PLAYING WITH CABLES
Another year has gone by and it is time to put things back together and see what improvements can be achieved. The major problem that I have recently encountered is the occasional SWR mismatch and insufficient power output out of one of my new amplifiers. The search for the main cause of reduced output power and increased SWR with one of the PA0MS antennas lead me to start playing with cables, interchange coax cables between the two amplifiers and antennas. The findings were rather suprising. As little as one centimeter in the length of a coax cable can result in a major change, whether for better or worse, in the SWR, provided that we are transmitting into both antennas simultaneously.
I really don't know why but our cat Mikes loves to be around when the radio is up and running. He especially likes when I whistle into the microphone to measure the PWR out and SWR.
I did some further testing today and am quasi satisfied with the SWR and PWR out. At least, the WX is gorgeous.
Right now, the Subregional contest II. – the May contest – is coming up in one week from now. If the weather permits, I shall be QRV from either JO70SP (765 meters asl) or from JO70SS (1411 meters asl).
I wish everyone good luck in the contest and hope to CU there.