-17-
TROUBLESHOOTING
Check out your installation again, looking for loose connections and checking all dimensions.
Then refer to the list of possible symptoms below:
Symptom:
Few or no signals heard: bands seem dead, SWR is very high.
Look for:
Open or shorted feedline, open or shorted matching line, broken connection at base
of antenna (feedpoint).
Symptom:
High SWR on 20 meter; other bands OK.
Look for:
Missing matching line. Antenna not properly tuned. 20 meter radials not present or
wrong length. Consult instructions for tuning and radial information; install
matching line RG-11 75 ohm coax, 11 ft 4 in (345.4 cm) if solid dielectric, 13 ft 6 in
(411.5 cm) if foam type.
Symptom: High SWR on some bands, but signals heard on all bands (conditions permitting).
Look for: Missing or defective radial system. Install as per instructions and check
connections to radials and ground system. Keep this connection 6 in or less.
Symptom: High SWR on one band when antenna is roof-mounted. Radials are in place, but
antenna will just not tune.
Look for: Radials of wrong length or running close to metal rain gutters or roof flashing. Tune
radials and/or reroute them away from metal.
Symptom: Tuning is sharp with narrow bandwidth on 80 meter (and 160 meter if TBR-160-S is
in place).
Look for:
Normal condition. The total length of the antenna represents such a small percent
of a wavelength on these bands that sharp tuning is a normal condition.
Symptom:
Antenna was installed on the ground and tuned OK, but tuning changed over a
period of weeks or months.
Look for:
Antenna installed over poor ground system. Ground conditions have changed,
causing shift in resonance. Install radial system as per instructions. Check
connection to radial system. When you see this problem, you may assume that a
ground rod without a radial system is not enough.
Symptom:
Resonant point changes during wet weather.
Look for:
Normal condition.
Symptom: Insulation arcs over between 80 meter and 40 meter coils damaging fiberglass.
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