Topband: W8ji ATR-10 design 160M?

[Paul Christensen]

> "These transmatches these days T matches just do not have the balls for 
> 160M
running power."  They do if the tuner's complex load Z is reasonable.> "I 
melted down a MFJ 998RT arced plates on an MFJ 989B
melted down a 25uH Millen coil, arced wire burned up insulation all with
500 watts :-) I tried different configurations.  Short 99 foot inverted L
does give me a challenge. 0.175 plate spacing arcs over. 0.25 spacing on
caps is needed or vacuums variables which are not in my budget."Give us the 
complex Z seen at the tuner's terminals on 160m and we can offer up a reason 
for the behavior.  Without knowing the complex Z, it's one big guessing 
game.  In the last five years, complex impedance analzers and vector network 
analizers have become affordable for most of us and offer superb accuracy 
when compared to commercial lab-grade instruments.  This is definately not 
directed at you or anyone elase in particular but it's interesting how the 
general ham population will spring $600-$800 for a wattmeter that offers 
accuracy they don't need yet won't spend that amount on a complex Z analyzer 
or used oscilloscope.  A fancy wattmeter should be at the tail end of an 
accessory priority list.  > Who makes a tuner that can take this 
abuse?Tuners that can take a lot of abuse into unreasonable terminating Z 
are almost all homebrew types using vacuum caps/switches and 
well-constructed high Q inductors. Paul, W9AC