High SWR with HF9V

[Donald Munson]

I recently purchased an HF9V from a fellow ham here in the area. The
antenna has been used in the past as a club Field Day antenna and
infrequently at his home. The installation went without event and I have
installed 13 radials of about 30 feet each (500 feet of wire total).

My problem is that I can not get the SWR into range. The lowest band is 17
meters and it is a respectable 1.5:1. 20 and 10 are around 3:1 and the
other bands are generally worse with 75 meters being 10:1! This is the same
results without radials and with varying numbers of radials. Nothing makes
a difference.

My TS-440 does not like this and the best I can get out of it for power is
40 watts on 10 meters (I get a bit less than 20 watts on 20 meters and next
to nil on 75).

Any ideas as to what may be happening? I continually read posts in various
places of people about using the HF9V without radials and getting good
results so I'm fairly sure this is NOT a normal response for this antenna.

Don, KB4RAC
Waldorf, MD

[Donald R. Putnick]

Donald Munson <muns...@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
[snip]

>My problem is that I can not get the SWR into range. The lowest band is 17
>meters and it is a respectable 1.5:1. 20 and 10 are around 3:1 and the
>other bands are generally worse with 75 meters being 10:1! This is the same
>results without radials and with varying numbers of radials. Nothing makes
>a difference.

[snip]

>Any ideas as to what may be happening? I continually read posts in various
>places of people about using the HF9V without radials and getting good
>results so I'm fairly sure this is NOT a normal response for this antenna.
>Don, KB4RAC

And I thought I was having a hard time with my HF6V. A few questions for
you, Don. Ground mount or roof mount? Are you using the 75 ohm matching
coax? Do you have the assembly manual?

don p KK6DP
--
Don Putnick
dput...@alumni.caltech.edu

[Donald Munson]

Ground

Yep, using 75 ohm cable between antenna iteself and the RG8 feeding
transceiver

And I have the manual.

Based on responses that is my task for Saturday AM. Going to take it down
and remeasure everything to be sure it is where it is supposed to be. We'll
see what that will do.

Don

Donald R. Putnick <dput...@alumni.caltech.edu> wrote in message
news:9f5gbn$j...@gap.cco.caltech.edu...

[Bill Nelson]

Donald Munson <muns...@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
: I recently purchased an HF9V from a fellow ham here in the area. The

: antenna has been used in the past as a club Field Day antenna and
: infrequently at his home. The installation went without event and I have
: installed 13 radials of about 30 feet each (500 feet of wire total).

: My problem is that I can not get the SWR into range. The lowest band is 17
: meters and it is a respectable 1.5:1. 20 and 10 are around 3:1 and the
: other bands are generally worse with 75 meters being 10:1! This is the same
: results without radials and with varying numbers of radials. Nothing makes
: a difference.

I have been away from Ham antennas for a number of years, so am not familiar
with the antenna you mention.

From the description, I assume that it is a multi-band trap vertical of
some kind.

How are you adjusting the SWR? Many people try to do it wrong, and end up
with the SWR problems you have experienced.

Adjust the 10 meter section first - then 12 meters, then 15 meters etc.

The number and lengths of your radials should certainly affect the SWR
readings.

--
Bill Nelson (bi...@peak.org)

[iz1dxg]

Are you sure to have put the coils for 40 and 80 meters in the right
position( i've inverted mine and the antenna has yours same sympthons)
The antenna works very well also without radials on the higher bands
otherwise you need some radials to be heard in the lowest.
on 10 m mine doesen't go to well an antron 99 is better.
I hope you'll find the way to resolve your problem and if you have any
questions in particular i'll be glad to answer if i can

Best 73's Robert iz1dxg

[Donald R. Putnick]

Donald Munson <muns...@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
>Based on responses that is my task for Saturday AM. Going to take it down
>and remeasure everything to be sure it is where it is supposed to be. We'll
>see what that will do.

And don't forget to use "copper butter" or Noalox on all the joints!

--
Don Putnick
dput...@alumni.caltech.edu

[Donald Munson]

Thanks to everyone who replied.

I spoke with the amateur who sold me the antenna and he confirmed that he
had the measurements set for use with the Butternut Counterpoise Kit. Since
I am attempting to use this with radials the measurements are out of whack.

So tomorrow I am taking it down and essentially rebuilding the antenna with
the "correct" meansurements for use with the radials.

We'll see what happens after that.

Thanks again,

Don

iz1dxg <iz1...@libero.it> wrote in message
news:XBMR6.5357$ZZ.1...@news.infostrada.it...

[Bill Manley]

Don,

From the SWR data you reported it is evident that you are not following the
adjustment sequence given in the antenna manual which you have indicated that
you do have. I suggest precisely following the tuning procedure given there.
For openers you've indicated that the 80m SWR remains very high while you are
attempting to tune 20 and 17. Note that the manual directs that you start by
tuning the 80m coil, and then the 40m, and etc. Following the sequence is
vital.

If you do follow this procedure you will find that the 20m and 17m adjustments
are the most difficult to make. When I first installed my new ground mounted
HF9V I had between 2.0 and 3.0 on 20m and 17m was greater than 3.0 ... no matter
what I did. But as the antenna "seasoned" for 6 months in the South Florida
weather, its tuning performance improved. I believe that the hot sun and
swaying to and fro with the winds seemed to improve the connections between the
various segments.

I installed mine in the back yard with about 30 radials of various lengths two
years ago. I check it when the spirit moves me - probably every 6 months.
Coils occasionally require a slight adjustment which I do with the aid of a
MFJ-259B.

regards,
Bill Manley KB4XE
Coral Springs, Fl.

[Donald Munson]

After taking the antenna apart and re-building it the SWR is now down to
less than 1:1.5 across 7 of the bands. The 20 meter band and 15 are still
out of whack.

20 is most likely due to a broken capacitor that was found on re-building.
15 I'm not sure but may be the same thing. After several hours of tweaking
(and dodging raindrops) I decided to let that one go till another day.
Thanks again to all who replied and gave their input.

Now, does anyone know a source for Butternut capacitors?

Don

Donald Munson <muns...@bellatlantic.net> wrote in message
news:GaZR6.6563$r62.2...@typhoon1.ba-dsg.net...