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Hi, all.
I finally got my ATU-100 built over the weekend, and I tested it the other day with my 40m-10m EFHW. ?Because it’s an EFHW, I didn’t really know what to expect (I wasn’t sure it would be able to pull in the other bands), but it seemed to do okay. ?Then, later, when I actually tried to use it, it showed garbage on the display. ?Today it isn’t showing garbage, but it doesn’t seem to want to tune either.
I learned from this guy —??— that the proper operation is to short-press the button to reset the device, then long-press to enter tune mode. ?I have tried tuning on SSB while talking, on AM while talking, and on FM while not talking. ?(I would think that AM would not require me to talk either, but I’m the new guy here and don’t really know what I’m doing.)
Anyway, it seems to stay in tune mode now, not fully tuning any bands.
Three questions: 1- I assume there is a lot of user error here; am I doing this right? 2- my green button (exactly like the one in the video) is broken; any idea where I can get a suitable replacement? 3- did I maybe fry something on the tuner?
Constructive feedback welcome.
Thanks.
Daniel
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I have done some more experimentation here. ?My EFHW should work on 15m, but 15m has high SWR on my install. ?Not sure why the EFHW has high SWR on 15m, but the tuner should be able to pull it in -- it pulls it in at 2.94, which would seem to be too high. ?On this EFHW, 17m “tunes” to 2.86. ?Is this what I should expect? ?I thought it should tune to somewhere between SWR of 1-2.
Again, I’m the new guy, never had a tuner, so I don’t really know what to expect, but everyone tells me that SWR of >2 is too high.
Thanks.
Daniel
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Hi, all.
I finally got my ATU-100 built over the weekend, and I tested it the other day with my 40m-10m EFHW. ?Because it’s an EFHW, I didn’t really know what to expect (I wasn’t sure it would be able to pull in the other bands), but it seemed to do okay. ?Then, later, when I actually tried to use it, it showed garbage on the display. ?Today it isn’t showing garbage, but it doesn’t seem to want to tune either.
I learned from this guy —??— that the proper operation is to short-press the button to reset the device, then long-press to enter tune mode. ?I have tried tuning on SSB while talking, on AM while talking, and on FM while not talking. ?(I would think that AM would not require me to talk either, but I’m the new guy here and don’t really know what I’m doing.)
Anyway, it seems to stay in tune mode now, not fully tuning any bands.
Three questions: 1- I assume there is a lot of user error here; am I doing this right? 2- my green button (exactly like the one in the video) is broken; any idea where I can get a suitable replacement? 3- did I maybe fry something on the tuner?
Constructive feedback welcome.
Thanks.
Daniel
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Is the ATU well-grounded or does it at least have a suitable counterpoise? RF could be getting into the ATU's circuitry.
Here's a good read:?
Al
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My EFHW has a 13’2”~ counterpoise. I don’t know about grounding the ATU — will have to read that page - thanks.
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On Feb 7, 2023, at 11:18, Al Scanandoah < k2znqrp@...> wrote:
Is the ATU well-grounded or does it at least have a suitable counterpoise? RF could be getting into the ATU's circuitry.
Here's a good read:?
Al
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How did you validate that ATU works properly??
I used following method
- connected 50ohm dummy load and checked that I get 1:1 on all bands at 10, 20, 50, 80 and 100W
- connected 100ohm and then 200ohm dummy load and checked again if I get 1:1 on all bands with the same power settings as above
- during theses test I also verified that power displayed corresponds to power set. I allowed for 5% error.
After these tests were all OK, I took 12,5mtr (41feet) long wire with 9:1 UnUn and 5mtr (17feet) counterpoise and tested ATU. On all bands from 80-10 I get SWR <=1.5:1
Your EFHW should not require ATU, as it should give SWR <=1.6:1 on all bands except 10m. Of course if you want SWR even lower then ATU is needed as well as WARC bands.
GL 73 Marek
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Hi Marek.
I tested the ATU-100 by connecting it to my radio and antenna. ?I don’t have a dummy load, but a friend does, so I will go through the tests you mentioned. ?I’m completely new here and really don’t know what I’m doing. :)
My EFHW unfortunately does not give low SWR on all bands — only 40 & 20 are useable. ?15 & 10 have SWR > 3 for the entire band. I’m not sure what the problem is there.
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On Feb 8, 2023, at 04:59, Marek SP9TKW < sp9tkw@...> wrote:
How did you validate that ATU works properly??
I used following method
- connected 50ohm dummy load and checked that I get 1:1 on all bands at 10, 20, 50, 80 and 100W
- connected 100ohm and then 200ohm dummy load and checked again if I get 1:1 on all bands with the same power settings as above
- during theses test I also verified that power displayed corresponds to power set. I allowed for 5% error.
After these tests were all OK, I took 12,5mtr (41feet) long wire with 9:1 UnUn and 5mtr (17feet) counterpoise and tested ATU. On all bands from 80-10 I get SWR <=1.5:1
Your EFHW should not require ATU, as it should give SWR <=1.6:1 on all bands except 10m. Of course if you want SWR even lower then ATU is needed as well as WARC bands.
GL 73 Marek
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Try getting rid of the transformer and just connect the wire directly to the ATU. Also, if you haven't already done so, see if you get different tune results at reduced power.
Al
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Hi Al.
I always tune at 5 watts or so, never at full power.
I’m not sure what you mean about getting rid of the transformer and connecting the wire directly to the ATU … but maybe you mean removing the 67’ antenna wire from the transformer box and connecting it directly to the ATU? ?Unfortunately that’s not possible since my EFHW transformer box is on the side of the 3rd floor of my house, and the antenna wire goes from there up into the trees out back. ?I have a friend willing to climb up there, but not very often.
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On Feb 8, 2023, at 10:11, Al Scanandoah < k2znqrp@...> wrote:
Try getting rid of the transformer and just connect the wire directly to the ATU. Also, if you haven't already done so, see if you get different tune results at reduced power.
Al
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It sounds like your installation may be radio-coax-ATU-coax-xfmr-antenna? If not, full details would be most helpful.
If so, how long are the coax runs and how is your counterpoise deployed?
Al
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Hi, Daniel.
Not enough power for tuning. Use 10W or 20w.
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Hi Al.
Yes, it is: IC-706MKIIG -> 1-foot jumper coax -> ATU-100 -> 50-foot RG8X -> EFHW transformer box -> EFHW antenna wire. ?The far end of the antenna wire is suspended in midair, hanging by a rope that goes through a V in my yard's highest tree.
The counterpoise is 13’2” or so, and it goes in the opposite direction from my EFHW wire (180?, exact opposite direction), and is simply laying on the roof up there. ?The counterpoise crests the roof, or it did when it was deployed. It’s possible it has blown to a different direction.
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On Feb 8, 2023, at 12:22, Al Scanandoah < k2znqrp@...> wrote:
It sounds like your installation may be radio-coax-ATU-coax-xfmr-antenna? If not, full details would be most helpful.
If so, how long are the coax runs and how is your counterpoise deployed?
Al
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You'll probably need to run a few in-shack tests once you obtain your friend's dummy load. Remove the number of unknowns, i.e. the antenna. Tuning requires a steady carrier, such as CW or FM.
Have you tried tuning in the 10-20w range yet?
Al
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Hi Al.
I had been doing most of my tuning with AM, and have tried tuning with FM, yes. ?Tuning does seem to work better if I use both FM and 3-4 on the power scale (on the IC-706MKIIG, that scale goes from L to 1-9 to H).
My friend is at the hamfest in Orlando this weekend, so I’ll get the dummy load from him next week.
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On Feb 10, 2023, at 15:09, Al Scanandoah < k2znqrp@...> wrote:
You'll probably need to run a few in-shack tests once you obtain your friend's dummy load. Remove the number of unknowns, i.e. the antenna. Tuning requires a steady carrier, such as CW or FM.
Have you tried tuning in the 10-20w range yet?
Al
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Al Scanandoah