[TowerTalk] Inverted V Trouble

[ersmar at comcast.net]

Keith:

     My money is on the arc-plug (tm) surge supressor in the center insulator.  I'm guessing it went tango uniform and is presenting a hinky impedance that your tuner is having a hard time matching.  Then, once you  settle it down and feed it power, whatever-it-is is shunting your RF somewhere other than the wire flattop.  

     Lower the antenna to ground level and check the plug - not sure how, though.  Maybe replacement?

73 de
Gene Smar  AD3F


 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Keith Dutson" <kdutson at sbcglobal.net>
> I use an inverted V for 75/80 meters.  It hangs from my tower from about 80
> feet and has worked fine using a tuner for the past 6 months.  Last night
> the VSWR went out of sight.  After a while trying different tuner settings,
> it was brought back to flat.  However, as I began to transmit (SSB) the VSWR
> went wild again and I had to settle on listening to the guys on the net.
> 
> What problem should I be looking for?  The antenna is an Alpha-Delta DX-80.
> I have had it for about 5 years in various operations, including the past
> two Field Day operations. It is fed with about 90 feet of LMR-400 plus 50
> feet of RG213 connected with a barrel connector.  We have had a lot of
> rainy, cold weather over the past two months and I am wondering if the
> problem may be caused by resistivity in the wire connections at the center
> insulator.
> 
> Thanks in advance for your response.
> 
> 73, Keith NM5G
> 
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