Bill Orr, W6SAI, has written a book entitled "Quad Antennas."  It should be available nearly anywhere that sells ham radio books.  Jim Lindsay, W7ZQ, is an authority on quads and has also written a book on them.  His email is on QRZ.COM, check with him about availability.

I used the same combination (TS850>MBV-A) as you have for several years.  When I adjusted my external tuner, the SWR indicator in the rig tracked very closely with bridge in the external tuner.  It wasn't exactly the same, but was very, very close.  Bill is correct in stating that your coax could be a significant portion of a wavelength, especially on 10m, and inducing some swr between the rig and tuner.  I think it may be more likely however that you may have a bad piece of coax between the two.  You should never have to use the rig's internal tuner to match another tuner!  As Firesign Theater said that is the "Dept of Redundancy Dept!"  Check the coax for bad connections or deterioration.  Is the ground braid (as well as the center conductor, of course) soldered at both ends? You could check the accuracy of the SWR indication in the '850 by adding an SWR bridge between the rig and tuner and see if it agrees with the rig or the tuner.   Is everything well grounded, especially at RF, not just DC?  A ground conductor that is too long is a poor RF ground and can reradiate stray RF and cause all kinds of wierd problems in the shack.  It's really hard to get a ground wire that isn't so long that it doesn't act like an antenna in its own right, especially at higher frequencies.  I solved a nagging ground problem by using RG-8 coax as my ground lead.  Use the center conductor as the ground lead from the equipment to the ground rod and solder a .01 or .02 disc ceramic cap from the center conductor to the braid on each end.  Remember too that when you add an amplifier, your rig will be looking at the input circuits of the amp as a load (at least when the amp is on) and not the tuner.  The amplifier will see the tuner/antenna circuit as its load.  It will become even more important when running higher power that all coax and connectors are the best.  Keep the coax jumpers between the units as short as practical.  Avoid using RG58U, especially anywhere after the amp to the antenna!  GL, Larry, K0RS

RE: N9LXJ comments:

At our Field Day age is not an issue...ability to contribute is.  But we have some competetive personalities, and our goal is to win, not whine about our ailments.  You complain about being treated as an outsider, but what is your approach with the local "old farts?"  As a codeless tech, it's not likely that you are going to operate the CW position.  You probably don't have any experience on HF SSB, so running a pileup at a high rate on phone, even with a control op present, is out of the question too.  Did you offer to set up and operate a VHF/UHF station?  Or packet?  How about a satellite installation for those bonus points?  Do you even know what you might do to contribute?  Have you read the rules?  Did you indicate that you are willing to learn, or do you have a "know-it-all" attitude?  If your general intrerest club's Field Day is too laid back for you, try finding a DX or contest oriented club that doesn't know Field Day is not a contest.  I guarantee they can find plenty for you to do, if you're willing to to put some effort into learning what's going on.  But you might do them the courtesy of introducing yourself a couple of months BEFORE Field Day and let them know who you are and that you would like to particapte.  You might decide ahead of time what you expect out of the experiece and see if it's consistant with their goals.  Field Day and ham radio is a microcosm of real life, you have to figure out where you fit. That's your responsibility, not that of those around you.  You say you lose interest in radio every few months.  I think if I was a codeless tech I would lose interest in about 5 minutes.  What you get out of an activity (any activity, not just ham radio) is exactly what you put into it.  Incidentally, you've been suckered with those arguements made by those that wish to sell products that ham radio is in decline.  There never has been as many licensed hams as today.  There are others out there near your age, so if you can't find a suitable group to go with...start your own.  Be forewarned though, "shack on a belt" Field Days ain't much fun.

Check the Hallicrafters Collectors Website <www.hallicrafters.org>.  Lots of good info.  Check "restoration tips" and "resources" menu selections.  Also check the net schedules and check in to one of the nets.  Lots of on the air help available to answer your questions.  There is also a Hallicrafters reflector on QSL.NET.  Several individuals have inquired about the belts during the nets, and they are available.  I believe it has a Gates part number.  The website also has an area to post and respond to questions.

The CW ops seem to move up a bit after each QSO.  On 17M he moved up until he was 10kHz inside the fone band!  He then reversed his direction and started moving back down.  Your first challenge is to spot a station in QSO then deternine the direction he is moving.  Once you get a handle on it, he's real predictable.  Keep dropping your call in just ahead of the last QSO in the appropriate direction.  They splits can be huge, on 15M, I worked him near 21.050 when his transmit frequency was 21.027.  Don't be afraid to tune waaaaay up and listen for other stations calling.  I haven't listened too much on SSB, but the few times I did, the op announced specific listening frequencies, ie: "Now listening between 21.320 and 325."  Good Luck.