Hi guys,
I extended my 160M dipole (240') to an extended double Zepp for 75M (320'). It's at about 35' high on the center and 50-60' at the ends. Home brewed ladder line with Johnson ceramic spreaders, ~4". Feedline length is about 40'.
My balanced antenna tuner is Richard Measures type, 2 identical 22uH roller inductors and 7-1000pF vacuum cap. 30' of RG-213 wound on 5" ABS for the low impeadance balun.
I couldn't get the antenna tuned anywhere in the ham bands with this length so I shortened the antenna by 6' on either side and now to get the antenna matched to 50 ohms, the roller inductors have to be completed shorted (minimum) for 75M and full inductance (22uH) for 160M. Somewhere around 600pF on the ladder line side of the inductors for 160M and ~200pF for 75M. 75M works fine and is fairly broad banded, i.e. can move from 3870 to 3890 without retuning. However on 160M, it is VERY sensitive and only a 1/8 turn on the vacuum cap makes a world of difference, and there is huge voltage on the cap. So much so that I had a spark show and fire last night on the tuning knob insulator...duct tape sure doesn't smell good when it burns. Glad I wasn't tuning it at the time.
So, who here has experience with EDZ antenna's and how can I get this antenna system working again? I think the tuner is okay, could feedline length be an issue? Should I shorten the antenna a bit more?
Help help.
Thanks
Paul
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