[TowerTalk] Antenna problem?

[Jim Lux]

At 11:37 PM 10/6/2005, Ian White G/GM3SEK wrote:
>K7LXC wrote:
> >Howdy, TowerTalkians --
> >
> >    Thanks to everyone for their input - I got lots of comments.
> >
> >    I went back to the site today and checked the antenna again. This time
> >the swr was high and there was no dip anywhere - classic bad feedline 
> symptoms.
> >
> >    So we're going to try it again on Monday - this time replacing the balun
> >and working our way down the feedline to the shack. I'll let you know what
> >transpires.
> >
>
>In case this point was buried in my previous post, when SWR-testing the
>feedline and antenna, it's always a good idea to leave a 50R load
>connected in the shack.

And it doesn't have to be any high power load, either.  A scrounged up 50 
ohm BNC termination from a dismantled coax Ethernet installation would work 
fine.  (but check to see if it's really 50 ohms).

For that matter, a 75 ohm termination (viz cable tv) could also work, 
because at least you'd know what to expect.


>At each place where you break the feedline, you can test SWR in both
>directions so you have twice as much information.

Jim, W6RMK