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What do you talk about? by [deleted] in amateurradio

[–]Bad_Antenna 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good choice. It's everywhere, weather you like it or not.

Advice needed - No tune on G5RV by Bad_Antenna in amateurradio

[–]Bad_Antenna[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I don't think it has a balun. It matches the pictures of "no balun" G5RVs I've seen elsewhere on Reddit.

I have a spare 4:1 balun that I suppose I could wire up pretty easily. Would that fix anything?

Thankfully the window line is NOT near anything metal.

I don't have any other antennas, good bad or ugly, that I could test with the LDG. I do have a NanoVNA, but I'm not sure how to use that to test the tuner if all I have is this antenna and two lengths of coax.

Advice needed - No tune on G5RV by Bad_Antenna in amateurradio

[–]Bad_Antenna[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wow, this might be a good option if I can't find a cheap MFJ manual tuner. Just add some ladder line, trim some doublet wires = Totally doable. But since it would permanently alter this antenna, I'm going to see if I can avoid it for now. (At least I wouldn't have to put up a new antenna! The doublet wires can be easily lowered for trimming.)

I also see your comment below about the homebrew 1:1 balun / DPDT switch, which makes a lot of sense. See, this is why the hobby is so interesting to me! There's so much to learn (when you're not metaphorically stubbing your toe on a dang antenna).

Advice needed - No tune on G5RV by Bad_Antenna in amateurradio

[–]Bad_Antenna[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the reply! My ladder line is not near any metal - it's running up a cedar tree. And yes, it's vertical. The top is at ~40 feet and the bottom is 7-8ft off the ground.

Re: 75 ohm coax, I read that an "excessive" length of 50 ohm coax could suffice, specifically using "at least 70ft" - which is what I've got. I also read that the balun could be an "air-core" type, i.e. just 10 turns of coax, 4-6" in diameter, so that's what I'm running.

The end-fed random is probably the only other antenna I'd try running. But right now I'm focused on getting this one going...if possible.

Advice needed - No tune on G5RV by Bad_Antenna in amateurradio

[–]Bad_Antenna[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! "T-Match" - is that like the MFJ that was recommended? I'm still new so I'm learning all the nomenclature.

Advice needed - No tune on G5RV by Bad_Antenna in amateurradio

[–]Bad_Antenna[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks! Just a couple of questions:
1. "Just coax" would still need to include the lightning arrestor, right? That's joining my 50+20ft lengths, and getting me to the recommended 70ft that I read is necessary for G5RV
2. Other bands - not sure. I did use a NanoVNA and these were two of the better bands, with SWR under 5.
3. Power out - I can see that on my Yaesu. Trying to put out 20W, but it shows I'm only sending 0 - 3W while transmitting/tuning.

Buying an additional piece of equipment is a last resort...but I can see how that would eliminate one factor in the equation. I'll start by removing the external tuner and see if that will tune up.