Codan 2110 tuner

[K6GBW]

I recently bought a Codan 2110 manpack HF radio. The antenna stud has an internal tuner connected. There is a Codan end fed random wire antenna for it that is only 30 feet long. I'm wondering if anyone knows the tuners capabilities? Is it 3:1 or 10:1 or? Can I make a 53 foot wire and connect it to the antenna stud and use the tuner? Still figuring this radio out so any insight is appreciated.

 

[WB5UOM]

The manual for that is online

 

[vagrant]

A buddy has the Codan 2110, but I have not used it in years. If I remember correctly, the tuner automatically adjusts to whatever. That means if the antenna has a short, it will adjust versus cooking things. We typically used the Codan flexible antenna and attached the ground wire to whatever if available. The best we got with that compromised antenna was Kentucky from California on 10 meters SSB at the 20 watts, or whatever its maximum power.

I think the other antenna connector allows for whatever end fed, dipole, OCF, etc. antenna and an external tuner. The flexible whip is fine for quick deployment, but as you know some wire in the air will beat it. Also, a 3:1 tuner suits my needs, or I'm pissing in the wind. Again, I am pretty sure that radio tuner port will adjust to handle a wet noodle. The other is for an external tuner/antenna.

If I had that radio I would experiment for days on end using the International Beacon Project and various antennas. Still, I'd probably default to the tried and true wide band antenna options that handle 40-10 meters first and compare it to its flexible whip.

 

[prcguy]

A buddy has the Codan 2110, but I have not used it in years. If I remember correctly, the tuner automatically adjusts to whatever. That means if the antenna has a short, it will adjust versus cooking things. We typically used the Codan flexible antenna and attached the ground wire to whatever if available. The best we got with that compromised antenna was Kentucky from California on 10 meters SSB at the 20 watts, or whatever its maximum power.

I think the other antenna connector allows for whatever end fed, dipole, OCF, etc. antenna and an external tuner. The flexible whip is fine for quick deployment, but as you know some wire in the air will beat it. Also, a 3:1 tuner suits my needs, or I'm pissing in the wind. Again, I am pretty sure that radio tuner port will adjust to handle a wet noodle. The other is for an external tuner/antenna.

If I had that radio I would experiment for days on end using the International Beacon Project and various antennas. Still, I'd probably default to the tried and true wide band antenna options that handle 40-10 meters first and compare it to its flexible whip.

Another RR member here had Harris PRC-150 type HF 20w manpacks needing to check into both state and amateur nets and was not having much luck using a popular 9:1 balun antenna with maybe 73ft of wire or whatever the closest usual length to that is. I modified one of my low power EFHW antennas with small insulators and jumpers to resonate on 40m and a couple of govt freqs I think at 5 and 10MHz they needed and that finally made the contacts that the random length/broadband 9:1 type could not. After that the group made copies of my antenna for each of the HF kits they had.

When using low lower on HF you usually need an antenna that will make up for the small power and in many cases the broad band or whip antennas on the manpack are not so efficient and may not get the job done. 10m is a bit different and when the band is open you can talk across the country with a few watts and a lousy antenna. That doesn't mean the antenna is great, it just means the band and conditions will allow a crappy antenna to work.

 

[VK3RX]

I had one of those from new for many years.

Codan Manuals and Programming Software

Check pages 73 & 74 of the "2110 Manpack Getting Started Manual", and page 36 of the "2110 Technical Service Manual".

The manuals aren't specific about the technical capabilities of the tuner, but with a 41 foot long wire and counterpoise, it found a match for all bands I used from 7MHz up. 41 feet is one of the "sweet spot" lengths for multiband ops.

The BNC connector is for a tuned antenna i.e. 50 Ohm; the internal tuner is not connected to it.

 

[vagrant]

10m is a bit different and when the band is open you can talk across the country with a few watts and a lousy antenna. That doesn't mean the antenna is great, it just means the band and conditions will allow a crappy antenna to work.

Indeed! That Codan whip antenna is nothing long.

40+ years ago I had a RS 1/4 wave on the roof of my parents house. I had a conversation with a guy and we realized we were 1500+ miles apart as he was in Alaska. I did not believe it, but others that had used a CB longer than I clued me in when I told them about it.

I wished the Codan could handle 6 meters as well. 40, 20 and 10 are favorites, but 6m is wild.

 

[K6GBW]

The manual for that is online

I've got the manual and if the tuner capability is in there I can't find it. It has all the instructions for use but that's all.

 

[K6GBW]

Thanks everyone. I was just curious to know it's capabilities but that's not strictly necessary for use. I have a lightweight 40m dipole and I'm putting together an EFHW. Both will need a bit of tuning since these antennas will most likely be used closer to the ground than I'd really like. I'll be heading up to the Owens Valley next week and will do some testing with it.

 

[prcguy]

Thanks everyone. I was just curious to know it's capabilities but that's not strictly necessary for use. I have a lightweight 40m dipole and I'm putting together an EFHW. Both will need a bit of tuning since these antennas will most likely be used closer to the ground than I'd really like. I'll be heading up to the Owens Valley next week and will do some testing with it.

You can test the tuner using various load resistors. A 500 ohm resistor would simulate a 10:1 VSWR as would a 5 ohm and I think the tuner should easily handle that if its designed for whips and random wire.

 

[K6GBW]

You can test the tuner using various load resistors. A 500 ohm resistor would simulate a 10:1 VSWR as would a 5 ohm and I think the tuner should easily handle that if its designed for whips and random wire.

That's a good idea. I guess I just wanted to know so I know what I can get away with in the field. Honestly, I'm really into resonant antennas anyway so I probably will never run into this, but it's just good to know. I'm actually building a new EFHW for the house just so I can use this radio and I'll probably make another one for field use.

 

[merlin]

Looking for full spectrum antennas, random wire length works best, or use EFHW.
A good chart I found works with tuners I will post.
My wire was 107 foot, but lost some in a storm and is now 84 foot.
My Icom autotuner does fine up to 80 meters (about 2 MHz) The codan tuner should be the same.

 

[K6GBW]

Looking for full spectrum antennas, random wire length works best, or use EFHW.
A good chart I found works with tuners I will post.
My wire was 107 foot, but lost some in a storm and is now 84 foot.
My Icom autotuner does fine up to 80 meters (about 2 MHz) The codan tuner should be the same.

Yeah, I agreed. At this point I think an EFHW would probably give me the most juice for the squeeze. I'm planning to make one and then tune it in a configuration that would be like what I would do in the field. The Codan likes an SWR under 2.0:1 and I think I can get that on at least 40/20. The higher bands might not be great, but I don't really go up there when portable anyway. I'll also have a 40m dipole with me most of the time so that should be enough.