[TowerTalk] Auto antenna tuner

[WarrenWolff at aol.com]

In 1963, some type of military exercise deposited a sergeant in my Hickam AFB 
MARS station with a Technical Materiel Corp suitcase rig.  I am not sure of 
all of the specs, but we strapped up a terminated sloping "V" beam.  I cannot 
remember what his power level was, but it was either 1500 or 2500 watts; for 
sure greater than the allowed ham power levels.  It was employed on the HF bands 
for just one quick check, but his first contact was with Ben, KW6DB on Wake 
Island (20 meters).  Said it was the strongest signal he had ever heard from 
Hawaii.

It had the neatest thing I had ever seen, an autotuner with a crossed-needle 
meter.  It hit 1:1 SWR in a twinkle.  I have no idea what the range of the 
"gadget" was, but it certainly grabbed our eyes.

If you are lucky, you might come across one of those in surplus.

Good luck in your quest,  Warren W5KKW