| Author |
Message |
    
Penrider
Intermediate Member
Username: Penrider
Post Number: 140
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Friday, June 01, 2007 - 10:45 pm: | 
|
Tech237...
My solarcon a-99 is at 36ft to feedpoint...when installed with new ca-400 the swr was 1.2:1 across 40 channels and worked quite well...
Now, my swr is well over 3:1!!!...checked coax connections(good), checked continuity of coax(good), used 3 different meters(all pretty much same reading), the tower and antenna mount bar/bracket are very well grounded, the sections of the antenna proper are still tight...Also, adjusting the tuning rings had Zero effect either way...
(1) How do I check the antenna itself??
(2) If it's bad, is there a way to repair/fix it?
I know I'll probably have to replace it, but money is too tight...so if there's a way to fix it I need to try that first
Sean
CEF867
CVC81
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to!!"
|
Hootyal
Intermediate Member
Username: Hootyal
Post Number: 192
Registered: 9-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 7:41 am: |
|
I had an Imax 2000 that went bad...the conductor? wire that runs through all 3 sections came loose in the bottom section causing swr's to go through the roof ..Had a friend who happened to have a bottom section left after a storm give it to me..all is well again |
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 722
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 10:19 am: |
|
Check for water inside the tuning section. Usually the water drains out thru a small hole beside the SO-239 fitting in the base. Check that and see if it is clear and not blocked up. |
Penrider
Intermediate Member
Username: Penrider
Post Number: 141
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 12:02 pm: |
|
thanks gentlemen, I'll check those things...I hope it's as simple as water inside...providing the corrosion inside isn't severe, I assume that may be an issue also??
Sean
CEF867
CVC81
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to!!"
|
Penrider
Intermediate Member
Username: Penrider
Post Number: 142
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 12:15 pm: |
|
checked that drain hole and cleared it...got some water out of it...I'll let it dry out as long as I can(before it rains again tonight) and see if that helped
Sean
CEF867
CVC81
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to!!"
|
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 723
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 2:25 pm: |
|
Just some personal anecdotal information.
The problem could clear up just fine, I have one that still works that is over 30 years old. The previous owner had placed sealant around the base to keep water out and it went bad. It must have shown bad SWR when he had it up and it was wet in there. But, when it dired out it was fine again. It still works today.
Problem was that this forced some water down into the 100' of coax that this guy used when he had the A99 installed. I didn't discover the water problem in the coax for several years, but strange as it may seem, that never hurt my transmissions that I could tell. Turns out it did cut my wattage out-put quite a bit. That green stuff in coax is probably not too good for wattage, even though it seemed to really help with noise and static.
Ater I realized what had happen with the coax and checked my thru-put out I was convinced that it just didn't take much power to communicate DX if you can get someone's attention out there. I was getting less than one watt out from 4 watts into the antenna, with that 100 foot run. I realized for some time that I didn't make as big of signal with some of my local guys, but I just thought that was because some of my close neighbors ran a little power or maybe I was just in a bad spot. Even so, I never seemed to miss out talking around the city of Houston like the other guys and my DX was good too. Go figure! |
Penrider
Intermediate Member
Username: Penrider
Post Number: 143
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 5:38 pm: |
|
well...like like I posted earlier, that hole was plugged and when I cleared it quite a bit of water drained out...unfortunately, after drying it out the swr is still above 3:1...corroded badly inside??...also, 3:1 swr seems to be way more than my radio will tolerate(loss of power and Very quiet receive), so I guess I just need to shut it down until I can afford a new antenna(probably an Imax2000)...unless one of you techs has any other ideas for fixing this...I'll try anything Once...thanks, gentlemen
Sean
CEF867
CVC81
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to!!"
|
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 725
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, June 02, 2007 - 11:14 pm: |
|
Well give it a chance to dry out and try it again after a few days in the sun and heat before you totally give up on it. Same thing happened to my guy and I got a perfectly good A99 out of the deal for nothing. |
Penrider
Intermediate Member
Username: Penrider
Post Number: 145
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2007 - 12:31 am: |
|
it's sitting with the coax unplugged and taped off(the coax end, that is)...will try it again as soon as I get more than a day of sunshine without it raining again, lol
Sean
CEF867
CVC81
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to!!"
|
Marconi
Advanced Member
Username: Marconi
Post Number: 727
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2007 - 8:13 am: |
|
Might check your line for water also while you wait. Find the lowest spot in the line that it had been sitting and raise it up high (6' over a ladder) and then pass all the coax past and thru this height. Take note of the ends of the coax during the process. Don't do it so as to back any water in there, back the other way into your radio. I would remove both ends to be safe.
I doubt you have any real corrosion in either that has already caused a lot of damage unless your rig has been sitting a long time in that condition and in your absence. This just don't happen over night. Just give it some time. |
Penrider
Intermediate Member
Username: Penrider
Post Number: 146
Registered: 1-2007
| | Posted on Sunday, June 03, 2007 - 4:29 pm: |
|
thanks, I'll do that with the coax
Sean
CEF867
CVC81
"Keep smiling, it makes people wonder what you're up to!!"
|
