[Elecraft] Remote Controlled Balanced Antenna Tuner

[Robb Romans]

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On Thursday 08 August 2002 05:16 pm, Jeff Burns wrote:
> On my lot the most practical antennas are simple multi-band wire
> designs. Unfortunately, there seams to be no way to avoid a lengthy
> run of coax to get
> into the shack. With the KAT2 I get a good match to the system I have
> now, but I
> am dissipating a lot of energy in the coax. I also have problems with
> the coax
> radiating.  It seams what I need is a remote tuning unit.
>
> The perfect tuner for my needs would be:
> 1.   Remote mountable.
> 2.   Auto Tuning.
> 3.   Balanced output.

I have an approx. 80m horizontal loop antenna strung up in the trees=20
around my lot. My solution to the balanced antenna tuner problem is the=20
Icom AH-4 autotuner. It has one high-tension insulator for a "random=20
wire" and an insulated ground wingnut. I simply connect one end of the=20
ladder line to the antenna terminal and the other to the ground=20
terminal. Note that the chassis on this unit is thermoplastic and not=20
grounded, so the tuner "floats". I then run coax from the tuner into=20
the shack. The unit is marketed as weatherproof, but I mounted it under=20
an eave of my house for some weather protection.

It will tune 160-6m at very close to 1:1 all frequencies. No kidding.=20
There is an article on the web on how to use this tuner with other than=20
Icom rigs. See here:
http://www.hamoperator.com/ah-4_universal_interface.htm
http://www.hamoperator.com/ah4/index.html

Here are the negatives:
1. only connected to ONE antenna.
2. limited to 100W
3. $280

=09Hope this helps you,
=09Robb KD5SQF

- --=20
Robb Romans
Linux Commando
http://www.killsoft.com

"If ye love wealth better than liberty,
    the tranquility of servitude better
    than the animating contest of freedom,
    go home from us in peace.
 We ask not your counsels or arms.
 Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you.
 May your chains set lightly upon you,=20
    and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen."

=09=09Samuel Adams
=09=09Addressing the Philadelphia State House
=09=09Thursday August 1st, 1776

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