[TenTec] LDG AT-100 Pro

[Steve Baron - KB3MM]

Isn't reduced power tuneup more polite on the bands?

The Orion internal tuner automatically drops the power while tuning.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Rick Williams" <rick.williams at telus.net>
To: "TenTec List (TenTec List)" <TenTec at contesting.com>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2005 16:36
Subject: [TenTec] LDG AT-100 Pro


> Doug I don't think it's at all unusual for a tuner of this design to be
> derated during the tune up cycle.  I use the LDG AT-11MP tuner with my
Argo
> V and the Ten-Tec 253 with my Omni V.9 and Herc II.  Both tuners specify
> tuning below a threshold.  In the case of the 253 it specifies that 150
> watts must not be exceeded during the auto tune cycle and the recommended
> value is 50 watts.  Keep in mind that this tuner is rated at 2 kW maximum
RF
> power.
>
> As for tuning accurately at low power, here I'm afraid your also off the
> mark. The LDG tuner I own requires 5 watts minimum to tune and it does a
> fine job!  I've checked it with my antenna analyzer.
>
> In both cases I believe the reduction in drive during the tune cycle is,
as
> others have mentioned, to protect the "hot-switching" of the tuner relays
> when a match is being sought.  After the match is set and switching is no
> longer a problem you can crank up the power.
>
> I think you'll enjoy the tuner - the noise of all the relays switching
gets
> your attention, but LDG makes a nice box.
>
> 73,
>
> Rick
> VE7TK
>
> Website:  http://www3.telus.net/ve7tk
>
>
>
> >Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 00:25:52 -0700 (PDT)
> >From: Douglas <sparks06524 at yahoo.com>
> >Subject: [TenTec] LDG AT-100 Pro
> >To: tentec at contesting.com
> >Message-ID: <20050415072552.77747.qmail at web52801.mail.yahoo.com>
> >Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
> >
> >
> >Anyone else using an LDG AT100 Pro tuner with their
> >older Ten-Tec transceiver?
> >
> >I got the tuner for Christmas and can't say that I'm
> >happy with it.
> >
> >After going into "sleep" mode, it would intermittently
> >refuse to wake up.
> >Last weekend I probably blew it out either by running
> >80 watts into it from my old Swan 250C 6 mtr rig or
> >else while using it with my Ten-Tec Corsair II.
> >It will no longer tune anything over about 3:1 SWR
> >on a HF band.
> >
> >After a careful and complete reading of the owner's
> >manual, I discovered, in the "fine print" but not in
> >the specifications page, that while the tuner is
> >advertised as a 125 watt tuner in all LDG ads and on
> >their website, when you read the fine print in their
> >owner's manual, it states that power must be reduced
> >to only 25 watts in tune mode when using a transceiver
> >that doesn't have power foldback into high swr's.
> >That's only 20% of the advertised power rating.
> >
> >I called LDG's customer service and sort of got a run
> >around about their lack of truthfulness in
> >advertising. I never would have gotten the tuner if I
> >knew it was only rated for 25 watts in tune mode.
> >As I said to their rep, "How can one even accurately
> >measure 25 watts into an unknown antenna impedance?"
> >With a Ten-Tec rig that depends on power supply
> >current limiting rather than SWR foldback, one would
> >have to be constantly reducing power to very low
> >levels every time one changes frequency.
> >
> >I guess I'm used to shipboard tuners made by MacKay,
> >Harris and others that are rated for rock solid tune
> >capability at full rated power. I didn't expect the
> >same quality for $220 bux but not an 80% derating....
> >
> >LDG is hedging about fixing it under warranty.
> >Perhaps it doesn't matter since with a power rating
> >capability of only 25 watts, it isn't too useful to
> >me.
> >
> >I was a bit suspicious of its power rating when I
> >opened it and noted that it was only using 600 v
> >capacitors. That's certainly fine for 25 watts but not
> >for 125 watts into a maximum load impedance of 1000
> >ohms - per the specs. Peak-to-peak voltages, not
> >including transients, could easily exceed 700 wolts
> >under such conditions.
> >
> >I'm wondering if Ten-Tec broke their relationship with
> >LDG over reliability issues?
> >
> >73,
> >Doug/WA1TUT
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
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