[TowerTalk] SWR Problem Balun or lightning protection?

[K7LXC at aol.com]

>  This has become a real mystery folks. I checked the SWR on  my 3 element 
Steppir today and found that it behaved the SAME as my 5  element 20M 
mono band Yagi, i.e., the SWR increases after keying down for a  few 
minutes and returns to normal after waiting a few seconds. This happened  
with all bands on the SteppIR. The antennas are mounted on the same  
tower about 12ft apart so I always retract the Steppir elements when  
using the 20M mono bander to avoid interaction.
 
    The first thing you should do is to measure the swr  with an antenna 
analyzer at the antenna feedpoint. Everything else is just  complicating your 
problem. Then work your way back to find where the culprit is.  With 2 
antennas exhibiting similar problems, it probably isn't the antenna  that's the 
problem.
 
    MOST "antenna" problems I've ever encountered were  something other 
than the antenna; e.g. bad jumper, bad switch, bad meter, etc.  The problems 
were cured  in the shack but the diagnosis started at the  feedpoint.
 
Cheers,
Steve     K7LXC
TOWER TECH -
Professional tower services for hams