14AVQ Troubles

 The 14AVQ vertical is not working well so I was reading on the internet and someone suggested taking ti apart an cleaning the traps and what not.     Its seems to work OK on 10m and 15m but  the TS690s really doesn't like the antenna on 20m and 40m.   The old FT101e  didn't mind the old antenna bit its not the same with teh new rig.       The 14AVQ VSWR on 10m is great ,  1.2:1 @ 28.1 MHz ... 15m is similar but 20 and 40 nothing below 2:1 VSWR.  

Thought I nailed the fault right off the first trap above the 10m section had a tab broke off the cover ...

So I came up with this fix ...

Also found something growing under the second trap ...

Cleaned everything up and put it all back together...

Unfortunately  it did not make much of a difference!    There is a very good possibility it may have something to do with the 500' run of LDF4 cable to the top of the hill where the antenna is located.  The next step is to try the antenna closer to the house with a different IFL.

Inspite of questionable performance on 20 meters I used the TS590s to make an SSB contact on 20 meters .... an ever so brief QSO with a guy in Cuba.