[Mobile-Portable] Mobile antenna tuner questions

[Art Clemons]

Phil Atchley:

> 3.  I'm considering using an Icom AH-4 autotuner with a whip antenna mounted HIGH on the inside wall of the pickup bed.  YES, I realize they may be less efficient than a quality screwdriver, but the price meets my budget AND I have enough trouble "keeping it between the whitelines" without having to watch an SWR meter while tuning! 


If the only reason you're not buying a screwdriver antenna is the high
price, let me note that it's possible to build your own.  Don Johnson's
books are available on CD ($24.95)from worldradio http://www.wr6wr.com/
 then search for W6AAQ as the quickest means of finding it.  I've built
screwdriver antennas for under $75 (under $50 if you can find cheap
aluminum drainage pipe) using the info from the two books on the CD
(albeit I have physical original copies), and let me note that
screwdrivers can be gotten close to their final mark just by peaking the
received noise without looking at a meter.
There are also advertised tuning aids for screwdrivers in QST and CQ
which seem to work.