Topband: Elementary Inverted L questions

[N4ZR]

I have been trying to replace my inverted L, which broke a few weeks 
ago, and am having all sorts of puzzlements. Please be kind - I was a 
history major.

1.  The inverted L broke at the turn, so I went looking for sturdier 
wire.  I wound up with some #14 insulated recommended by our local RF 
maven, and put up 140 feet initially, figuring I would prune it *up* 
into the CW part of the band.  Imagine my surprise when it showed up 
resonating at 1977 KHz (on an AA-55 Zoom).  Does insulation have such a 
profound effect on velocity factor?

2.  My feedpoint arrangement has 17 turns of RG-400 as a common mode 
choke, with the radial field connected to the RG-400 shield at the 
antenna end.  Initially I tried measuring the resonance without the 
radial connection.  No resonance and infinite SWR.  I connected the 
radial field (8 X 70-foot radials on the ground) and that's when I saw 
the 1977 KHz resonance (X crossing zero).  SWR at minimum was above 
2:1.  Does this make sense?  I know the radial field is inadequate for 
good performance, but...

-- 
73, Pete N4ZR
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