[TenTec] Tuners

[Jim Brown]

On 11/1/2010 5:05 AM, Roger Rippy wrote:
> I will
> buy a tuner but it will probably be a larger capacity manual
> tuner like the TT 229 or 238; a used Palstar; or maybe a
> good ole Dentron. Thanks again. 73s

I own two 229Bs and three 238s, and just sent a check to someone on this 
list to buy another 238.  I've also owned a couple of Drake tuners, both 
100W and 1kW models, one of the original LDG AT100s, and an LDG AT1000.

I LOVE the Ten Tec tuners. The 229 and 238 are nearly identical  inside. 
They are reasonably easy to tune, and match damn near anything worth 
using as an antenna.  They are VERY efficient, as shown by ARRL testing, 
and their L-section design results in their providing a match over a 
wider frequency range than a T-section tuner.  The switching is also 
excellent -- one switch selects between four antennas, and a second 
switch either puts you in bypass (through mode) or switches the fixed 
capacitors in and out of the circuit.  The switching is worth a lot -- 
it saves you an antenna switch, AND it allows you to run the tuner in 
bypass mode for an antenna that doesn't need the tuner (so you don't 
have to adjust the tuner either).

There are two shortcomings that I know of.  First, some of the fixed 
caps are a bit under-rated for 1.5kW operation, and at least one of them 
will likely smoke if you do high power contesting with it.  It's easy to 
replace them with higher voltage rated caps.  Second, the dial cord is a 
major PITA to re-string, and after 10-15 years you may need to do that. 
The latest models of 238 (a B or C, don't recall when it started) 
eliminated the dial cord and replaced it with a vernier knob.  I haven't 
seen one of them.

As to the LDGs -- I very much liked the AT100 Pro, butI sold it because 
I now have tuners in my 100W rigs, and I sold the AT1000 because I hated 
it.

And I recently bought a used Heathkit SA 2060A tuner that has an 
inductor that looks about twice as robust as the 229/238s.  It's a 
T-section tuner with a vernier on the roller inductor. I fired it up on 
160M with a vertical that had an SWR of about 1.6:1, driving it with my 
Titan.  One of the air variables wants to arc above about 1 kW.  It's 
for sale. :)

Efficiency and ease of use (switching, tuning) are a big consideration. 
Whether you're running 100W or 1.5kW, it's crazy to throw away 1-2dB in 
a tuner, and, as ARRL tests show, it's common for that to happen in most 
tuners with some range of loads that you're likely to encounter.

Bottom line -- there are several Ten Tec tuners for sale by members of 
this list.  I suggest you buy one of them.  The "right" price is 
$250-$275 for a 229B in good shape, and about $300-$325 for a 238.  I 
would pay more for the newer model without dial cord, but so far, I 
haven't seen one used.

73, Jim K9YC