This is slightly off topic but I was using my K3, so it is close. I was trying to set up a 2 element Vertical array in the back yard today (actually for the last couple of days). A couple of 17 foot aluminum tubing elements spaced 1/4 wavelength apart. With the bottoms of the verticals about 6 feet high so I could run elevated radials to the top of the surrounding back yard fence. (My wife loves the new view out the back window, but, I digress). I could not get the verticals to play with each other, I think the elevated radials were detuning each other or something. So I gave up and decided to take down one vertical and just run a single regular vertical with elevated radials.After I set up the single vertical I went in the house and found the K3 had come alive with lots of signals on the band and even some DX. I found a pileup working a gent in Senegal on the CW part of the band and after ten minutes of trying I worked him. So I was pretty happy with my project. I just went out to put a plastic bag over the feed point because I haven't waterproofed it yet and don't moisture in the open coax end. I noticed that I had hooked up the shield of the coax to the vertical element and the center conductor to the radials. (I was experimenting with running 180 deg out of phase for end fire and forgot to change it back). I am not sure what that proves except that he radials really are half the antenna. Working Africa from here on the west coast with only 100 watts is pretty rare these days, so the backwards hookup is obviously working.
I guess it makes sense that it shouldn't matter. What do you guys think? Bob K6GGO ______________________________________________________________ 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
