mismatched antennas...how bad ??

mikerabbit · Post by **mikerabbit** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:09 pm

How bad would it be for me to tx aprox 15watts UHF into a lowband whip cut for 45mhz? Am i looking for tons of trouble?
Mike

Jim202 · Post by **Jim202** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:33 pm

mikerabbit wrote:How bad would it be for me to tx aprox 15watts UHF into a lowband whip cut for 45mhz? Am i looking for tons of trouble?
Mike

The amount of trouble your going to end up with, sort of depends on what TX your gouing to use and how big your pocket book is. Many of the newer solid state transmitters are not very forgiving when the SWR gets high. Some of the top end radios have protection built in, the rest don't.

Solid state transmitters have a tendency to go bad with high SWR on the feedline. The old tube transmitters were much better known to forgive high reflective power levels.

So your answer depends on how much you want to spend to repaire blown PA stages.

Jim

Monty · Post by **Monty** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:46 pm

Hi Mike:

All I can offer you from a Certified Technicians point
of view is [ Don't ]

These later model Maxtracs, ( other radios too ), have
VSWR protection, and they cannot provide enough protection
against a sizable hole a PA failure might make in your wallet.

Play it safe, get the right antenna, or a Mag Mount antenna
will get you by. ( alot cheaper too )

Monty

mikerabbit · Post by **mikerabbit** » Mon Dec 22, 2003 4:59 pm

Thanks for the advise I will pick up the right antenna tomorrow!
Mike

Znarx · Post by **Znarx** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 9:08 am

customer: "what do you mean I have to buy a new antenna??...the plug on the wire is the same one as my CB!!!...I should be able to just plug it into my new VHF radio right?!..RIGHT?!!!!"

me: <sigh>..launches into explanation of wavelengths, frequencies,VSWR and tuned whips as his eyes glaze over and he reaches for his wallet to shut me up...

...Z

MO_TRASHER · Post by **MO_TRASHER** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 6:22 pm

Znarx wrote:customer: "what do you mean I have to buy a new antenna??...the plug on the wire is the same one as my CB!!!...I should be able to just plug it into my new VHF radio right?!..RIGHT?!!!!"

me: <sigh>..launches into explanation of wavelengths, frequencies,VSWR and tuned whips as his eyes glaze over and he reaches for his wallet to shut me up...

...Z

Been there, done that.

Happy Holidays

natedog224 · Post by **natedog224** » Tue Dec 23, 2003 6:42 pm

Can we say Melted Output stage in a miniature purple mushroom cloud.

Fun when its on purpose though

mismatched antennas...how bad ??

mismatched antennas...how bad ??

Re: mismatched antennas...how bad ??