I have a homebrewed 120 foot Off Center Fed Dipole, (ZEPP), I feed with RG-8 Coax. My Question is should the feed point (where the coax connects to the dipole) be covered or left open to the elements. When I first built the antenna I covered the feed point, (with electrical tape, not the best choice I know), and that was approximately 9 years ago and this past week, my AT-250 ATU will not tune the thing. I went and uncovered the feedpoint Cleaned it up and now the tuner will tune 40 - 10Mhz., not 80 or 160 anymore, (no big as I rarely used those bands anyway). Should I recover the Feed point or can I leave it open to the elements, if I leave it open what are the pros and/or cons of doing so. If I should recover it what is the best way of doing so without causing damage to the antenna and/or house.

Thanks,
 - KD2DBM

Cliff,

Thanks for the repLy...Fixed!! Bad PL-259...Replaced and all is well....thanks again.

Bill - KD2DBM

Hi everyone,
Maybe someone can answer this question(s) for me. My AT-250 will not tune correctly. It tunes just not as it should, example, on 14Mhz, it will not tune unless I put the Tuner on 18Mhz. On 7Mhz i have to put the tuner on 28Mhz. doing this tunes (?) the antenna, (off center fed ZEPP), to 1.2 to 1.3:1. I have replaced the PL-259 ends, checked cables every thing I can think of. I have JUST gotten my radio back (KENWOOD TS-430S), after having it COMPLETELY over hauled, and dont want to burn it up because the tuner is out of whack. Any suggestions?


Thanks,

Bill - KD2DBM

My father, N0OVR, passed away in January 1,2013. I was wondering how I go about geting his call sign cancelled, and how I would go about getting assigned his call? Can this even be done or do I have to wait the remaing time (9 years) his call is active and then the 2 year waiting period before it becomes available in order to get the call as a vanity call myself? Thanks in advance.

Bill, KD2DBM

I should be able to do that, (soldering the pins to the closest trace), for all 3 pins am I correct?

The information I have been given so far is AWESOME. Thank you guys so much, but it doesn't really answer my root question. Where would I wire the leads of the replacement transistor? I have VERY LIMITED knowledge when it comes to reading a schematic so I have no Idea where I would wire the transistor leads to. My solderiong experience is however VAST and I am VERY good at it so that won't be a problem I just would like to know when to solder the leads to...Thanks again in advance.

Bill, KD2DBM

My Kenwood TS-430s won't go into transmit again. Transistor Q21 on the IF board is open. I know this as I had the rig recently repaired for the same problem, and testing Q21 shows that it is open. The problem I have is that the middle pin of the Transistor will not solder to the PCB pad becasue the Pad is not there.....My questions are, Can I take and replace the Transistor with another like a 2N3906 in place of the transistor that is there now, and can I wire the middle pin somewhere where I can get the radio to transmit...I would actullay like to wire all 3 transistor pins to where they either draw power from or what ever....SOMETHING so that I can get the rig back on the air...it is a GREAT rig and the recieve is out of this world...so if anyone can help me out I would appreciate it... I am disabled and do not have the money to keep sending out the rig for repair. I have looked at the schematic and my small amount of Knowledge in reading schematics does not do me any good so I thought I would seek help here from Fellow hams who have allot more knowledge than me...any help would be greatly appreciated.

Bill, KD2DBM

Not for nothing, but I agree with those who are utilizing a metal roof for a ground plane. I have a 14 x 70 mobile home with a tip out and a 9 foot by 18 foot add on room, both, (tip out and add on room), having metal roofs. The main roof is asphalt shingled, I have a 5 BTV mounted on an old satelite dish mount on the edge of the shingled roof in between the tip out and add on room, (there is a 3 foot space in between the two to allow for access under the mobile home), and I worked Sweden with a 30 over signal last nite on 20 SSB.

No wire ground plane, no counterpoise. Now, it is possible I guess for the metal roofs to act as a counter poise but i doubt thats that's the case, but I could be wrong and would be the first to admit if that is the case. So, I believe a metal roof can be used as a ground plane. As an aside, each metal roof is 8 inches away at a 45 degree angle from the feed point of the 5BTV. 5BTV works BETTER than my 160 meter dipole which I put up in a triangle closed loop configuration on the west side of the shingled roof.

Just my 0.02 cents.

Bill, KD2DBM

I believe I know the answer but I wanted to run this by everyone to see if they agree. My HF rig (Kenwood TS-430S) shuts itself off when I go to tune up my dipole (in a closed loop configuration). It never did that before I added an "ugly balun" (6 turns of coax) to the feed point of my 5BTV and changed the power supply from a Radio Schak 25 AMP switching Power supply to an Astron RS-20A power supply. My setup is as follows:

ANTENNAS: 5BTV vertical, 130 Foot off center fed Dipole, In triangle closed loop. BOTH use RG-58U coax. BTV has a ugly Balun at the feed point, the Dipole has a choke inside the shack to help deplete RF in the shack.

RIG: Kenmwood TS-430s

POWERSUPPLY: Astron RS-20A

ANTENNA TUNER: AT-250 AUTO TUNER

GrounDed to 8 foot ground rod with 4 foot legnth of #14 solid wire right out side Shcak Window.

Originally I had no balun at the feed point of the 5BTV and was using the 25AMP switching Power Supply.

NOW, when I goto tune the rig on 20 Meters on the Dipole and give anything over 10 watts power the rig will shut itself off. It  tunes on all the other bands just fine just 20 doesn't seem to like the dipole now.

I believe there might be some kind of ground problem some where, maybe in the Tuner??? Or could it be the powersupply? I switched power supplies due to the fact the Switching supply was causing HUGE amounts of noise, I couldn't even copy ANYONE on 20 meters until I changed to the Astron power supply.

Any thoughts? The BTV vertical works BEAUTIFULLY on all 5 bands It's rated for...Of course I wonder if THAT is not becasue It is mounted on my metal roof??...the metal roof acting as the radial system...lol.

Anyone got any other ideas or am I right on the ground problem???

Thanks,

Bill, KD2DBM

Well after finally finding someone local who could work on the radio it is fixed and back on the air. The problem was Transistor Q21 which was open and the IF board had allot of bad solder so Q21 was replaced and the IF board re-soldered and YIPPY!! Back on the air!!!! Thanks to everyone who helped me try to figure out the problem.

P.S. I read somewhere in the forums that someone else had the same problem with Q21 opening....is this a common occurrence with the TS-430 does anyone know?

Cliff, Connector 9 is in the middle of the IF Board near Q29. There are 3, 2 pin connectors, 2 vertical and one horizontal. Number 9 conector is next to the horizontal one. On the IF Board component view that I downloaded it is just to the left of the "Y K - 88C" Filter. When I pull it it sends the rig into transmit mode. I am wondering one thing, I am using an AT-250 Tuner that is connected into the back of the rig in the ACC connector PIN 1 I believe it is. I have read online somewhere that plugging in and unplugging the connector sometimes corrects the no transmit problem....I do not want to try this in case I make things worse....What do you think my next course of action should be??

Bill

After following the all TX paths according to the schematic and testing all the transistors in that path I can tell you that all transistors are operational, and not open. I am TOTALLY stumped as to what could be causing this radio to just STOP transmitting in all modes and the no carrier when when the tx button next to the VOX button is toggled. Anyone have ANY further Idea of what I can do or should I just consider the radio DOA and use it for a reciever only radio. That'll suck as I don't have the money to buy new(er) radio to get on the air.

I have looked and see no grinding problem. Could the problem be a transistor on the IF Board? Has anyone had this problem with the 430s? Any suggestions on what I can do to get the rig to go into transmit? A mod or something? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Hi
I have a Kenwood ts430s that won't transmit. It receives fine just won't transnit in any mode. No carrier, nada...."on air" light does not come on, send button doesn't go into transmit, VOX with CW does nothing.....I have traced the transmit circuit to 8,9,10 connectors on th IF board per the Service Manual. When I pull the 9 connector the radio DOES go into transmit in all modes. I am stuck as to what could be the problem other than a possible transistor, I'm thinking Q28 or Q29. but since when I disconnect the number 9 connector it goes into transmit...is there something I can do to get transmit back other then sending it out. I am disbable and live on Social Security...any help would be appreciated.

Bill,
KD2DBM formerly N2AZN

Hi All;

I have a KAM TNC and I am trying to use it on HF packet. My Problem is I can get into other packet BBS's but my KAM, even though it is hearing the other station, will not send the data to my Terminal program. I know the TNC is hearing the return Packets as the TX LED on the TNC lights up. I am using KAMterm as the terminal Program. All my settings are right on and I am Right on frequency. I have replaced the Filter Capacitors, 3 resistors and the 2n7000 Transistor which from my research are all said to cause possible problems. All this to no avail. My Operating system is Window XP The TNC is Set at 300Baud for HF packet and the Com Port on the computer is set the same (300 Baud). I am getting my audio from the mic plug on the Radio (ICOM IC-718), However I have to turn my volume ALL the way up . My MIC gain is turned down to a minimum as directed to protect the finals in the Radio.

Is the TNC a DUD and should I put it on EBAY for a Parts item or am I doing something wrong? Thanks for any help offered.

Stumped in New York
Bill
N2AZN