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Using a tuner with a Bitx40

 

Hi, just wondering if anyone is using any type of LDG tuner with the Bitx40? ?I'm about to buy what LDG calls one of their generic tuners to use with my FT-817 and a little home brew 70W HF amp and I figure that I'd like to get something that's dual purpose and use it with the Bitx40.?

I'm just curious if the final can hold up to what could be a 6 second tuning cycle when tuning on a new frequency of the first time?

Curt
 

Hi Kurt,
for what it's worth...

Regards to your last sentence about the PA taking the heat.

My current heat sink is about 2/3's larger that the original heat sink.

I have an old radio shack temperature probe attached to my PA heat sink with a small rubber band. I found a normal 3x3x3 CQ call can raise the temp to 100deg +.? I placed a small 2"x2" 12v fan that blows over the heat sink and so far I keep the temp down to 75 w/fan running during extended calls.
My idea is to eventually go JT65 etc. someday ?(I have another cooling idea that I'll try before I put the results out there).
73
WA9DOH
PS yes- I have heat sink grease applied etc.

On Mon, Aug 28, 2017 at 7:40 PM, Curt M. <Kc3hjp@...> wrote:
Hi, just wondering if anyone is using any type of LDG tuner with the Bitx40?? I'm about to buy what LDG calls one of their generic tuners to use with my FT-817 and a little home brew 70W HF amp and I figure that I'd like to get something that's dual purpose and use it with the Bitx40.?

I'm just curious if the final can hold up to what could be a 6 second tuning cycle when tuning on a new frequency of the first time?

Curt


 

Curt:

Go for the LDG Z11 tuner.

It can handle anything from .1W to 125W.

The rig I/O is a standard Z=50 ohms and the
antenna I/O can be anything up to Z=600 ohms or so.

I have an older Z11 and a AT200 Pro for use with a
Kenwood TS-480. Other than the ~5W minimum
rig input for the AT200, their operations are identical.
Great tuners. I can handle 80m to 6m on an 80m loop
with no problem. It will even tune 160m.

I presume your PA will handle the load since it is tuning at the
<.5W level. If not, do as Larry says and increase the size of
your heatsink somewhat.

john
AD5YE
 

Curt KC3HJP wrote...

I'm just curious if the final can hold up to what
could be a 6 second tuning cycle when tuning on a
new frequency of the first time?
When I'm portable (just out the door with an EFHW)
I've been using an EFHW with 9:1 UN-UN and an Elecrafy
T1 auto-tuner. I start talking quietly or blowing into
the mic while it is tuning. It has survived so far.
I do have a larger heat-sink installed.

--
73 Keith VE7GDH
 

I am using a?LDG pro 2 tunner with my bitx40. Seems to tune well. No issues. Love how it shows my power out so I know everything is working properly.?

Austin KI7LOA
 

I ended up ordering an LDG Z11 Pro II. I have a couple of other LDG tuners for my Icoms and they work really well. I think the Z11 Pro II will cover me for the Bitx40 and running higher power when connected an small amp to my FT-817ND.?

I like the the suggestion above of talking low into the microphone while tuning. That will keep it from having full power output during the tuning cycle keeping the PA a little cooler.?
 

I've had success with an older MFJ Travel Tuner (I guess it's numbered an MFJ-904, now, and with a black face - mine is silver).
This version has an SWR meter.

It's pretty quick to tune up, just short bursts - first to set the inductor, then again to set the ANT and XMITTER capacitance.
No need for a full, long blast.

Also - tune up 'best you can' on receive! You'll get within a 1 or 2 notches just on receive. This'll shorten your tuneup.

Mike Y, KM5Z
Dallas, Texas

?
 

This afternoon I had time to connect the new?LDG Z11 Pro II between my Bitx40 and my 44' end fed wire. It seems to work really well. The tuner was able to tune to 1.5:1 across the 40m band just like one of my other LDG tuners tunes that same antenna for my IC-7300. The reason that I bought the?LDG Z11 Pro II is because I wanted something that would tune while I talked and it had to tune fast enough so as to not whack the final in the Bitx. At this time I'd say that this was a successful purchase.?

Curt
 

a better alternative is to have a separate, switchable, resistive impedance bridge and a simple, homebrew L network.
the resistive bridge will always protect your rigs. the L network can be used any time separately.
- f

On 4 Sep 2017 9:11 am, "Curt M." <Kc3hjp@...> wrote:
This afternoon I had time to connect the new?LDG Z11 Pro II between my Bitx40 and my 44' end fed wire. It seems to work really well. The tuner was able to tune to 1.5:1 across the 40m band just like one of my other LDG tuners tunes that same antenna for my IC-7300. The reason that I bought the?LDG Z11 Pro II is because I wanted something that would tune while I talked and it had to tune fast enough so as to not whack the final in the Bitx. At this time I'd say that this was a successful purchase.?

Curt

 

Well, Ash. Yours is an alternative, and one that is a whole lot cheaper.
But I don't think it is "better". The LDG Z11 is a darn good tuner.

Both methods work well.

john
AD5YE
 

I feel like Ashhar meant better as one that be more fun. I built my own L match using a 1 inch coil. With probably 50-80ish turns and tapped it with a 10 pole wafer ever 5-10 turns. I used the wire out of a cat5 cable since that's what I had. The bridge is a good idea I'll try that out!
I feel like homebrewed mods and accessories are meant for a bitx, but to each their own!
Ian Litchfield KD2IXL

On Sep 4, 2017 19:07, "John Backo via Groups.Io" <iam74=[email protected]> wrote:
Well, Ash. Yours is an alternative, and one that is a whole lot cheaper.
But I don't think it is "better". The LDG? Z11 is a darn good tuner.

Both methods work well.

john
AD5YE
 

Emtech ZM-2 Just a fantastic little tuner, fun build too just not auto.

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