Thanks Gary, I initially tried tuning with the original coil in place and
received a 5-1-9 report from 122 miles away. The lower three bands tuned
well, but I figured I must be passing 160 right into the ground system. I
totally removed the enameled coil and only 80 would not come below 1.7. 40
and 160 matched very well, so I think I can get by with that. Leaving the
coil off has resulted in 5-9-9's from everyone I called so far on 160, so
perhaps I was right about radiating into the ground.So far, it seems to be
doing a great job.

The problem with 10 and 17 meters has been with me since the antenna was new
and before I put the 160 kit on it. I have had more pressing issues and had
forgotten about it until I retuned the antenna after adding the 160 coil. I
have heard other comments made about not getting a good match on 17 meters.

I was hoping someone out here had found a simple fix because the antenna works
so well as is that I can't see putting a lot of effort into fixing something
so minor.

73,

Phil - N1KI


In article , am
wrote:
Hi Phil

My antenna tuned perfectly until I added the 160 coil, then I had to
retune the whole thing and had lots of woes until I finally found that
sweet spot on each band where the SWR was down where it belonged.

It has been a long while and I don't remember, but I did have to make
a NEW feed coil in place of that enameled wire one that was more than
twice as many turns, same diameter, before anything came close to
tuning up right. I used the same gauge wire as the original, just
made it with twice as many turns, spacing was closer also. I did find
it's best to leave this new coil on a tube because it gets bumped
easily. What I did was cut the bottom out of a plastic cylinder about
14 inches in diameter and placed that around the antenna base. A
little round-up inside the container from time to time and a box of
salt kept the weeds out.

TTUL
Gary


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