Topband: Some guidance needed

[Mark Lunday]

I am using inverted L, 80 feet vert and 30 foot horizontal, and then 20 foot
sloping at a 45 degree angle.  Remote coupler at base, model CG-3000.

I was happy with antenna as a newbie to top-band over the past winter, my
first on the top-band with a DX antenna, and I easily worked lots of DX with
100 watts. 

Ignorance is bliss, as they say.I was able to get a match to my transmitter,
and I was able to work some DX.  I doubt that the antenna was all that
efficient, but with low SWR between rig and remote coupler I did not have to
worry too much about coax losses with this setup (although I am using low
loss coax, 250 foot from house to antenna farm).  And I was a typical
newbie, hearing the strongest EU stations and working them (imagine what I
would hear if I had a beverage for receiving.)

Anyway, the inverted L came down in March wind storm, the radiating element
broke.  I replaced it, and now, I cannot get the antenna to tune on 160.  

I swapped out the coupler, replaced the radiating element, replaced the
Array Solutions Bias-T for 12V, checked the ground connections to the
radials.

Remaining possibilities: 

1.	Radiating element not long enough?  I thought it was 130 foot
before, but I'm getting forgetful.
2.	Coax problem from the antenna switch box to the tuner
3.	Common mode currents (although I have a coaxial RF choke in place,
and this was not a problem before)
4.	Trees/foliage?  The radiating element is insulated wire, and I
checked it for chafing before putting it up in place of the older radiating
element.  It goes up over an 80 foot oak tree.
5.	Connections with the radials not making full contact (not using a
radial plate, probably should)

Looking for some suggestions from the experts, before I go off on a wild
goose chase.

Additional info:  not that it is necessarily relevant, but the remote tuner
tunes this system on all bands above 160 without any problems.  That's
probably not an indicator of anything important, but I figured that I would
at least share the observation, since I am radiating on the other bands.





Mark Lunday, WD4ELG
Greensboro, NC  FM06be
wd4elg at arrl.net
http://wd4elg.blogspot.com
http://wd4elg.net