Need recommendations for tuner for 10m-12m 500W max

[moose]

I've been toying with the idea of going ahead and getting my ticket but, I just cannot afford to get the radio I want right now. So I want to go head and get a tuner that I could possibly use down the line. I also want to start to toy with building my own dipole to use in conjunction with my IMAX2000 and reading some of the threads a tuner is a must when home brewing.

Thanks!

 

[Se7en]

12m = MIA/DEAD.
10m = QRP = what do you need 500w & a tuner for? if you want a good tuner check out MFJ manual tuners there very nice and work great. that imax antenna is a huge bleed stick, i would NOT recommend it w/ 500w on 10m use. IMO. good luck

 

[Captain Kilowatt]

12m MIA?? Dead?? You need a better receiver. It's been hopping here lately,in fact it opens before and closes after 10m.

Moose, where did you hear that you need a tuner when homebrewing? A dipole can easily be cut and tuned for either 10 or 12m that will have a low SWR across the whole band without a tuner. A properly built antenna of any type should not need an antenna tuner unless it is to be operated on several bands or on a band it was never meant too.

 

[Moleculo]

12m has been pretty good lately!

If you decide that you want/need a tuner, take a look at some of the MFJ tuners. The MFJ-969 sells at a reasonable price ($219 currently), has a roller inductor, 2 coax connections and balanced line connection with a built in dummy load. 300 watt rating and covers HF+6m.

 

[moose]

I just want to start paying more attention to the antenna I have and maybe build another or two. I have a decent radio now and more than enough wattage I believe, besides I have that Astron 70 and if it can't run it then I don't need it.

I am going to start reading more on antenna design. I can't really wrap my head around theory but I'll work on that too.

I guess I should have phrased the question more like, 'Do you think I need a tuner?' The most radio I have frequency wise is the 257.

26.165 - 3+
25.615 - 3.0
25.855 - 2.4
26.065 - 1.9
26.305 - 1.5
26.515 - 1.2
26.755 - 1.0
26.965 - 1.0
27.205 - 1.0
27.515 - 1.0
27.655 - 1.0
27.865 - 1.1
28.106 - 1.2
28.315 - 1.5
28.555 - 2.0
28.765 - 2.5
29.005 - 3+
29.695 - 3+

Would it be worth it to spend the money on a tuner to get the upper and lower fringes, or would the money be better spent trying to homebrew two dipoles?

 

[W5LZ]

You're getting something like 2 Mhz on one antenna? I think I'd put up a second antenna before buying a tuner.
- 'Doc

 

[Se7en]

You're getting something like 2 Mhz on one antenna? I think I'd put up a second antenna before buying a tuner.
- 'Doc

I second that. Fyi dipoles easy to make with proper tools.

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