Antenna Tuner

[LambertODK]

This question is maybe already being asked several times, but I cannot find the answer that easy...
Is it useful to use an automatic antenna tuner for receiving instead of being used on a transmitter. Because it is not easy to find a manual ATU anymore. And I am not so handy with a soldering iron :-D

Apologies en thank in advance for any answer...

Greetings, 73's

 

[ka3jjz]

Automatic 'antenna tuners' are great for hams but really not useful just for listeners. The reason is simple - it's not legal to transmit on most of the HF spectrum without a license (CB excluded, natch), and an automatic 'tuner' requires just a little juice to tune up.

And as for manual transmatches - real antenna tuners are put at the feedpoint of the antenna, not at the station- MFJ has several, and these are also popular...

Products - EMTECH QRP Amateur Radio Gear

steadynet.com

I would also say that there are many cases where a transmatch (for receiving) really isn't going to be that useful. If you already have a good HF antenna of a decent length - say 70-80 foot or so, mounted outdoors - you might not see much improvement if any at all. If you have to use a compromise antenna which is rather short, then maybe. Before you consider getting a transmatch, improve your antenna situation.

Mike

 

[popnokick]

LambertODK - What might be much more useful for you since you are talking about receive antennas only is a receiver pre-selector such as the MFJ-1046 MFJ-1046, RECEIVER PRE-SELECTOR, 1.6 - 33 MHz
... not simply to optimize your receive antenna... particularly with random length wires... but also to reduce strong signal overload that can affect your receiver when you connect to a good outdoor antenna. And there are others besides what MFJ has. A receiver preselector is closer to the "manual ATU" that you are having trouble locating.

 

[ka3jjz]

This greatly depends on your local RF environs. If you have one of those wide banded SDRs like the SDRPlay, Funcube, RTL-SDR v3 then a passive preselector (like the one above) is going to be worth its weight in gold if you have a lot of FM, TV or AM stations nearby. The same can be said of older desktop radios like the DX160

Mike

 

[LambertODK]

Thank You all ! Will work with that.
Pulled up today a Long Wire of 25meters and explore the waves in coming days. Will put the QRM Eliminator to work and keep you posted.
Stay Safe!

 

[jazzboypro]

This greatly depends on your local RF environs. If you have one of those wide banded SDRs like the SDRPlay, Funcube, RTL-SDR v3 then a passive preselector (like the one above) is going to be worth its weight in gold if you have a lot of FM, TV or AM stations nearby. The same can be said of older desktop radios like the DX160

Mike

I've seen lots of post talking about having FM,TV or AM broadcast station nearby and of course it makes sense. What i would like to know is in terms of distance, what would be considered "Nearby"

73
VA2FCS

 

[ka3jjz]

I'd say having a 50kw MW BC station within, say, 5km would be 'nearby' and almost certain to give you headaches. Mike

 

[W5lz]

How about an AM broadcast station about 2-3 miles away? Some days no problems at all, other days it's into everything (ham bands). That station has a variable ground system. Some days soggy ground, some days dry. It -do- make a difference! Of course, when told about it, they said it was my fault, naturally. Not so bad as it was years ago, but I think their ground system has been eaten away. Odd, ain't it?

 

[ka3jjz]

If it's a real flame thrower yes it could be but....there's one thing that makes me suspicious.

Something in your system is either corroding or on its way to this. Add a little moisture to that joint (particularly if the joints are to dissimilar metals), and there's just the possibility you have a crude diode - which is reradiating any strong RF in the vicinity. When there's no moisture, there's no current flow, hence no reradiation. It's really no different than having back to back diodes near the antenna input of the radio. While in theory that's a good idea, in practice, if you have a lot of AM stations nearby, it's not hard to understand how this could give you a headache. In fact I know that the late Perry Ferrell of Gilfer Associates ripped out just such a setup in JRC receivers and replaced it with a gas discharge device - for this very reason.

Would be a royal pain in the nether regions to track down now with the ice and cold

Also keep in mind that some AM stations are mandated by FCC rules to change their power and/or their major lobe of radiation at night to protect markets using that same frequency that are nearby. Combined with the crude diode theory and you have the makings of a Sherlock Holmes detective story.

A preselector might help in this case, but it's putting the cart before the horse

Mike

 

[W5lz]

That was years ago and I don't remember what 'cured' it. I do remember it delt with changes to both the AM station and mine. Couldn't have been anything 'drastic' on my end, I couldn't afford it. With various changes in equipment (theirs and mine) it all went away.

 

[bearcatrp]

I have a super antenna to listen to HF. The kind you have to adjust the slider depending on where you want to transmit. I don't transmit but did ask the maker of the super antenna if I used a tuner, would I have to adjust the slider. Was told no, the turner would take care of it. So, if this is true, would depend on the antenna your using.

 

[W5lz]

I'm not familiar with your antenna, but if it has a "skidder" to adjust it, it sounds like it already has a tuner. Adding another instead of using the built-in one will probably work okay. Don't try to use both at the same time, that can get very problematic.

 

[W5lz]

...

I'm not familiar with your antenna, but if it has a "skidder" to adjust it, it sounds like it already has a tuner. Adding another instead of using the built-in one will probably work okay. Don't try to use both at the same time, that can get very problematic.

Crap...make that a "skidder" not a "skidder".

 

[W5lz]

...

Crap...make that a "skidder" not a "skidder".

It did it again, I give up.

 

[bearcatrp]

Here is the super antenna..

Super Antenna MP1

NewSuperAntenna is the Official SuperAntenna Systems Corporation website. HF Portable Antenna. SuperAntenna MP1 SuperStick is the #1 HF Portable Antenna in the world. Manufacturer of Antennas for Amateur Radio Ham Radio Portable Mobile DXpedition Expedition Apartment EmComm Base Stations...

newsuperantenna.com

 

[ka3jjz]

Keep in mind that verticals are far more sensitive to noise than other antennas. Also as this is a ham antenna, it's best performance is in the ham bands. Not saying that you wouldn't receive things outside these ranges - you certainly will - but not as efficiently

Mike