Tarheel Screwdriver Help (Hammies)

[wc5b]

I am having issues with getting my new Dayton special Tarheel II up to speed on my Big Truck. I am not sure what happened at all. I had it installed and working great on all bands at almost perfect SWR except for 20M which was still under 3 to 1 which I was living with becouse I think its conflicting with other antennas on the cab. I was going to trouble shoot that later.

Then all of a sudden (well, later in the afternoon) I had issues. I have the mirror mount, and I had it grounded to my door frame which I have had good success with in all other HF Applications in the past. But I think I made a mistake on the mount. I had the ground coming into the "middle" of the mount. (Top side of the ground bolt provided). I believe it was, from bottom to top, bolt head --- mount --- washer --- ground strap --- washer --- lock ring ---- bolt. It was working great, but at a point, when tuning 40, I was able to tune it audiably, but when I went to key it up, the SWR bounced erraticly. Visual inspection showed that the wind from driving had ground down the grounding strap on the mount and it was hanging by threads.

After replacing it with another crimp, I put it back together, this time with some tape blocking the strap from the mount. But know the antenna was deaf, and I could just BARLY hear an audibale change when in range of a match. It would never dip below inf SWR and never would show any power out. I realized I was suppose to put the ground at the bottom of the mount idealy, so I tried that. There is no change in my problem by doing that. I have it currently from bottom to top, Head --- Ground Strap --- Mount --- Washer --- Washer --- Lock --- Bolt, but I have tried multipule ways moving washers around and such. (Including back on top like Head-Mount-Ground Strap-Washers- Lock - Bolt. I have swapped out coax, taken my meter out of line, and even tried another radio. I am confused. Any ideas?

Tom
WC5B

[Phil1Fla]

Tom,
sounds like grounding..Have you tried going to the battery direct?
I know when I have tuning problems I start with the grounding. and then the problem go away for a while..I'm having problem with my atas 120 But I know it is grounding problem. I had it fixed for about a week. I'm about ready to run a groundstrap from the atas 120 direct to the battery. I always find someplace on the run that the ground has developed a problem. So my advice is grounding.

[wc5b]

After ruleing out all possable issues with the ground itself, including a whole new strap and running it direct, I found the same issue. After a couple of calls to the place I bought it, he suggested maybe it was the plastic washer giving way and shorting out. It looked fine but I swapped it out anyway. Turns out the stub 259 connector plastic peice was defective. Had another sitting around and WALLA! So, after all that, looks like 2 unrelated ground issues at the same time. Now if I could only get some decent band conditions. 3905 sounds like crap tonight. Well.... Hope its the band and not me. Sounded great saturday, and seemed ok monday. But tonight after the fix, I can hardly here anyone. But seems people around me having same conditions.

[W5IT]

Something else to remember on the Tarheel is to make sure the little raised strip on the antenna goes into one of the slots in the upper support clamp.

When that happens the plastic collar is compromised and the antenna grounds to the upper support clamp.

[Phil1Fla]

I forgot that PL259's go bad It has happened to me once or maybe twice. well good luck with your tarheel. Talk to you on HF.

[wc5b]

Originally Posted by W5IT

Something else to remember on the Tarheel is to make sure the little raised strip on the antenna goes into one of the slots in the upper support clamp.

When that happens the plastic collar is compromised and the antenna grounds to the upper support clamp.

I would have never thought of that! I think its pointing to the "inside" right now. What slot? I will have to look agian.