I talked about this before and people suggested it was rain getting into my coax. Well now that I have my new jpole antenna installed for FM broadcasting it has a 1.3-1.5 SWR normal. Well after a solid two days of raining here in Wisconsin I went to fire up the FM only to find the SWR around 3!!! At first I thought it was something with the coax connector or TX itself but after testing with a dummy load (which showed a 1.2, aka working correctly) and resoldering a new connector to the coax it's still a 3. I know it is from the rain. I just don't understand how this can be! My coax is water proofed. Heck I used to work for an antenna installation shop so I know my stuff when it comes to installing stuff the right way. There can't be water in the coax I am sure of it. So it has to be the rain on the antenna itself. Anyone else ever have this happen with an antenna system? I can't exactly climb my tower and wipe down the thing! Ugh this angers me. My signal is getting out 1/3 of what it normally does. I am almost sure when the sun beats down on my cable and antenna that my SWR will get back to normal. Not trying to blog here, but has anyone else ever had an issue like this?
Just found this information on another forum of people having the same issues... www.eham.net/forums/Elmers/191390 Looks like it happens with antennas at higher VHF frequencies. Probably has to do with being a Jpole and my two elements being so closed to each other on the outside of a PVC pipe. Maybe the moisture is crossing over. I have no idea. At least I know I am not alone. This is a really bad issue though. My RF output transistor does not like a SWR of 3
I really wonder if it does this with rain how it will handle ice and snow next year
I am having trouble getting my signal out antenna is only 15ft away from power lines it is the only place in the backyard to put the antenna & mast. I am getting only 2mile range when I should be getting 5 to 7 miles running 4.3w. If I put the antenna & mast in the center of the roof I should get full range. I know it is tuff to get a antenna to peak proforance with the right antenna tuner coax tuned antenna it should rock but this will take time to get right
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I am having trouble getting my signal out antenna is only 15ft away from power lines it is the only place in the backyard to put the antenna & mast. I am getting only 2mile range when I should be getting 5 to 7 miles running 4.3w. If I put the antenna & mast in the center of the roof I should get full range. I know it is tuff to get a antenna to peak proforance with the right antenna tuner coax tuned antenna it should rock but this will take time to get right
Well actually 2 mile range on your average radio like a boombox or walkman with 4 watts is not that bad. But I know how you feel hehe. It's not like we have 500 foot towers to play with like the big guys ;D
Well an update, it has stopped raining for the last day and my SWR is at 2. Still not my average 1.5 but now I know for a fact that it was the rain. I sure wish there was a way around this but it seems that no matter what I do the rain on my antenna itself will cause issues.
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