[Boatanchors] Johnson Matchbox 275W

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Brian Clarke" <brianclarke01 at optusnet.com.au>
To: <boatanchors at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 28, 2011 6:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Boatanchors] Johnson Matchbox 275W


> Agreed on Rob's comments. I have one of these antenna 
> coupling units and
> have found that it can work on all the HF bands from 80 m 
> through 10 m.
> 73 de Brian, VK2GCE.
>
> On Friday, July 29, 2011 9:58 AM, Rob said:
>
>
>>I have two center fed dipoles I use mine with, one 1/2 w. 
>>on 80; the other
>> 1/2 w. on 20.  I can use the 80 m. one on 80 and 40 (and 
>> higher up for all
>> I
>> know) and I can use the 20 m. one on 30, 20, 17, and 10. 
>> Have not tried
>> it
>> on 12.  But my point is to agree with Bill--the Matchbox 
>> is not just a 5
>> band tuner regardless of what some complain about on the 
>> review web sites.
>> You may have to work with feedline length and try 
>> different band switch
>> positions and experiment with a SWR analyzer but once you 
>> home in on a
>> good
>> setup, you make note of it and returning to it is a snap.
>>
>> Rob
>> K5UJ

     The reviews are interesting. Some say its the best and 
they use it all the time, some have the typical reaction to 
anything old, "This used to be good but isn't any more. It 
won't do...etc, etc."  Well, the laws of physics have not 
changed and if it was good in the past its still good. You 
just have to learn to use it correctly. We live in a world 
of equipment that does not require any technical skill to 
use; it does everything automatically (maybe). Of course, 
hams are supposed to be able to set up and maintain 
communications with very simple equipment in emergencies. 
Having a corps of those with technical knowledge and skill 
to establish communication in an emergency is the whole 
justification for amateur radio to exist and be allocated 
band space. I think some of the rice-box radios are very 
good but they don't teach the owners much other than that 
one can have too many settings in a computer menu.
    I also think the above is a good justification to know 
Morse. Even if you are slow it provides a method of 
communication that works with the simplest possible 
equipment.
    Pardon my soap box, sometimes I just can't help it.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com