View Full Version : Antenna Help for OCF wire and Windom
K3OCW
08-01-2008, 05:28 PM
Ok, just upgraded to solid state. Have a TS 520 & 530 for years and they tune up to almost anything. . Now the TS 430(using a tuner) doesen't seem to be working as good on my OCF wire and Windom and the R7 Cushcraft vertical. Do I need a 4:1 balun to use the Windom ? Now my house is 24' wide by 35' long, is it possible to wrap a random length of wire around the the house and use the tuner? ( vinly siding, with Alm gutters) Also I have the option of 96' from rear corner of house to a maple tree, but shack is in 2nd floor bedroom and only 10'-12 feet of feed line to antennas. Maybe that's too short ? Could I place feed line in a square U on the roof to get 40 -45' of feed line? Ideas, sugesstion,comments,cold beer ? Thanks everyone.
73 WA3HDQ
KA4DPO
08-01-2008, 06:40 PM
On the OCF, replace coax with ladder line and run it directly to the balanced output on your tuner. It should tune up just fine. If you want to run a loop there is no reason not to. Even a low altitude loop will tune but again I strongly suggest balanced feedline and an appropriate tuner to make those transistors happy.
KA4DPO - I think he's referring to the internal tuner in his radio - no balanced outputs on that. I think Windoms are supposed to have 4:1 baluns, but I may be wrong. You could try one and if it doesnt work, then sounds like its new antenna time :D
Good luck!
K3OCW
08-01-2008, 08:41 PM
The ladder line needs a 90 ° entry to the transmitter,right ? I might be able to move the antenna to achieve that right angle. I'm using a external tuner.If I wrap a random length around the house, should I use stand offs to go around the rain spouts or go behind them ? What about laying the feed line on the roof, like I said, it's only 10-12' to the Kenwood?
Thanks
G0GQK
08-01-2008, 10:29 PM
Is your problem about SWR ? You say the 430 doesn't work as well as with the R5. Presumably you are having problems with 40 and 80 metres ? what's this about 90 degree entry to the TS430 ? It sounds as if your problem is the Windom and they do use a 4:1 balun. If you can load up the antenna OK then its most probably lousy conditions, quite normal these days.
G0GQK
KA4DPO
08-02-2008, 12:14 AM
KA4DPO - I think he's referring to the internal tuner in his radio - no balanced outputs on that. I think Windoms are supposed to have 4:1 baluns, but I may be wrong. You could try one and if it doesnt work, then sounds like its new antenna time :D
Good luck!
That's true if you feed it with coax. He could run 300 ohm ladder line to the shack and then connect a 4:1 balun just ahead of the rig. That might make the auto tuner happy but an OCF dipole still has a fairly high SWR on some bands even if it's set up right. Tube rigs don't mind but solid state radios will fold back around 2:1 and internal auto tuners don't do well with SWR over about 3:1..
