[TenTec] Hercules II anomaly?

[Rick Williams]

Well I have a new one?  I have recently noticed a discrepancy between the
SWR measured by my Orion (internal tuner disabled) and by my LDG DWM-4
wattmeter.  I've checked the LDG meter with my Bird and all seems okay.  So
I've tried to isolate the problem.

The problem disappears when I take the Hercules II out of the circuit.  My
problem occurs on 20 metres with the rig showing an SWR of about 2.5 : 1 and
the external meter about 1.4 : 1.  When I remove the Herc input and output
coaxes from the amp and connect them together with an Amphenol barrel
connector both meters read an SWR of about 1.4 : 1?  With power, control and
keying loop cables removed the problem still exists.

Of course all of this is happening with the Herc off and the only components
I can see in the circuit are the input relay - K1 and the vacuum relay.
Both are unenergized and normally closed with a DC resistance of less than
0.5 ohms.  I have checked 80 metres, 17 metres and 15 metres and the problem
does not occur there.  It seems confined to 20?

Thoughts appreciated.  Thanks.

73, 

Rick 
VE7TK

Website:  http://www3.telus.net/ve7tk