Like I said, I have little specific knowledge here, specifically 5 SteppIR
failures, 3 were drive shaft failures, 1 a corroded return spring and 1 a
bad connector. But they are the only 5 SteppIR antennas I have any
experience of It is what it is, but...
Some good points about water ingress and I've had such a problem just
recently but the symptoms were different. High VSWR, but not that high, like
about 4:1 never higher but never lower either.
In the case of the OP, when he connected the centre conductor he had more
noise than with both the braid and centre connected, at the rig end. This
could still be an O/C connector at the antenna, but if not I would expect
some changes, at least in noise level as the element is moved in and out,
when both shield and centre are connected.
I think also that the logic you referred to is predicated on 2 specific
things. SteppIR antennas have, to some degree and depending on vintage,
earned a reputation as being fragile with regard to the spool shafts and the
rather less than optimum spring return technique both producing similar
symptoms. That and the fact that moving parts are generally known to be more
fatigue prone than fixed passive parts.
Martin, HS0ZED
-----Original Message-----
From: towertalk-bounces@contesting.com
[mailto:towertalk-bounces@contesting.com] On Behalf Of Pete Smith
Sent: 05 May 2011 18:58
To: towertalk@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Interpreting symptoms
I don't understand the logic here. If the SWR goes high on all bands, why
wouldn't it be logical first to check for water ingress in a connector, or
some similar simple failure, before assuming a major failure of the antenna?
I've seen this symptom quite a few times, and only once has it turned out to
be anything but a connector problem.
73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at
reversebeacon.blogspot.com, spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000
On 5/5/2011 7:29 AM, krishna kanakasapapathi wrote:
> Most likely not a coax issue. Also unlikely for the balun to go bad
> and my guess is that, it is your driven that is at fault.
>
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
_______________________________________________
_______________________________________________
TowerTalk mailing list
TowerTalk@contesting.com
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
|