Dear Groupmembers,

the issue below has been sent to LDG Support. However I trust that this comunity may have a hint too. Thanks for any hints.

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I also have the same problem. Let me know if you all figure this out.

[Edited Message Follows]
[Reason: I crosschecked in manual mode]

Dear Groupmembers,

the issue below has been sent to LDG Support. However I trust that this comunity may have a hint too. Thanks for any hints.

My setup:?

?

I use it with a Yaesu FT-818ND. A Pigtail ist connected between the

TX-Out of the Radio and the "TX" Connector of the Tuner. The Antenna

(Dipole for 20m) is connected to the ANT Connector of the tuner. The

mini DIN cable connects the ACC-Port of the radio with the port

named "Radio" of the tuner. The CAT rate is set to 38.400 kbps

using Menu #14. I believe I made the setup in accordance with the

manual and I checked it over and over again.? ? ?

?

The behavior is as follows:

?

When I press the "tune" knob on the tuner the radio goes into TX and

the tuner lights the red LED but no tuning cycle is performed. No green

LED but 5 short red blinks indicating "no RF detected". Also I do not

see the mode change to "PKT"

?

To verify whether a carrier is transmitted I placed a SW Receiver next

to the tuner and set RX to the same Frequency as the Transceiver.

During the tuning process I hear the tuning tone indicating that the TX

is producing RF bit maybe not enough to run the tuner.?

?

When I then start the forced full circle, same behavior. But when I do

the second full circle on the same frequency right after the to above

mentioned failed attempts I sometimes have success meaning that the

tuner executes the full circle and I hear the relays working and i am

rewarded with some green LED lights indicating that I have a

reasonable SWR.?

?

The builtin SWR indicator of the transceiver confirms that and also a

cross check using my antenna analyzer confirms that the established

Z-Match produces the match for the frequency I tuned for.?

?

So the device technically somewhat randomly works but not reliable. Also

I do not experience the "memory function" meaning even if I had once

successfully tuned to say 14.180 MHz and return to the Frequency and

push "tune" for three second I see the red LED but I do not hear the

relays reestablishing the memory setting.

?

What I did for troubleshooting so far:

?

1. Changed the battery

2. Examined the circuit board for obvious damages

3. examined the ACC cable for bended or broken pins?

4. tightened the nuts of the PL Antenna sockets. (They tend to get loose

from time to time.

5. Separated the tuner from the Transceiver (Within the limits of the

cables.?

6. Detached the CAT Cable to the computer

7. Tested both with the transceiver on battery power and external power

supply powersupply

8. Read the manual over and over again

?

I also can confirm that the TX of the Transceiver is working because

I can make QSOs successfully and I crosschecked with the SW-Receiver.?

EDIT 28th Dec 2022:
I crosschecked in manual mode (as described in the manual for operating the tuner with other transceivers than the YAESU FT-817 or FT-818): It seems that the tuner makes matches in that mode with no problem at all. Tried 4 bands (40, 30, 20, 17), So the assumption is that the automode is malfunctioning. I am node able to swap the Accessory cable since I do not have a spare? at hand. However I have a USB-62C from RT Systems connected from my computer to the computer port of the tuner that is connected through to transceiver (as described in the manual). And I have no trouble to use CAT control for example with WSJTX or FLDIGI. So I believe that the Data Cable should be working. As stated above malfunction happens randomly be it with connected computer or without. Is there a way to reset the microcontroller??

-- 
73'S DE NU4N DAVE

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On Wed, Dec 28, 2022 at 02:02 PM, Dave Tucker Nu4N wrote:

I also have the same problem. Let me know if you all figure this out.

Will do, Dave!

On Wed, Dec 28, 2022 at 02:51 PM, Mike Olbrisch wrote:

Which Antenna-Port on the FT-817 are you using?? FRONT or REAR?

Mike, I use the Rear PL-Socket. It is connected to the tuner with a 50cm Pigtail. And yes, the Antenna is set to Rear (= R in the Display)?

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Thanks Mike for taking the time to answer to my topic. I did not know about this weakness so thanks for bringing that up. I tried the relay F-R-F-R cycle and I clearly hear the relays working (no proof that they switching though) but I am hearing a change in the static noise at the same time so I trust that the relay is working alright. Nevertheless I did connect the Pigtail with a PL to BNC adapter to the front socket. No success

What is strange is that upon pushing the tune button it randomly doesn't turn to PKT as expected.?

BTW: Switching from back to rear adds another 20 mA. So you are right: that adds up to the energy bill when doing QRP. Thanks a lot!

FWIW, I have an original FT-817 (circa 2001) that I cannot easily use with an? ATU due to SWR foldback.?

What has happened to this rig is that at some point the SWR foldback operation became overly sensitive.
The end result is that when I try to use an ATU the rig detects high SWR and folds the output power back so quickly that the ATU doesn't get
enough power to execute a tune cycle.? This sounds a bit like what you are experiencing.??

My work around for this is? to insert a Tayloe SWR indicator/resistive bridge between the rig and the tuner.? With the? bridge in the "tune" position
most of the output power goes into the resistive bridge but the rig itself sees an impedance close to 50 ohms so it doesn't initiate SWR foldback.?
There is still enough power getting to the tuner to allow it to properly tune.? With the bridge in "operate" all of the power then goes into the tuner so I can operate as?
normal.?

QRP Guys sells this circuit as a kit that they call the LED Tuning indicator? ;??

Michael VE3WMB?

P.S. Perhaps if you insert a sensitive QRP power meter between the rig and the ATU, you can observe the power out to determine if the rig is folding the output back.?

Thanks Michael for taking the time. Much appreciated.

What you are saying makes a lot of sense but I wonder, how this equipment, which is designed to work with the Yaesu FT-818 runs into that SWR foldback trap. I sometimes see the "HighSWR" Warnung in the FT-818 Display which supports your theory.??

I have assembled a kit from QRP-Guys. Great designs however I had one terrible experience with really wobbly BNC sockets. Not usable. However the Tuning indicator uses other sockets so maybe I give it a try.?

But what I do is to borrow a Power Meter from the club station to observe the power as you suggested, Thanks a lot!!?

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Dear ALL,

as an update about this topic:

I returned the unit to WIMO, where I bought the device. They checked it out with a FT-818 ND that they had and made a video. I truned put that the device functioned without a problem during the bench test. After return of the device I checked again with a new cable that they included. Same problem as described in the first post here with my TRX. That leaves the possibility that the problem lies with my TRX. I was not able to check that out yet. But I will try my tuner with the FT-818 of a friend. I will leave a report after the test.?

Very frustrating though

73 -thomas