[TenTec] 253 Auto tuner questions

[Ken Brown]

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the suggestion. Your method would provide 7 X 4 memorized 
tuner settings and only one antenna output from the 253. For the time 
being, that will probably suffice, since I only have one antenna up 
right now anyway. I figure about 5 memories for 160, 5 for 80/75, 5 for 
40, 1 for 30, and the remaining for the rest of the bands will be 
plenty. Maybe later I'll make some kind of diode matrix to use the band 
information from the radio, so that I'll only need to use the manual 
switch for low CW, medium CW, high CW and fone, with the band select 
done automatically. Eventually though I would sure like to have multiple 
tunings on each band AND have multiple antennas selectable AND have it 
automatic.

I wonder if anyone can tell me whether U8 holds just the tune memories, 
and the auto tune algorithm and other control program is burned in the 
U9 uP chip, or if the program is also stored in U8 and gets loaded into 
U9 at power up. In other words, if I removed U8 and replaced it with a 
completely empty EEPROM of the same type, would the tuner still have the 
"operating system" in the uP chip? What I am thinking about doing is 
making a plug in memory expansion breadboard to replace U8.

Ken N6KB

W7DPW wrote:

>Ken,
>
>I use an external remote antenna switch. I have disconnected the
>coupling from the antenna switch on the 253 and use it as a section
>selector switch.  I set it to Hi_SSB, Lo-SSB, CW and RTTY. Any four
>sections could be selected or chosen.
>
>When tuning to a different section of the band, or a different mode, I
>just turn the antenna selector on the 253 to match.  This has worked
>for me for several years without problems.
>
>I do have an OMNI 6 plus and I also have the factory cabling, but
>before I had the cabling, I build a manual selector  I use this
>switch. when I use my secondary srtation , an OMNI D with the 253....
>
>
>Dave W7DPW
>.
>----- Original Message ----- 
>From: "Ken Brown" <ken.d.brown at verizon.net>
>To: <tentec at contesting.com>
>Sent: Sunday, September 14, 2003 11:20 AM
>Subject: [TenTec] 253 Auto tuner questions
>
>
>
>>Hi all,
>>
>>I have recently purchased a model 253 Automatic Antenna Coupler. I
>>
>have
>
>>not yet connected the "band information" cable to my Omni VI.
>>
>Actually I
>
>>don't have a cable yet and I guess I'll have to build one. My
>>
>question
>
>>is about the bands. According to the manual for the 253 the band
>>information consists of pulling one (and only one) of seven parallel
>>lines to +12 VDC to indicate one of only seven bands. Seven does not
>>seem like enough. My Omni has nine band select buttons, and I would
>>really like to have more than one preset tuning in memory for each
>>
>band.
>
>>I'll probably want three or four for 160 meters, three for 80/75 and
>>
>at
>
>>least two for 40. I suppose one  memory for each of the higher bands
>>might suffice. Perhaps someone else has already done this. I am
>>interested to hear how you may have gone about it. I have considered
>>using a seven position switch instead of connecting it to the Omni
>>
>VI. I
>
>>have also been thinking about adding multiple 2404 EEPROM chips and
>>
>a
>
>>chip enable selector. Any ideas?
>>
>>Thanks , Ken N6KB
>>
>>
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>>
>
>
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