I have a dual band 2m / 70cm j-pole antenna on my house that normally has terrific SWR from 5w - 65w.
This past weekend, after a little snow storm, I noticed that the SWR was really high. In fact, the impedance was all over the map too. The antenna was not covered in snow or ice at the time of the readings, and I got two different readings (both terrible) depending on whether I had the antenna connected to the SWR meter via the SO-239 and with a BNC connector.
I refrained from transmitting once I saw the SWR flash on my 857d, but would periodically check it through the course of about an hour. It seemed to come down a little, but not much, so I shut off the rig for the evening.
I'm hoping that this is just a case of a little bit of moisture near the top of the feedpoint that will evaporate, but wanted to see what you all thought too.
There was a good bit of snow on the porch roof below the antenna, but this was several feet down & I don't think that would affect the impedance too much or at all.
This past weekend, after a little snow storm, I noticed that the SWR was really high. In fact, the impedance was all over the map too. The antenna was not covered in snow or ice at the time of the readings, and I got two different readings (both terrible) depending on whether I had the antenna connected to the SWR meter via the SO-239 and with a BNC connector.
I refrained from transmitting once I saw the SWR flash on my 857d, but would periodically check it through the course of about an hour. It seemed to come down a little, but not much, so I shut off the rig for the evening.
I'm hoping that this is just a case of a little bit of moisture near the top of the feedpoint that will evaporate, but wanted to see what you all thought too.
There was a good bit of snow on the porch roof below the antenna, but this was several feet down & I don't think that would affect the impedance too much or at all.