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Author Topic: 6BTV tuning  (Read 287 times)

WB0CJB

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6BTV tuning
« on: February 09, 2023, 10:02:22 AM »

Would the tuning of a 6BTV be a problem if the antenna was mounted temporarily on a pipe driven into a ground next to a driveway? At least a couple of radials would be attached during the tuning process.

Once the antenna was tuned then move it to the permanent mounting pipe and radial location. This location is in an area of uneven ground. The persons doing the tuning aren't able to traverse the uneven ground very well.

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WB6BYU

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Re: 6BTV tuning
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2023, 10:06:13 AM »

The ground system does affect the tuning to some extent,
but that might get you close enough.

The height of the feedpoint above ground also makes
a difference in the tuning, so make sure that the two
installations are as similar as possible.

KH6AQ

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Re: 6BTV tuning
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2023, 11:26:40 AM »

As WB6BYU says, make the height above GND the same. Rather than 2 radials (what length?) I would lay down a dozen temporary 20' radials.
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KE6SLS

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Re: 6BTV tuning
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2023, 12:16:38 PM »

I agree with Dave  ^

Once it's moved to permanent location, if it needs a bit of a tweak, you can have an able body tighten it up for you.

Local hams have been great helping me.  Gives me an excuse for a pizza & beer party with the gang!

73
Jaye
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K1FBI

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Re: 6BTV tuning
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2023, 12:27:13 PM »

Problem being next to the driveway is you wouldn't want to run the radials across the driveway. The uneven radial field without going over the driveway won't give you the best pattern.
I have made successful contacts with my BTV, setup temporarily with just using a tape measure touching the bottom of the first section and set to 32 ft as a single radial or counterpoise if you wish.
So I would just run one radial away from the driveway for now.

Once you get in the permanent location, 32 radials in the ground works very well for me. Once you change the number of radials you will have to retune it anyways.

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K1KIM

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Re: 6BTV tuning
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2023, 11:51:17 AM »

Hopefully you have the DX or other Omni-Tilt mount. Without a lay down method tuning is a bear.

I have a 5-BTV and ended up installing 40 radials of 32' in a circular pattern. All bands are resonant except for 80M

80M is practically worthless except for a very narrow bandwidth dictated by how long your whip is cut.
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W1VT

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Re: 6BTV tuning
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2023, 12:07:36 PM »

I have  10/15/20 triband vertical with two tuned radials per band. 
Instead of taking down the vertical for adjustment, I adjust the length of the radials.  Then I fine tune the SWR by sloping the radials.

Zak W1VT
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K1KIM

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Re: 6BTV tuning
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2023, 12:26:18 PM »

I have  10/15/20 triband vertical with two tuned radials per band. 
Instead of taking down the vertical for adjustment, I adjust the length of the radials.  Then I fine tune the SWR by sloping the radials.

Zak W1VT

Doesn't work the same for ground radials.
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