Jun 26, 2012, at 9:55 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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