 |
And here I thought it was me!
12 April 2014 | by To say it is a beautiful day in New Jersey today is in understatement. The sun is shining, and the temperatures are in the upper 60s (20C). The breeze (if there is any) is so gentle that you don’t even notice it. So I decided that after grocery shopping, but before other chores, that I would sneak off to the park and try out the EARCHI antenna. I built the 9:1 UNUN late last Autumn and didn’t get a chance to try it out.
So it ends up that today was not the day to base a critical performance review on, I will have to wait for another weekend with decent weather and better band conditions for another test. In the meantime, I will also browse the Internet to see if I can garner more information on optimal radiator lengths for use with a 9:1 UNUN.
72 de Larry W2LJ
QRP – When you care to send the very least!
6 Responses to “And here I thought it was me!”
 Ham Radio Deluxe |
 Ham Radio Prep |
 Ham Radio School |
 KB3IFH QSL Cards  Hip Ham Shirts  HamRadioAuctions Reliance Antennas Enigma Shop |  morseDX  Ni4L Antennas  R&L Electronics antennas.us Ears to Our World |
- Matt W1MST, Managing Editor
Dead here is North East AZ. Been working on getting my workroom setup functional. Rig here is Flex 1500 and Hardrock 50. Was beginning to believe I has antenna problems. Went inside and fired up the K3 with a beam. What was out there was in the noise and very few and very week. So from NJ where you be to NE AZ and 6,700 feet the radio Gods have no smiled today…
73 Harry K7ZOV
Sometimes the only difference between a ‘dead band’ and making interesting contacts is putting out that initial ‘CQ’. It’s tremendously satisfying to make a contact in the early morning hours when you hear a signal that doesn’t even move the needle on the S-meter. It’s great that you made an effort.
Larry:
I think a radiator 33 feet in length may be problematic (quarter wave on 40 meters).
I made a 9:1 unun for my attic antenna. I followed the wire chart from Balun Designs
(http://www.balundesigns.com/Wire%20Lengths%20for%209-1%20ununs.pdf)
to help me decide on a proper length wire.
I settled on a length of 24.5 feet ( the longest I could run in my attic, and it operates on 80 – 40 meters, with the highest swr being on 15 meters (~3:1) with no tuner. It just works on 80, but from 40 meters to 6 meters, it works pretty well for me.
Just a thought. And yes, all quiet on the western front, too!
Hello Larry, Try adding about three more feet to your 33 foot wire. I have used 53 to 54 foot long wire on my homemade 9:1 UNUN and my KX3 loves it. I use a 15 foot length of RG-58A/U as the coax feed line.
Also, Thanks for your very kind words the other day about our QSO. I appreciate your kindness and time.
73 and Good Health, Jeff K9JP
Larry,
I have been using 43 feet and it works wonders. (9:1 Unun and 43 ft.)
I have been using this design over 10 yrs now. I have found that when the length is in the 30ish range 20-6 works ok with a good ATU. If I go to 45-55 ft (51 ft typical) I can pick up 40 and with the KX3 even 80/75 meters. I use a home made slingshot with 1 oz of lead to launch and thin nylon rope. Then I pull the wire as high as I can get it. Photo of my matchbox and at my in-laws place are on the Yahoo KX3 users group site. Will be glad to send them directly with other antenna info.
As far as call CQ, yes it works when someone is listening. I am lucky to have a K3 with the P3/svga panadaptor and 22 inch monitor and a IC-758proII with a bandscope and a Flex 1500. Needless to say if there is hidden activity I can catch it. The other day nada, zip, zero. Today so-so. Noise is bad here in the mountains of Arizona.
2 cents over. Back to my cave. I just moved my long wire with a SB-230 and need to finish it up. Goes to the Flex 1500 and Hardrock-50. Fighting shack RFI. Whom ever built the 20×20 building I am in, outside the house, got the hot and neutral backwards…about 8 yrs ago. Way before I got into this place. Once I got that fixed the problem almost went away. Now only 15 meters is hosing the computer.
73 and happy dxing
Harry K7ZOV