Re: [Elecraft] K3: 160m SWR issue
Hi Brian, The TopBand query that you reference had a situation that may or may not apply to your setup. He only had 15' of feedline between the Tx and the antenna. Weird things can happen. Phil's situation was somewhat remedied by adding a longer run of coax. I've had my share of issues on 160 as well, even without running an amp, because the base of my antenna is VERY close to the transmitter (30'). Several things cleared up my issues including better matching at the antenna, and isolation style 1:1 current choke and partially buried feedline. You can't count on the K3 (or K2) SWR reading 1:1 or some other low value. You really need to see what the impedance of the antenna is in real and imaginary terms. Several antenna measuring devices and the LP-100 will tell you this and you can better match the antenna. You're not lost if you don't have access to such tools, often a good choke balun will moderate some of the problem, if not eliminate it altogether. See Jim, K9YC, RFI and choke tutorials. 160 presents some interesting technical challenges, but they aren't are draconian as some would like you to believe. Hope this helps. 73, Julius Brian Machesney wrote: I'm feeding a double L antenna on 160m (visualize a vertical dipole with the top and bottom legs bent to form something like a capital C and fed in the middle of the vertical leg). The SWR bridge on the K3 shows 1:1 SWR, but when I fire up my Alpha 91B, I see significant reflected power. I recently saw a post on the topband reflector from another K3 owner whose 160m output power is being reduced from 100W to 50W by the K3 even though the SWR reads 1:1 on the K3's internal SWR bridge. Has anyone else seen this or have an explanation for it? -- 73 -- Brian -- K1LI __ 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 - Julius Fazekas N2WN Tennessee Contest Group http://www.k4ro.net/tcg/index.html Tennessee QSO Party http://www.tnqp.org/ Elecraft K2/100 #4455 Elecraft K3/100 #366 Elecraft K3#1875 -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-160m-SWR-issue-tp3940644p3947473.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 160m SWR issue
The issue(s) that I'm facing are being dealt with fully in the other thread re: K3 SWR accuracy. I would like to abandon this thread. 73 -- Brian -- K1LI __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 160m SWR issue
Hi Brian, Just an idiot question: are you using the K3 ATU? 73, Rudolf HB9ARI Don Wilhelm wrote: Brian, Is the higher reflected power indicated on the K3 or is it the reading on a meter in the line between the amp and the antenna? If it is read on an external meter -- Is there any possibility that something is arcing over at high power - check your antenna system for that condition. If the indication is on the K3, then the problem is in the input circuit for the amp (giving a non-50 ohm resistive load to the K3). 73, Don W3FPR Brian Machesney wrote: I'm feeding a double L antenna on 160m (visualize a vertical dipole with the top and bottom legs bent to form something like a capital C and fed in the middle of the vertical leg). The SWR bridge on the K3 shows 1:1 SWR, but when I fire up my Alpha 91B, I see significant reflected power. I recently saw a post on the topband reflector from another K3 owner whose 160m output power is being reduced from 100W to 50W by the K3 even though the SWR reads 1:1 on the K3's internal SWR bridge. Has anyone else seen this or have an explanation for it? __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 160m SWR issue
Good question, Rudolf, but no the ATU is not engaged. On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 2:56 PM, hb9ari hb9...@bluewin.ch wrote: Hi Brian, Just an idiot question: are you using the K3 ATU? 73, Rudolf HB9ARI Don Wilhelm wrote: Brian, Is the higher reflected power indicated on the K3 or is it the reading on a meter in the line between the amp and the antenna? If it is read on an external meter -- Is there any possibility that something is arcing over at high power - check your antenna system for that condition. If the indication is on the K3, then the problem is in the input circuit for the amp (giving a non-50 ohm resistive load to the K3). 73, Don W3FPR Brian Machesney wrote: I'm feeding a double L antenna on 160m (visualize a vertical dipole with the top and bottom legs bent to form something like a capital C and fed in the middle of the vertical leg). The SWR bridge on the K3 shows 1:1 SWR, but when I fire up my Alpha 91B, I see significant reflected power. I recently saw a post on the topband reflector from another K3 owner whose 160m output power is being reduced from 100W to 50W by the K3 even though the SWR reads 1:1 on the K3's internal SWR bridge. Has anyone else seen this or have an explanation for it? __ 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 __ 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 -- 73 -- Brian -- K1LI __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 160m SWR issue
Brian, Is the higher reflected power indicated on the K3 or is it the reading on a meter in the line between the amp and the antenna? If it is read on an external meter -- Is there any possibility that something is arcing over at high power - check your antenna system for that condition. If the indication is on the K3, then the problem is in the input circuit for the amp (giving a non-50 ohm resistive load to the K3). 73, Don W3FPR Brian Machesney wrote: I'm feeding a double L antenna on 160m (visualize a vertical dipole with the top and bottom legs bent to form something like a capital C and fed in the middle of the vertical leg). The SWR bridge on the K3 shows 1:1 SWR, but when I fire up my Alpha 91B, I see significant reflected power. I recently saw a post on the topband reflector from another K3 owner whose 160m output power is being reduced from 100W to 50W by the K3 even though the SWR reads 1:1 on the K3's internal SWR bridge. Has anyone else seen this or have an explanation for it? __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 160m SWR issue
Brian I also use a C antenna on 160 m with my K3 and I have not seen any problems with power reduction. I also have an ALS-600 Amp which is far more sensitive to SWR than the K3 on all bands. Bob KD8CGH -- View this message in context: http://n2.nabble.com/K3-160m-SWR-issue-tp3940644p3942928.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 160m SWR issue
When the alpha 91 is in line, the K3 meter will report the SWR of the 91B input circuitry. The apparent SWR of the 91b input can change with different drive levels. You did not report what significant reflected power was. 73, Guy. On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 2:18 PM, Brian Machesney nekvts...@gmail.com wrote: I'm feeding a double L antenna on 160m (visualize a vertical dipole with the top and bottom legs bent to form something like a capital C and fed in the middle of the vertical leg). The SWR bridge on the K3 shows 1:1 SWR, but when I fire up my Alpha 91B, I see significant reflected power. I recently saw a post on the topband reflector from another K3 owner whose 160m output power is being reduced from 100W to 50W by the K3 even though the SWR reads 1:1 on the K3's internal SWR bridge. Has anyone else seen this or have an explanation for it? -- 73 -- Brian -- K1LI __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3: 160m SWR issue
Ok, Brian! No other idea Good luck for solving this problem! 73, Rudolf Brian Machesney wrote: Good question, Rudolf, but no the ATU is not engaged. On Tue, Nov 3, 2009 at 2:56 PM, hb9ari hb9...@bluewin.ch mailto:hb9...@bluewin.ch wrote: Hi Brian, Just an idiot question: are you using the K3 ATU? 73, Rudolf HB9ARI Don Wilhelm wrote: Brian, Is the higher reflected power indicated on the K3 or is it the reading on a meter in the line between the amp and the antenna? If it is read on an external meter -- Is there any possibility that something is arcing over at high power - check your antenna system for that condition. If the indication is on the K3, then the problem is in the input circuit for the amp (giving a non-50 ohm resistive load to the K3). 73, Don W3FPR Brian Machesney wrote: I'm feeding a double L antenna on 160m (visualize a vertical dipole with the top and bottom legs bent to form something like a capital C and fed in the middle of the vertical leg). The SWR bridge on the K3 shows 1:1 SWR, but when I fire up my Alpha 91B, I see significant reflected power. I recently saw a post on the topband reflector from another K3 owner whose 160m output power is being reduced from 100W to 50W by the K3 even though the SWR reads 1:1 on the K3's internal SWR bridge. Has anyone else seen this or have an explanation for it? __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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 -- 73 -- Brian -- K1LI __ 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
