Fan dipole question

[w3bny]

Some stupid questions if I may.

1. What freq did you use on 20m?

2. Did you cut/prune the antenna for that frequency?

3. What is the resonant frequency of the antenna as it stands now?

4. Did you hook up your analyzer and see what its telling you about swr/Z at the operating frequency of question?

It sounds like the transmitter may have folded back. Just check and see what the antenna is telling you. Others should chime in shortly

[W5RB]

Let's get some details . How high's the antenna , and how close to the TX ? What kind of radio ? How long's the feedline ? What mode are you in when testing , and is there an external meter , or how are you measuring power ? If there's a jumper involved , how long is it ?

[KC2UGV]

Some stupid questions if I may.

1. What freq did you use on 20m?

14.070 MHz

2. Did you cut/prune the antenna for that frequency?

Yep. Got a 1.2:1 at that frequency. 1.5:1 at 14.275 (Test frequency).

3. What is the resonant frequency of the antenna as it stands now?

7.035MHz, 14.070MHz, and 28.120MHz (Three element fan dipole).

4. Did you hook up your analyzer and see what its telling you about swr/Z at the operating frequency of question?

Analyzer only shows SWR, and at the operating frequency in question(14.070), it is 1.2:1

It sounds like the transmitter may have folded back. Just check and see what the antenna is telling you. Others should chime in shortly

That's what it sounds like to me as well. But why it does, I have no idea.

Let's get some details . How high's the antenna , and how close to the TX ? What kind of radio ? How long's the feedline ? What mode are you in when testing , and is there an external meter , or how are you measuring power ? If there's a jumper involved , how long is it ?

Antenna is about 30 ft high at the feedpoint, and the ends are about 26ft up. Distance (Straightline) from the TX, 10 ft. Feedline, 30ft (a 10ft cable + Union + 20 ft cable). Mode is PSK31 during operation and testing. Power measured by the power meter built into the rig. And no jumper, just fed through a hole in the wall.

[N9FE]

Yep in the future, Just fold back and wrap untill you have all tuned to where you want. Then cut. Makes life easyer.

[w0aew]

I also have an ancient MFJ-207 analyzer. To get around the dial inaccuracy, I just zero-beat the analyzer signal with the transceiver on the frequencies of interest, then mark those spots on some masking tape I temporarily apply to the panel. When I'm finished, I tear off the tape.

As they say in Walla Walla, ouila!

[KC2UGV]

I also have an ancient MFJ-207 analyzer. To get around the dial inaccuracy, I just zero-beat the analyzer signal with the transceiver on the frequencies of interest, then mark those spots on some masking tape I temporarily apply to the panel. When I'm finished, I tear off the tape.

As they say in Walla Walla, ouila!

Yeah, I zero beat the unit, and that's how I discovered the 20 Meter band's markings were off. I just assumed (I know, making an ass of me and Umption) after checking the 10 meter dial, it was good to go.

Now, I marked the unit up with, you got it: Masking tape for the owner :)

[N8YX]

If there's one to be had at Dayton this weekend I'm going to pick up a -269 and accessory pack.

[PA5COR]

I love the MFJ 269, used it almost weekly in my antenna and balun experiments.
You won't regret the purchase.

;)