[Elecraft] Icom Remote Antenna Tuner

[Michael Walker]

You may want to also look at the SGC Tuners.  Far superior to the Icom.
You can just send it an low power AM signal and it will tune.

I have used them in cars and many temporary installations and they 'just
work'.

http://www.sgcworld.com/

Mike

On Sat, Apr 8, 2017 at 8:36 PM, Jim Allen <jalleninvest at gmail.com> wrote:

> > I am looking at remote antenna tuners. I have seen several controllers
> for the ICOM AH-4 tuner. My questions are about operation with a K3s.
> > 1.    Is there a limit to the time that 10w of RF can be sent to the
> AH-4 via the K3s Tune button?
> > 2.    All circuits specify a momentary switch, but does momentary mean
> 0.1sec, 1.0sec or 5seconds? Does the time matter?
> > 3.    When the complete signal returns from the AH-4 should the Tune RF
> or the momentary be terminated immediately?
> > 4.    Is there a combination of momentary or Tune RF that will damage
> the AH-4?
> > I have an AH-4 which worked with a home built controller for some
> months, and then became operationally intermittent and final fails to work
> at all. That makes me gun-shy, about buying another even though the AH-4
> gets excellent reviews on eHam, almost all of which are based on an ICOM
> rig control.
> I have used an AH-4 for many years, with a 706MKIIG and with various other
> manufacturer's radios, including now a K2.  Other than the limitation to
> ~125 watts, these are excellent.  I only run 5 watts so it is not an
> issue.  I do not recall a situation where the AH-4 would not give a useable
> match, provided I provided it a plausible antenna.  I use a separate
> SWR/watt meter that shows it working.
>
> The momentary switch  is push on, release off, no time specified.  Pushing
> the button signals the AH-4 to run through its paces for a match.  Most
> often, it is very quick.  Occasionally, when you have gone from, say, 15M
> to 80M, it might take a little longer, but never more than several
> seconds.  If no match can be found, it just stops.  Either way, you stop
> the power. I wouldn't let it just run like that, but have never heard of
> damage because of it.  You need to reduce power with non-Icom rigs that
> don't do it automatically.
>
> You might join the Icom tuner Yahoo group, if you can stand Yahoo.  Lots
> of user experience there.
>
> I've never seen a store bought controller for the AH-4.  Where have you
> seen them?
> 73 Jim Allen W6OGC
>
> Sent from my iPad
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