[TowerTalk] Tribander Blown Trap. "Easy" Fix??

[Bob Wolbert]

Experienced Antenna Experts,

I'd greatly appreciate some guidance. I have a ten-year old Telrex TB6EM
6 element tribander in nearly perfect cosmetic condition. Unfortunately,
through utter stupidity, I blew up trap(s) in the driven element. The SWR
on 10m is infinite, 15m is very high, and 20m is 3:1 with 100W. It gets
worse with high power. The balun has been removed/replaced and eliminated
as a suspect.

Ignoring the obvious fact it presently doesn't work (!), this seems to be
a great antenna, and it took "forever" to get it in the air. I'd like to
fix it in place, if possible.

Can I replace the driven element with another (from a TH-7, or Mosley
PRO-67 for example) and continue using it? I can reach the driven element
for replacement without dropping the whole antenna. Failing that, could I
turn it into a monobander by replacing the driven element with a monoband
element? What would be compromised?

A little playing with an ancient version of YO shows the driven element
is not critical to F/B, gain, etc., as long as the impedance match is
proper. Is this really true, or am I letting the simulation numbers
interfere with good engineering sense?

Your comments are welcomed!

73 de Bob, K6XX

Antenna details that probably are not important to the above question: 
Telrex TB6EM (See QST ads in nearly every 1989 issue)
6 elements.
Driven element is trapped, for 10/15/20m.
3 full size reflectors, one each for 10/15/20m
10m director
15/20m (10m?) trapped director
Boom to element mounting is THROUGH THE CENTER (no plate)
Antenna is quite heavy.
Traps are not covered with aluminum; instead they are conformal coated
with a reddish "cement". Trap capacitors are apparently doorknobs. Their
outlines are clearly distinguishable through the conformal coating.


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