Since purchasing my antenna in August, I continue to have reoccurring problems tuning in the 80m band. Recently, my antenna stopped tuning to anything below 4000 kHZ.
After some extensive problem isolation and resolution, I have come to the conclusion that the antenna needs to be 'adjusted' to tune (resonate) to frequencies in the 80m band.
Does anyone have any information about the gamma match bars and if removing one or more will make the antenna resonant in 80m?
For background, here are the details of my problem isolation.
1) I have tried a new 24v power supply that exceeds specs for amp / watt of the original.
2) All cables have been verified. Distance is 141 feet per my antenna analyzer (RigExpert AA-600). I am using 12g stranded copper wire that is continuous (no splices) from ATU to antenna. For antenna wire I am using continuous (no splices) DX Engineering 400MAX Low-Loss 50-ohm cable with same branded connectors that are crimped, soldered, and weather proof. My antenna analyzer verifies that the wire and connectors are good and performing within spec.
3) I lowered the antenna from 9 feet to 6 feet at base with no improvement. The antenna was previously moved away from buildings to an open area of the backyard.
4) Depending on conditions (solar minimum), I am able to make global QSO’s on 40m and 20m with good reports and can perform many (dozen or more) tuning cycles without any issues on 20m and 40m.
5) I have verified that the antenna is not resonant below 4000 kHZ with my antenna analyzer. SWR is above 3 and the SWR increases as the frequency goes lower within the 80m band.
6) These test results are repeatable every time;
a) When the antenna is in the closed position or while attempting to ’tune’ to less than
4000 KHz, then;
- The antenna will not tune to ANY frequency
- I get MOTOR FAIL NO LOAD error when attempting Semi Auto Tune when the blue
light comes on while tuning.
- I get TUNING FAIL NO RESONANCE error when attempting to Semi Auto tune when
the blue light does NOT come on while tuning.
- I must ‘reset’ the antenna by utilizing manual mode to open the antenna to 1/3 or
greater in order for the actuator motor to operate again
b) Auto-detect fails just after the ‘Closing' phase of autodetect with “Autoset Fail:No
Antenna” and the antenna remains in the fully closed position; - “Motor Check”
completes OK.
- The antenna opens fully during “Autoset Antenna: Opening” and “Autoset Antenna:
Frequency Scan” completes OK.
- The antenna fully closes during “Autoset Antenna: Closing”. and “Autoset Antenna:
Frequency Scan” FAILS.
- I must ‘reset’ the antenna by utilizing manual mode to open the antenna to 1/3 or
greater in order for the actuator motor to operate again
c) I can operate the antenna in the following manner; - in Manual Mode open the antenna
to about 1/3 or greater, then semi-auto tune to frequencies higher than 5000 KHZ
- I have verified the ATU reported SWR on 40m and 20m with my antenna analyzer
- the antenna will continue to operate but the SWR will slowly increase from about 1.3
to over 2.0 with each subsequent tuning cycle. I can ‘reset’ this by using manual
mode to fully open the antenna at it will bring the SWR back down to 1.2-1.3 range
for subsequent tuning cycles.
Hi, Dan,
I have used an automotive product sold here called Copper-Eze. It is an anti-seize grease that is loaded with very fine copper dust particles. You should be able to find a similar product, it is a grease and has a distinct coppery look to it. You liberally smear this on the bolt threads as well as on the contacting surfaces after they have been wire brushed to be clean and shiny, and the bolt up tight. I also smear this on any outside PL-259 threads, and even in the constant sunshine and harsh conditions here have not had any plugs that have seized.
73, Adrian, 5B4AIY