Have you measured the impedance presented to the amplifier with an antenna analyzer?
Jim ab3cv On Sep 2, 2020, at 9:03 PM, Adrian <vk4...@gmail.com> wrote: Ronnie, well done. Moving to a different ratio balun is a smart obvious move towards obtaining a better match, especially at higher power maintaining insulation specs required. From curiosity what was the model number of the BD 4:1 balun you had initially please ? > On 3/9/20 10:03 am, Ronnie Hull wrote: > The original thread has gone off on some tangents. I truly appreciate all the > suggestions. > > I seem to have cured the problem! > > ORIGINAL ISSUE was using a new W7FG 160m doublet with 600 ohm true ladder > line. The ladder line was hooked to a Balun Design 4:1 ( as recommended by > the seller of the antenna). The antenna would be matched great in 160M by the > internal ATU in the K3 but with the KPA1500 inline it all went north really > fast, resulting in the 1500 faulting out > > Earlier today I swapped in a DX Engineering maxi core 4:1 and it worked a > hell of a lot better but the KPA1500 still could not match it better than 9:1 > > Mind you this antenna matches superb on other bands with the KPA1500 > > Also the KPA1500 works great into a dummy load so I knew the issue was the > antenna or part of it > > Last I put in line a DX Engineering maxi core 6:1 and BAM... it worked! > The KPA1500 matches to 2.5:1 which is good enough for now. > > Next I will experiment with the 600 ohm ladder line length. Right now I’m > using 57’. I will add 10’ tomorrow and see what shakes out and will let you > fellas know > > Thanks for all the help and suggestions! > > Ronnie W5SUM > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to j...@jtmiller.com ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
