CHAPTER 12
Troubleshooting
If you encounter problems with the operation
of your Explorer 14 plus 7 (or 10), follow
these steps to isolate the cause.
Usually you can isolate problems that occur in
either your antenna or feedline/feedpoint. If
you experience high VSWR on all bands, your
problem is probably in the feedline or balun.
If you experience high VSWR on some bands
but not all bands, look for problems in the
antenna element lengths or traps or nearby
resonant structures.
SYMPTOM
POSSIBLE CAUSES
71
Consistently high VSWR on all bands.
o Balun damaged by lightning or excessive power.
Shorted coaxial connector.
o Water inside of balun or transmission line.
High VSWR dependent upon direction of beam
o Resonant guy wires too close to antenna.
e Metallic structures or wiring too close to antenna.
Intermittent
high VSWR not dependent on weather or
o Loose connection on feed system, matching system or
power level or direction of beam or band selection.
transmission line.
High VSWR
after rain showers or with high humidity.
o Trap(s) installed with drain holes up instead of down.
o Water inside of balun or coax cable.
o Tubing installed with slots up instead of down.
High VSWR
with high power, low VSWR with low
power.
o Balun damaged or defective.
Low VSWR,
but only near band edge(s).
o Loose coaxial connection on transmission line.
High VSWR
on only one or two bands.
o Trap(s) damaged or reversed.
o Resonant guy wires or nearby metallic structure.
o Another HF antenna too close.
o Antenna not assembled correctly.
o Beta match not removed for 40 meters.
High VSWR
on only 30 meters
o 20 meter trap(s) damaged or reversed.
-
o To low to ground.
o Beta Match not modified correctly.
o DE-4 not adjusted to the right length.
High VSWR
on only 40 meters.
o 20 meter trap(s) damaged or reversed.
Too low above ground.
Beta Match not removed.
Too high above ground
