Topband: someone has an autotuner

[Tom Rauch]

I wouldn't normally say something about this but someone has 
a bad habit that occurs frequently lately.
Someone who likes to work DX on 160 has an autotuner. I 
don't know if this tuner is in a rig or an external tuner, 
or even if it is an autotune amplifier with relays.

When a spot comes up for DX they must go to that frequency 
and push the autotuner button. While their tuner cycles 
through they are jamming +-5kHz with pops and clicks and 
clacks that are over S9 while the tuner relay contacts arc 
and spark looking for a match. This even causes one way 
propagation!

This is just a reminder that an autotuner with relays will 
arc and spark in the relays and make a wide noise as the 
tuner is hunting for a match. It would be better to move a 
good distance away from DX or any QSO's before pushing that 
button that starts the tuner tuning, or buy a regular manual 
tuner or amplifier and log the settings so he doesn't need 
to tune on top of DX several times a day.

Maybe tuner manufacturers and autotune amplifier 
manufacturers need to put this in the manuals, or it should 
be a license exam question??

73 Tom