Hi Doug,
First; the problem..
Started to intermittently stop producing power, then quit!
No problem on receive, ATU inoperative, SWR scan runs but shows off the scale!
After communicating with the factory (it took a while!) and trying their suggestion,s they decided I should return it for repair and gave me an estimated cost for repair and shipping which I paid up front.
Now in a wait state for when it gets returned.
Second;
Antennae here are a ground mounted HF6V in the (very) small back yard, And 3 mag loops I'm playing with indoors.
I have an S5-S7 noise level here due to being in a commercial part of town.
And an unknown persistent QRN across 80 and 40 from sources as yet unknown
Usages:-
I will be adding an EFHW for 40-10 soon (I hope!)
1) Checking into the Noon Time Net on 40M
2) Listening to W1AW code sessions.
3) Trying QRS QRP code contacts.
4) SWL'ing on the SW bands.
Comments:
1) The tuner has no problem handling my antennas - they are relatively resonant but remember to always tune - using low power - before transmitting? (It's in the manual!)
2) The noise blanker, NB, works exceedingly well on my local noise.
3) As for NR, I have it on a low setting.?
4) The Tx audio must be good because,even when Net Control can't quite get my call, he recognizes my voice!
And I'm using the stock microphone.
5) I do use an external speaker in the shack (my bedroom!) much nicer.
Re: EFHW.. If you use at least 16ft? of coax feedline,then you may be able to get away without a counterpoise (that's what the coax does!).
But, if you do run a counterpoise, I have found I get better results when the counterpoise runs under the EFHW? YMMV !
Hope this helps... Sorry for the long post !
David KK7SS