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Dr Dx, I switched the order on that grounding rod and matching rod as you specified. I cant see what difference that would make ...but willing to try anything. Yes there is a hole that rain could get in. There is another hole below it at the bottom so that rain cannot accumulate in this thing. I will plug the hole after verifying this tube is dry. Still, before I do any modifications, would just like to know the antenna is set up right. I tested the new rg8x for shorts using my multi meter. Its ok. So that's good. I still believe if I had everything right, I would get some kind of ballpark match. 3.2 to 3.5 is very nasty if I'm not mistaken. Like shorted antenna? My battle spirit is recharging and I'm stubborn and want to achieve success with this antenna as others here have. I realize that I probably won't get help from hy-gain as the antenna is 10 and 12 meters only. I did not know this when I let dx engineering pick it out for me. I believe in them, and they probably were getting me a proven antenna for 11 meter. What I didn't know is that it is difficult for a beginner to match this thing. It seems so simple at first. It's just aluminum poles. It doesn't get complicated until you get down to the base radiator pole. I can build computers all day, but I can't match a damn antenna. My antenna tuner arrived yesterday. I'm studying the manual. I've learned (I think), that using the tuner isn't recommended until one is sure the antenna is matched as well as possible and not shorted. I started at 22.9 long on the antenna and worked my way down. A few days later I started at the shortest setting and worked my way up. I tried 103, 105, 108 on my radials. None of this changed my swr favorably, if anything at all. Could it be Im testing this thing too close to the ground? Its only 4.5 feet while sitting on the temporary test pole.

<blockquote data-quote="sheldonth" data-source="post: 804208" data-attributes="member: 64143"><p>Dr Dx, I switched the order on that grounding rod and matching rod as you specified. I cant see what difference that would make ...but willing to try anything. Yes there is a hole that rain could get in. There is another hole below it at the bottom so that rain cannot accumulate in this thing. I will plug the hole after verifying this tube is dry. Still, before I do any modifications, would just like to know the antenna is set up right. I tested the new rg8x for shorts using my multi meter. Its ok. So that&#039;s good.&nbsp; I still believe if I had everything right, I would get some kind of ballpark match.&nbsp; 3.2 to 3.5 is very nasty if I&#039;m not mistaken. Like shorted antenna? My battle spirit is recharging and I&#039;m stubborn and want to achieve success with this antenna as others here have. I realize that I probably won&#039;t get help from hy-gain as the antenna is 10 and 12 meters only. I did not know this when I let dx engineering pick it out for me. I believe in them, and they probably were getting me a proven antenna for 11 meter. What I didn&#039;t know is that it is difficult for a beginner to match this thing. It seems so simple at first. It&#039;s just aluminum poles. It doesn&#039;t get complicated until you get down to the base radiator pole. I can build computers all day, but I can&#039;t match a damn antenna. My antenna tuner arrived yesterday. I&#039;m studying the manual.&nbsp; I&#039;ve learned (I think), that using the tuner isn&#039;t recommended until one is sure the antenna is matched as well as possible and not shorted. I started at 22.9 long on the antenna and worked my way down. A few days later I started at the shortest setting and worked my way up. I tried 103, 105, 108 on my radials. None of this changed my swr favorably, if anything at all. Could it be Im testing this thing too close to the ground? Its only 4.5 feet while sitting on the temporary test pole.</p></blockquote><p></p>

[QUOTE="sheldonth, post: 804208, member: 64143"] Dr Dx, I switched the order on that grounding rod and matching rod as you specified. I cant see what difference that would make ...but willing to try anything. Yes there is a hole that rain could get in. There is another hole below it at the bottom so that rain cannot accumulate in this thing. I will plug the hole after verifying this tube is dry. Still, before I do any modifications, would just like to know the antenna is set up right. I tested the new rg8x for shorts using my multi meter. Its ok. So that's good. I still believe if I had everything right, I would get some kind of ballpark match. 3.2 to 3.5 is very nasty if I'm not mistaken. Like shorted antenna? My battle spirit is recharging and I'm stubborn and want to achieve success with this antenna as others here have. I realize that I probably won't get help from hy-gain as the antenna is 10 and 12 meters only. I did not know this when I let dx engineering pick it out for me. I believe in them, and they probably were getting me a proven antenna for 11 meter. What I didn't know is that it is difficult for a beginner to match this thing. It seems so simple at first. It's just aluminum poles. It doesn't get complicated until you get down to the base radiator pole. I can build computers all day, but I can't match a damn antenna. My antenna tuner arrived yesterday. I'm studying the manual. I've learned (I think), that using the tuner isn't recommended until one is sure the antenna is matched as well as possible and not shorted. I started at 22.9 long on the antenna and worked my way down. A few days later I started at the shortest setting and worked my way up. I tried 103, 105, 108 on my radials. None of this changed my swr favorably, if anything at all. Could it be Im testing this thing too close to the ground? Its only 4.5 feet while sitting on the temporary test pole. [/QUOTE]

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