RF Burn

[WD0GOF]

With all due respect, that's incorrect. a dipole is inherentlly a BALANCED radiator. Directly feeding such an antenna with coax (an UNbalanced feedline) can and often does induce currents on the OUTSIDE of the shield of the coax, where it's lloe function is to cause RFI, TVI, and as the OP has experienced, RF burns. One immediate solution (or at least partial solution) would be to put a BALUN at the dipole feedpoint. The type will depend upon the actual dipole configuration. If it's a single band dipole, a 1:1 BALUN would be appropriate.

You are almost correct. A dipole is a ballanced radiator at only its resonant point. It is only theoretically resonant and ballanced when the VSWR is 1:1. If you cut a perfect dipole for any given frequancy as soon as you move off that freq. the dipole is unballanced. The purpose of the current choke is to force equal currents in the feed line i.e. the inner conductor and the outer shield. This will force the current in the dipole to be unballanced and some modification of the dipole radiation pattern and efficiency will occure. But, this will reduce the RF feedback into the shack.

[WD0GOF]

Thanks for all suggestions- the out come is as below -

1. Using a little longer counterpoise (17 Ft.) - the results are amazing - very low(barely noticeable Burn
sensation), will prune it for the optimum results.

2 Placed a current balun 1:1 on dipole- NO TVI

3 Signal strength improved when I placed the counterpoise -Worked S59N (Slovenia) with 5-6 to 5-7 report
though the conditions are not really good and band noce floor is at S7 to S8 level

4 Trying to bring a thick copper wire from cold water tap to the rig to give earthing

5 Rig- and SWR Meter attached together with a thick copper wire to bring both the equipments at same level.

Will keep you posted as I progress in the matter.

Thanks again for all the help and courtesy extended to me.

73

VU2CDW

Thanks for the update on your progress. You can always get a lot of input from a forum like this. Sifting through to find what works in your situation is the hard part. It is good that you are feeding back what is working for you with your system.

73 Walt.