Re: Battery power for LDG Z-817
I would much prefer leaking alkaline batteries than leaking acid batteries. I find that a Q-tip or two with plain water (add a bit of vinegar or lemon juice if desired) will clean up an alkaline battery leak with no damage. Best to check any battery pack periodically to assure leakage has not occurred. This is particularly true for a pack enclosed in expensive electronics. I put my battery pack in a small case outside of the tuner and it can be a throwaway if damage beyond cleaning (or put it under the faucet and then let dry).
On Mon, Dec 26, 2022 at 9:34 AM MARK KEMPISTY via <mkempisty= [email protected]> wrote: With the amount of alkaline batteries that have leaked on me in the past few years (much more than in all years past) I would remove them if you know the tuner will not be used for a while.? Store them with the tuner so you don't forget them on a trip.
Take care,
Mark AA3K
On Monday, December 26, 2022 at 09:28:41 AM EST, Petr Ourednik < indians@...> wrote:
Ok guys. Thanks.?
How you are preventing from the leakage alkaline cells damage inside the tuner? I have very bad experiencea with leaked AA alkaline cells and damaged Mizuho radios and other electronics after longer time in¡
Petr
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Re: Battery power for LDG Z-817
Larry said:
"Anyone that is anyone in Ham radio spends a lot of time playing with BATTERIES.. "
Amen to that!? We have been specifying and testing cells of different chemistries for quite a while here and published the results .
Cheers & 73,
Howie / WA4PSC
Pro Audio Engineering
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Re: Battery power for LDG Z-817
I was going to say the LDG-Z817 uses latching relays, so it saves battery draw versus other tuners that do not use latching relays.
Depending on how you operate your mileage my vary..
I did however set my FT-718 with internal battery pack in my sock drawer after field days, then Christmas even pulled it out to listen to a Santa net with friends in the living room where the fire place was making it nice and cozy.. Had to resort to a wall wart power? because the NICAD pack in the FT-817 would not even turn on the radio.. But the wall-wart saved the evening as the group that was over simply wanted to listen to the Santa Clause net..
Anyone that is anyone in Ham radio spends a lot of time playing with BATTERIES.. Matter of fact.. I can recommend 2 things...
#1. batteryuniversity.com ... The best place to learn and ask questions regarding batteries.
#2. My article on building a Battery Analyzer in MAY QST 2022 page34...
Larry W8LM....
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Re: Battery power for LDG Z-817
The LDG Z-817 uses latching relays. Just wonder how little power is required between tunings.
Alkaline versus zinc-carbon cells seem old fashioned. They are both "cheap" and poorly sealed.
Suggest non-rechargeable lithium AA batteries and paint the battery ends and contacts with a light dab of vaseline or equivalent anti-oxiding coating. The coating is to avoid humidity driven bimetallic corrosion or similar metal corrosion between the battery contact and the spring contact. "A little dab will do ya! "
I use the lithium batteries in outdoor weather sensors and everything I can. I have never had a non-rechargable lithium cell leak. There are only two lithium (non-rechargeable and name brand) manufacturers I trust. Beware of look-alike fakes !
Jim/VEZ
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Re: Battery power for LDG Z-817
With the amount of alkaline batteries that have leaked on me in the past few years (much more than in all years past) I would remove them if you know the tuner will not be used for a while.? Store them with the tuner so you don't forget them on a trip.
Take care,
Mark AA3K
On Monday, December 26, 2022 at 09:28:41 AM EST, Petr Ourednik <indians@...> wrote:
Ok guys. Thanks.?
How you are preventing from the leakage alkaline cells damage inside the tuner? I have very bad experiencea with leaked AA alkaline cells and damaged Mizuho radios and other electronics after longer time in¡
Petr
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Re: Battery power for LDG Z-817
Ok guys. Thanks.?
How you are preventing from the leakage alkaline cells damage inside the tuner? I have very bad experiences with leaked AA alkaline cells and damaged Mizuho radios and other electronics after longer time in¡
Petr
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Re: Battery power for LDG Z-817
Hi Petr
NiMH cells would probably work, at first !? Their voltage is lower than AA alkalines, drops off even more with use, and are not recomended for that reason. Also the "shelf-life" (time to self discharge) of alkalines is measured in years, much longer than that for NiMH cells
I agree with Mick, use alkaline AA cells.? They worked well for several years in my Z-817.
All the best for 2023
Gordon VE3JSJ
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Re: Battery power for LDG Z-817
if LDG say alkaline AA needed only then i would go with what they say, they know best, i use alkaline AA battieries and they have been in their for over 2 years and still going strong
Mick SA4MDN
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Battery power for LDG Z-817
Hi all,
merry xmas and enjoy relaxing event with relatives together.?
Could someone help please?
Z-817 tuner arrived this year as xmas gift for my son.?
I am worrying how to power it from inside battery pack ¡? Is it possible to use recharchable AA cells or the alkaline AA needed only? In the manual the recharchable are strongly avoided cause of low voltage operating level and ATU improper operation in that case¡
Is it really only alkaline AA cells with 1,5V needed or NiMH 1,2V could work please?
73 - Petr, OK1RP
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Interesting comment on the bad ground, Joe.
I didn't want to open the box, as it was brand new and didn't want to void the warranty.
I like the idea of this compact all-in-one unit, though.? There is absolutely no info on this tuner online.? Other than the MFJ website, and an old review on QST magazine.? I figure it would be a more popular option.
I hope the new one works.
73, Adam, KE0GNL
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Hi Ron.? I believe the antenna has a 5:1 balun.
Like I said, I always got great results with the Z817, as I confirm the swr on the radio's swr meter.? When I use this new manual tuner, I don't get the same results, and the high swr is shown both on the manual tuner's meter as well as the radio's.
I've never had my radio flash "high swr" before.
I have a new one coming and will try that one.? I did not want to open the unit and check for bad soldering or anything because it may have voided the warranty.
73, Adam,KE0GNL
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Re: FT817 finals question
Sorry I left out that info. The sound card interface is a Signalink, and the antenna is a Buddipole. I am also using a Z817 auto tuner.?
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On Dec 23, 2022, at 10:51 AM, Bedford Teague <KQ4ABU@...> wrote:
? You don't say what you're using for a sound card. I'm new myself particularly to FT8. I use an FT818 a signalink, a 10 mm antenna and my PC so you're only asking about the FT8 and making contact. You're leaving a lot out of the equation. There is a whole lot of steps to getting the signal tuned so that you're not splattering and the decode can happen. Merry Christmas and good luck On Thu, Dec 22, 2022, 9:13 PM Noel Seeley < noeleo@...> wrote: I have two of these radios.
I do not have access to a watt meter at this time.
If I am operating FT8, when the radio keys, the voltage shown on the LCD drops at least one volt. Would it be safe to say that the rig has power out?? Would it not have less of a drop if it was just pushing the drivers??
Hope this is not a silly question. My test bench is over five hundred miles away. I can¡¯t figure out why I can¡¯t make any contacts on FT8. I do know that two meter FM works well to contact the local repeater near where I am at now. Only have a 20 meter portable antenna with me that worked great at home for this.
Thanks for your time.
Have a great day and a blessed Christmas!!!
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Correction. I was mistaken that the 9219 is an L network. That means it isn't derived from the 16010. ? ?My experience with MFJ chassis grounding through paint stands however.
On Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 10:32 PM, Joseph Wonoski via groups.io <N1KHB@...> wrote: I'm willing to venture that it's an mfj 16010 repackaged with extra stuff. I actually like the 16010. I did need to remove paint for the chassis ground connections before it would work right though. ?? Joe n1khb? On Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 9:45 PM, ADAM COLLINS <quakc1@...> wrote: Hello all.? Wondering if anyone has used this product with the FT-817 or otherwise?
It is an all-in-one QRP manual antenna tuner with watt/swr meter, dummy load,? and impedance matching network rated up to 20W.? The design is a T-network with a coil and meshed capacitors.
I replaced my LDG Z817 and MFJ-813 swr/watt meter setup with this, and I could not get better than about 3:1 SWR at 5 watts output on 20, 30, and 40 meters.? At 0.5W, I could get the SWR pretty low, but it would go up with every increase in power level.
The auto-tuner it replaced, on the other hand, would give decent results easily on all bands.
My antenna is a Chameleon EMCOMM II which is an end fed 60' wire with a balun at the base where the coax is connected.? I have it installed in a slope configuration and a low loss coax to my rig.
I know MFJ has some QC issues, and I'm thinking I just got a dud.? I hope that's all it is.? I'm sending it back on warranty for a replacement.
You may ask why I would want to replace the nice setup I had.? I guess it was the lack of batteries, and one item replacing two.? Plus, there's a certain satisfaction with doing the tuning myself.
Thanks and 73, Adam? KE0GNL
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I'm willing to venture that it's an mfj 16010 repackaged with extra stuff. I actually like the 16010. I did need to remove paint for the chassis ground connections before it would work right though. ??
On Fri, Dec 23, 2022 at 9:45 PM, ADAM COLLINS <quakc1@...> wrote: Hello all.? Wondering if anyone has used this product with the FT-817 or otherwise?
It is an all-in-one QRP manual antenna tuner with watt/swr meter, dummy load,? and impedance matching network rated up to 20W.? The design is a T-network with a coil and meshed capacitors.
I replaced my LDG Z817 and MFJ-813 swr/watt meter setup with this, and I could not get better than about 3:1 SWR at 5 watts output on 20, 30, and 40 meters.? At 0.5W, I could get the SWR pretty low, but it would go up with every increase in power level.
The auto-tuner it replaced, on the other hand, would give decent results easily on all bands.
My antenna is a Chameleon EMCOMM II which is an end fed 60' wire with a balun at the base where the coax is connected.? I have it installed in a slope configuration and a low loss coax to my rig.
I know MFJ has some QC issues, and I'm thinking I just got a dud.? I hope that's all it is.? I'm sending it back on warranty for a replacement.
You may ask why I would want to replace the nice setup I had.? I guess it was the lack of batteries, and one item replacing two.? Plus, there's a certain satisfaction with doing the tuning myself.
Thanks and 73, Adam? KE0GNL
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I am sure the reason you got a better SWR reading at low levels and then high SWR with high power was what the watt/SWR meter could read.? SWR meters have diodes inside and act as a envelop detector feeding a meter.? The diode drop of 0.2V is more of a factor in the voltage reading at low power levels.
I am sure the MFJ-9219 will work fine.
I do wonder about your use of the Z817 LDG tuner.? What is the balun in your end fed. Most are either 9:1 or 49:1.? The end fed is a dipole fed at the end where the impedance is very high so the need for a high ratio balun.
I have used my FT817 with the Z817 with good success.
The one issue you will have with the MFJ-9219 and it being a manual tuner you can tune the antenna system for a 1:1 SWR, the advantage over an auto tuner that uses relays with fixed caps and inductors.? Often the exact values able to be chosen with the step relays are not exact so dont tune to exactly 1:1? SWR as a manual with variable caps can.
73, ron, n9ee/r Ron Wright, N9EE/R Hernando Co ARES EC
Spring Hill, Florida also n9ee55@...
On Friday, December 23, 2022 at 09:45:08 PM EST, ADAM COLLINS <quakc1@...> wrote:
Hello all.? Wondering if anyone has used this product with the FT-817 or otherwise?
It is an all-in-one QRP manual antenna tuner with watt/swr meter, dummy load,? and impedance matching network rated up to 20W.? The design is a T-network with a coil and meshed capacitors.
I replaced my LDG Z817 and MFJ-813 swr/watt meter setup with this, and I could not get better than about 3:1 SWR at 5 watts output on 20, 30, and 40 meters.? At 0.5W, I could get the SWR pretty low, but it would go up with every increase in power level.
The auto-tuner it replaced, on the other hand, would give decent results easily on all bands.
My antenna is a Chameleon EMCOMM II which is an end fed 60' wire with a balun at the base where the coax is connected.? I have it installed in a slope configuration and a low loss coax to my rig.
I know MFJ has some QC issues, and I'm thinking I just got a dud.? I hope that's all it is.? I'm sending it back on warranty for a replacement.
You may ask why I would want to replace the nice setup I had.? I guess it was the lack of batteries, and one item replacing two.? Plus, there's a certain satisfaction with doing the tuning myself.
Thanks and 73, Adam? KE0GNL
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Hello all.? Wondering if anyone has used this product with the FT-817 or otherwise?
It is an all-in-one QRP manual antenna tuner with watt/swr meter, dummy load,? and impedance matching network rated up to 20W.? The design is a T-network with a coil and meshed capacitors.
I replaced my LDG Z817 and MFJ-813 swr/watt meter setup with this, and I could not get better than about 3:1 SWR at 5 watts output on 20, 30, and 40 meters.? At 0.5W, I could get the SWR pretty low, but it would go up with every increase in power level.
The auto-tuner it replaced, on the other hand, would give decent results easily on all bands.
My antenna is a Chameleon EMCOMM II which is an end fed 60' wire with a balun at the base where the coax is connected.? I have it installed in a slope configuration and a low loss coax to my rig.
I know MFJ has some QC issues, and I'm thinking I just got a dud.? I hope that's all it is.? I'm sending it back on warranty for a replacement.
You may ask why I would want to replace the nice setup I had.? I guess it was the lack of batteries, and one item replacing two.? Plus, there's a certain satisfaction with doing the tuning myself.
Thanks and 73, Adam? KE0GNL
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Re: FT817 finals question
You don't say what you're using for a sound card. I'm new myself particularly to FT8. I use an FT818 a signalink, a 10 mm antenna and my PC so you're only asking about the FT8 and making contact. You're leaving a lot out of the equation. There is a whole lot of steps to getting the signal tuned so that you're not splattering and the decode can happen. Merry Christmas and good luck
On Thu, Dec 22, 2022, 9:13 PM Noel Seeley < noeleo@...> wrote: I have two of these radios.
I do not have access to a watt meter at this time.
If I am operating FT8, when the radio keys, the voltage shown on the LCD drops at least one volt. Would it be safe to say that the rig has power out?? Would it not have less of a drop if it was just pushing the drivers??
Hope this is not a silly question. My test bench is over five hundred miles away. I can¡¯t figure out why I can¡¯t make any contacts on FT8. I do know that two meter FM works well to contact the local repeater near where I am at now. Only have a 20 meter portable antenna with me that worked great at home for this.
Thanks for your time.
Have a great day and a blessed Christmas!!!
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Re: FT817 finals question
If you put the rig's display into "PO" position what does it show?? In my experience if you have output it will show on the display.? I suspect you either don't have your clock synced, or the audio from your computer isn't making it into the rig.? Make sure you're set to the correct mode on the rig (depending on how you're getting the audio in -- Data jack or Mic jack, etc.)? I haven't done any FT8 in quite a while but I typically use the 0.5 watt setting and then reduce my audio drive to achieve about 250 mW on an external meter and can make plenty of contacts.
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Re: FT817 finals question
Try to make an SSB contact?
Is your clock accurate (within 0.5 seconds)?
If you can make an SSB contact,,your finals are likely OK, and if your clock is too far off you may be able to decode other stations, but you might not be able to be decoded by them...
Hope this helps, happy holidays!
Ken, N2VIP
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On Dec 22, 2022, at 20:13, Noel Seeley <noeleo@...> wrote:
?I have two of these radios.
I do not have access to a watt meter at this time.
If I am operating FT8, when the radio keys, the voltage shown on the LCD drops at least one volt. Would it be safe to say that the rig has power out? Would it not have less of a drop if it was just pushing the drivers?
Hope this is not a silly question. My test bench is over five hundred miles away. I can¡¯t figure out why I can¡¯t make any contacts on FT8. I do know that two meter FM works well to contact the local repeater near where I am at now. Only have a 20 meter portable antenna with me that worked great at home for this.
Thanks for your time.
Have a great day and a blessed Christmas!!!
|
I have two of these radios.
I do not have access to a watt meter at this time.
If I am operating FT8, when the radio keys, the voltage shown on the LCD drops at least one volt. Would it be safe to say that the rig has power out? Would it not have less of a drop if it was just pushing the drivers?
Hope this is not a silly question. My test bench is over five hundred miles away. I can¡¯t figure out why I can¡¯t make any contacts on FT8. I do know that two meter FM works well to contact the local repeater near where I am at now. Only have a 20 meter portable antenna with me that worked great at home for this.
Thanks for your time.
Have a great day and a blessed Christmas!!!
|
Richard Clemens
Larry Macionski
James Redding WA9VEZ
Michael Newbury SA4MDN