Thanks Dave, Cecil and JB for taking the time to reply. Sounds like
even with a conjugate match at the transmitter, I need to calculate
total line losses based on SWR readings without the transmatch in the
line. Also thanks for the advice on the choke and 259B. I could have a
lossy toroid making things look better than they actually are. I
believe I'll try making an air core choke by simply coiling turns in
the coax at the antenna connection and see how that changes things.
Actually even with the toroid choke the antenna is working pretty well
for the wire antenna and low power setup I have here. Fun trying
different things though and I like to fiddle around.

73s
Dykes AD5VS in Mississippi