[TenTec] Johnson Viking Matchbox vs. Annecke

[Joe Giacobello]

Rick, I'm a big fan of link coupled balanced tuners and own two VMBs 
myself.  I would love to own a KW Annecke.  Do you know of any available 
in DL?  Can you supply the schematic for the KW unit that you have?  If 
there's anyone over there who wants to sell a KW unit, let me know.

73, Joe

Rick Westerman wrote:

>I changed the title because this is no longer 80m Loop specific.
>
>Don, I hope I didn't shock you by implying it was something new
>and you had missed it.  As Mike pointed out, LB Cebik (W4RNL) has
>done an excellent job of comparing the two circuits in his
>article on Link Coupled Tuners.  You'll find it on his web site.
>
>Most people probably won't tell a difference between the two and
>for TEN-TEC users (at least the ones running barefoot) it
>probably doesn't matter whether one runs the original Johnson
>circuit or the Annecke circuit.  In fact if you have a good tube
>amplifier, it won't matter either.  It's just the hams with
>transistor power amplifiers who will see a great benefit from
>modifying the Johnson to an Annecke.
>
>The Johnson was designed in the days of tubes where every radio
>and amp had a PI-filter in its output.  If the matchbox brought
>the antenna's impedance down to 150 or 200 ohms, that was just
>fine because the PI-filter could do the rest.
>Once transistors came along, the need was redefined to tighter
>tolerances.  Before we had the WARC bands, it was no big deal
>because it was usually possible to find several lengths for your
>antenna which the Johnson could pull in to almost 1:1.
>
>What Annecke did was make the 50 ohm side switchable and add a
>270 pF variable in series with the link.  With that, you can
>pretty match anything to 50 ohms.  The trade-off is that you have
>one more knob to adjust.
>
>So, if you don't have a TEN-TEC and your transceiver requires
>exactly 50 ohms, the Annecke circuit is a little bit better.
>
>LB shows a picture of the insides of the Annecke but he chose the
>wrong Annecke matchbox.  He showed the QRP version (200w).  I
>have the "real" version.  Go to my web site www.dj0ip.de and
>click on the picture at the bottom titled "Home of Orion".
>You'll see the matchbox just above the TFT monitor which is just
>above the Orion.  Note the 4 big knobs.  The one on the right
>titled "Sender" (meaning transmitter) is the additional variable.
>I've been running both the high power and low power version of
>this matchbox for about 20+ years.  However, often in contests
>when I'm running lower power, I substitute a "Differential-T"
>tuner because there's less knobs to tune.  For high power,
>nothing beats the Johnson/Annecke circuit.
>
>I wanted to build a second one but parts are difficult to find.
>I was also considering the Z-Match designed by Lloyd, VK5BR.
>I've been discussing the pros and cons with LB.  LB felt the
>Z-Match probably will not be as efficient.  In the meantime I see
>that he has included Lloyd's Z-match on his web site too.  I hope
>someone smarter than me takes the time to measure and report on
>the efficiency of the Z-match.
>
>I've scratched the idea of building another one and will simply
>purchase a used Johnson.  One of the OM here on the reflector was
>kind enough to reserve one for me.  Now all I have to do is get
>to the states and pick it up!
>
>Finally, I would like to pay tribute to Mr. Annecke who passed
>away a couple of years ago.  Altogether, I think he designed
>about 15 or 20 different matchboxes of various sizes and shapes
>and circuits.  He sold them as kits, ready built, or just the
>components (which is what I bought).  Unfortunately his son who
>took over his business, dropped the line of ham gear because it
>probably was not a lucrative business.
>
>I have all the circuit drawings of every matchbox Mr. Annecke
>produced.  If I ever find time to work on my Ham website instead
>of my work web site, I want to exhibit what he contributed to the
>ham community.  Right now I can't even find time to use my Orion.
>
>73
>Rick
>
>
>
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