The repeaters around here are so dead, it probably would not matter and go unnoticed among the kerchunkers anyway...

Um, that CB antenna loading coil for 160, did it involve the use of Colloidal Silver? 

Dummy Load testing is good, but do yourself the favor and clean those controls first. 

Just don't try it with the G5 JR, which is kinda short in the dipole dept.

And, if you have more real estate, consider lengthening the two dipole legs to suit the space. 

Longer is better.


Enjoy

A cheap old CB in the shack, set to 27.025 ch 6, with the squelch closed, hooked up to almost anything for an antenna, even just a piece of receiving wire, can alert the savvy ham to 10 meter band openings. 

I currently use an old CB HT for the purpose, GE branded.  With weird rather elongated rubber duck.  But when the bands are open, the antenna doesn't seem to matter, the romper-stompers on 11 meters WILL open the squelch on that thing. 


73

Humor is often wasted on the eham forums...

One product with a defect does not a trend make. 

Not much experience on Top Band, huh? 

Open the meter up and clean and lube its switch contacts with a wee spritz of Deoxit. 

Third overtone oscillators, it could be the crystal. 

I've had problems like you describe when trying to make certain crystal types run on the third overtone.  Funny thing is that sometimes another xtal of same type and brand may work where the first one didn't.  Of course, a crystal designed to run at the third overtone is likely the more desirable choice. 

He tells you that in the comments next to the drawing, please forgive if you have indeed obtained a correct xtal.  But bear in mind that it might be a dud, even if brand new. 

An FET that has low gain characteristics might make the same thing happen, too. 

The fast way to find out, one I've used often, is to substitute another 3rd ov xtal in the slot, regardless of frequency, and see if it still will operate when the output is loaded.  If it does, suspect the original xtal.

73

Instead of the G5RV balanced line-to-coax as transformer, try feeding the same basic dipole antenna with balanced line from feedpoint to shack, then a balun to short length of coax to tuner. 

The coax should be short, but you could also do the transformation from balanced line to the coax via the proper balun at a point just outside the shack and then feed coax to the shack as well. 

This should lower the ratio of those bad bands a bit, and would almost certainly improve things all around. 

What you would have then would not be a G5RV, it would be a balanced line fed dipole, which is notorious for tuning many bands with less loss.


73

The simple Field Strength Meter, with the antenna on top, you can walk or drive around and see what your output looks like, also get an idea of the pattern. 

It likely is not a dummy load, but your takeoff angle may be less than desired to make contacts at the distance you are trying for. 


73

Back when the Japanese electronics started flooding the US market and I was working as a young bench tech part time to get thru EE school, there was indeed one parameter that was a bit perturbing and sometimes downright funny. 

The early Japanese service literature for US use suffered from some rather bizarre translations, typos and other anomalies. 

The first service manual for the Ikegami TV cameras was like that, not to single out any one mfr or brand, for they ALL could make for a strange look on a technician's face from time to time.  Sony, Pioneer, Kenwood, Sansui, etc. on and on seemingly ad infinitum.

Some of the Cautions and Warnings could stop you cold at the bench. 

"CAUTION - When adjusting, do not calibrate!"

"CAUTION - Adjust C13. do not turn screw." 

"Lower voltage is higher voltage..."

And the circuit description paragraphs were best left unread...

That situation, while humorous, was soon solved, though and they went from there to issuing some of the best manuals one could desire to have. 


73

You can't convince the cynic.  I think that is because the naysayer has too much fun with the naysaying thing. 

73

I will never forget the time I was perusing the mags in a shop and saw on the cover of a 73 magazine the article title, "CB Vertical on 160 meters". 

Ahem.


73