I just got back from using my FT-857D and FC-40 in N. Maine on a
canoe trip. I used the FT-857D on battery (with a 14W solar pannel)
and the FC-40 connected to a random wire (~30-33m) most of the time
only about 10-15m high. I was using a sling to string the wires up
in the trees so I couldn't get too high. I also used about 25m of
counterpoise running on the ground.
I was able to get tuned fairly well on 20m and most of the time on
40m. 80m was generally a problem with the tuner as I got HSWR most
of the time. I didn't think 33m was close enough to 1/2? (40m) for
it to be a match problem on 80m.
Does anyone know the range of impedences that the FC-40 can match?
Another thing that I noticed is that on 80m my carrier would have
practically little SWR but my voice modulation (LSB) would peak the
SWR.
I also had some complaints while QSOing across the Atlantic about
QSB. This may be the becuase of the FT-857D sutting down due to HSWR
peaks.
I also tried using the FC-40 with a 5x10m vertical loop 2m off the
ground. This had the same tuning characteristics.
--jon
