[Elecraft] auto-tuner needs more radio output to tune

[David Christ]

The SGC 230 is well regarded but has serious power limitations.  It is rated at 200 W PEP and only 80 W continuous (RTTY).  The K3 alone can exceed these power limits on RTTY.  And furthermore it is inadequate for use with the KPA500.

The MFJ-998RT claims to handle the power but the reviews on eHam are much less than glowing.  So it seems that a remote tuner the quality of the KAT500 (possibly based on it) would fill a need not currently being met.

I have severe space limitations so low band dipole and verticals with radials are not an option.  I really need a decent remote tuner

If Elecraft ever markets such an item you will find me near the front of the line

David K0LUM


On Oct 15, 2013, at 3:32 PM, Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:

> While an Elecraft product would have appeal, the SGC230 fits that bill
> without batteries and has a long history of reliable operation in very
> severe environments such as on board ships where it's enveloped in corrosive
> stack gasses and doused with sea water regularly, baked under tropical suns
> and frozen with coats of polar ice.
> 
> Not much interface needed. IIRC, it tunes when commanded (or SWR exceeds a
> threshold) and remembers settings. You know it is working because the SWR on
> the coax is low at the rig, which means it's providing a 50 ohm non-reactive
> load at the antenna end. 
> 
> I worked with a lot of them on ships in the early 1990's where they were
> used primarily at the base of a 22 foot whip to load it up on the SSB marine
> distress frequency of 2182 kHz. At 100 watts, that was really pushing them
> hard because of the very short radiator for that frequency, but they worked
> FB in that service. 
> 
> 73, Ron AC7AC