On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 05:32:30 GMT, "Eric Patterson"
wrote:

I have a Kenwood TS850 that seems to be experiencing more technical issues
than usual. Currently, it is down in Southern Oregon where I used it during
high school. However, I am having two issues:
1. When using the automatic antenna tuner, it will not tune up. It tries
to tune, but gives me a series of beeps after about 20 seconds. Those beeps
indicate that the tuner can't tune to the right SWR. This problem only
occurs on 20 meters and no other bands.
2. I am not picking up very good signals. No matter which band I try, I
can't pick up anything except for a few weak signals and I can't understand
what anyone is saying. Are all the issues described related to my antenna?
Could it have something to do with the band conditions? My antenna is a
g5rv, which has worked really well before. Thanks in advance for any
recommendations.

Eric Patterson,
Kb7vfr
Beaverton, Oregon.


That's strange. The 102-ft. g5rv antenna is actually resonant on the
low end of 20 meters -- it's a random length dipole on all other
bands. Have you checked the swr on 20 without engaging your tuner? You
shouldn't need to tune it at all.

Otherwise, I'd check the coax, the coax connectors, the balun (if any)
beween the coax and the twinlead hanging off the antenna. And, as
another gentleman suggested, just attach any old random wire to your
transceiver to see if it's hot with received signals. If not, I'd
guess something's wrong with the 850.

Bob
k5qwg