Well I thought I would toss in my 2 cents on the 238. Most of the feed back
has been good. I was reading the E Mail below and thinking that Pete was
right on track until I got to the end of his E Mail. So I figured I would
make some comments and give Peter a little imformation I have that hes
doesn't... Not often I get to do that !
I think the circuit fundamentals of the 238 are top notch. The user
interface (although pretty) is lacking. I agree the buttons are some what
confusing for power,SWR,forward, reflected,etc.. Rotary knobs would of been
better in my book. The dial mechanism does NOT always bring me right back
using the "cheat" card. Its close though. Some bands the antenna is notchy
and you can still be a ways off. I like Peter am using the MFJ 259 analyzer
and it is really nice. As soon as I find a sticker to cover the MFG logo, it
may be perfect in my book. Sorry gang, I don't think much of MFJ.
I haven't run power through it, but am confident as long as it is not abused
with high SWR and hot switching it will do OK.
Anyway.. to my point with Peter !
Peter, I just got rid of a Nye in preference for the Ten Tec 238. The Nye is
a piece of nice work, and I doubt you are going to arc anything on it. But
in reality the design is lacking. Don't even think about using it on 160 and
I found many antennas out of its limits. The 238 out tunes it hands down ! I
am not the only person that has discovered this. Ask anyone that has owned
both.
Regarding your Elmer capacitor.. I too built a tuner several years ago out
of junk parts. It had a capacitor that was the size of a big loaf of bread
(or bigger). It was configured in a parallel circuit and would tune about
anything.
Hope this helps. Don't be so quick to trade the 238 for a Nye.
Rich McCabe
KD0ZV
Des Moines, IA
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-tentec@contesting.com [mailto:owner-tentec@contesting.com]On
> Behalf Of Peter J. F. Shaw
> Sent: Saturday, January 23, 1999 9:05 AM
> To: dacalvin@us.ibm.com; tentec@contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TenTec] Model 238 Tuner?
>
>
>
> Hi there Calvin AC5AA:
>
> I use a TT238 (purch in '98) and a Dentron MT-3000A (purch new in '78)
> which is an excellent tuner for high power reasons.
>
> Settings on 238 seem to be stable within tolerances. I don't move
> knobs if SWR is 1.5:1 or less. Good point on 238 is the rotory
> inductor vs switched coil taps on Dentron.
>
> Initial tune up on a particular antenna with TT238 takes longer and a
> written chart for the knob/switch/band settings is a MUST. I began
> tuning the 238 using a Polomar tuner-tuner (specialized noise bridge),
> which works super on any other tuner but not-so-hot on the 238 (I
> don't know why), then used an MFJ-259 which was accurate and much
> faster. Once you have the various switch settings determined and
> written down, you'll find the TT238 OK.
>
> The power meter and SWR indicator is within tolerances. Precision
> isn't important to me as I tune for min SWR and max power peak. Took
> me some time to remember the foward/reflected/SWR push-button switch
> positions because they are different than I have used before.
>
> The plastic insulator terminals for the balanced feedline and the
> single wire look weak for high power and I haven't tested that with my
> Titan amp yet. I haven't put anything higher than 100W thru the 238
> as yet. A friend confirms the plastic terminals as weak, arcing over
> with full bore Titan power under certain conditions that are common.
> He recommended changing them to ceramic.
>
> Overall, you get what you pay for. I wish I had purchased the Nye
> Viking instead. It is more bucks, but I would have paid them. Maybe
> I'll acquire a Nye Viking the next time I'm shopping for a store
> bought antenna tuner. An Elmer friend (from 44 years ago) mailed me a
> moose sized, wide spaced, split stator variable capacitor that I will
> incorporate into the moosiest tuner I will ever build.
>
> The TT folks sometimes advertise demo 238s and lots of other eqpt
> right here on the list. They are a few bucks less. View the T-T
> factory web site too. I purchased mine as demo and am not
> dissatisfied.
>
> 73 Pete K4LDR Citrus County, FL
>
> Member of the Florida Contest Group (FCG) - visit our website at:
> http://www.4w.com/deemer/fcg.htm
>
> The Florida Contest Group sponsors the Florida QSO Party, check out
> the FQP website@: http://home1.gte.net/wd4ahz/fcg/ssqp.htm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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