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"Antenna Tuners" "L" type, "T" type...I need some clarity please, what works best?

Mudduckmobile

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2015
639
339
73
S.W. Washington Coast
So I'm looking for a Antenna "tuner". I tried the LDG atu, and did not like it.
I think a "manual" would be best for my base.
I just don't get all the ways of going about it. There the N, T, types, and then I was looking at the Gigaparts write up on the Palstar AT1500HB. The Palstar1500HB is, for some reason something I am drawn to.
In put please.
Thank you.
 
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Pretty sure that one has been out of production for some time. I run the AT2K, and it's a very capable tuner. If you get one, (or any manual tuner, for that matter) and have access to an antenna analyzer, you can plot your tune points on a chart, and when you change bands, it only takes a few seconds to tune up. I don't run anywhere near 2k watts, but wanted enough headroom to not have to worry about burning anything up, and to allow for a larger amp in the future.

73,
Brett
 
Pretty sure that one has been out of production for some time. I run the AT2K, and it's a very capable tuner. If you get one, (or any manual tuner, for that matter) and have access to an antenna analyzer, you can plot your tune points on a chart, and when you change bands, it only takes a few seconds to tune up. I don't run anywhere near 2k watts, but wanted enough headroom to not have to worry about burning anything up, and to allow for a larger amp in the future.

73,
Brett
Thank you . I was looking at some videos on how to use the analyzer to find tuning spots on the tuner.
The ATK1500HB (Palstar) can be found at all the ham shops, I found them first at gigaparts. I just don't get how it "better" or how/why the "N" net work is better then "T" net work.....Why all the ways to do the same thing? Is one better..? Is it all the same...?
As soon as I "get it", I find I have not...
 
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"N" network? Never heard of that one. There are L networks, T networks, Pi networks, and SPC networks (series/parallel capacitor). They refer to the layout of the components and depending on which element (L or C) is where in the system that network will match a low impedance antenna better or a high impedance antenna better. Some networks offer a degree of harmonic suppression while others like the SPC will have one and ONLY one setting that results in a match while attaining best efficiency. Other tuner configs can have more than one setting that results in low SWR but one setting may have more loss than the other. Not all tuners are created equal.....in fact they are very different despite accomplishing the same thing.
 
Thank you . I was looking at some videos on how to use the analyzer to find tuning spots on the tuner.
The ATK1500HB (Palstar) can be found at all the ham shops, I found them first at gigaparts. I just don't get how it "better" or how/why the "N" net work is better then "L" net work.....Why all the ways to do the same thing? Is one better..? Is it all the same...?
As soon as I "get it", I find I have not...
What I am finding is that DX Engineering and Gigaparts show it, but it is not available. It is not on the Palstar mfg website, either. And the last review on eHam was in 2010. Still think it is discontinued.

73,
Brett
 
"N" network? Never heard of that one. There are L networks, T networks, Pi networks, and SPC networks (series/parallel capacitor). They refer to the layout of the components and depending on which element (L or C) is where in the system that network will match a low impedance antenna better or a high impedance antenna better. Some networks offer a degree of harmonic suppression while others like the SPC will have one and ONLY one setting that results in a match while attaining best efficiency. Other tuner configs can have more than one setting that results in low SWR but one setting may have more loss than the other. Not all tuners are created equal.....in fact they are very different despite accomplishing the same thing.
I meant "T"....Sorry I was trying to do 9 things at once...
 
"N" network? Never heard of that one. There are L networks, T networks, Pi networks, and SPC networks (series/parallel capacitor). They refer to the layout of the components and depending on which element (L or C) is where in the system that network will match a low impedance antenna better or a high impedance antenna better. Some networks offer a degree of harmonic suppression while others like the SPC will have one and ONLY one setting that results in a match while attaining best efficiency. Other tuner configs can have more than one setting that results in low SWR but one setting may have more loss than the other. Not all tuners are created equal.....in fact they are very different despite accomplishing the same thing.
So the networks used in the MFJ 989D is the same as the MFJ 986 ?
With the "Air core" in one the add talks about "no arcing", and with the other they talk about The bigger coil..., so there is less arcing.
 
What are you running?
Yaesu 450D into a DX500 with Toshiba's. (ssb rig)
Optima mk3 into a DX500 with Toshiba's. (ssb rig)
RCI2970n4 with Toshiba's into a BBI, 14 Toshiba box.( my ch 28 box only)
Antenna: Sirio 2016. (42 ft. to feed point)
Delta loop cut for 20 meters. (about 35 ft. up, flat side)
A Long wire (10-80 meter). ( High end: 40ft. low end about 35 ft.).
 

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