[TowerTalk] Differential Tuner - Good Idea?

[Clint Talmadge]

Differential tuners like the MFJ-986 have some positives and some negatives.  The biggest complaint I heard (I worked in a store that sold them) was that they wouldn't tune a (insert just about any antenna here). A standard T or Pi tuner would and the differential won't.  With a differential there is usually only ONE tune combination while a T or Pi has from a few to many combinations that will show a low SWR. Finding the only combination is sometimes difficult.  The problem with a T or Pi is that only one of the possible tune combinations is the most efficient one, while with the differential if you get one, it is the most efficient.  I spent some time with a MFJ-259 and charted where mine would tune and then I had trouble with the Roller Inductor counter slipping making getting back to the correct setting impossible.  The concept was good but the execution was poor.  

Clint - W5CPT


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: kd4e 
  To: towertalk at contesting.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2006 9:33 PM
  Subject: [TowerTalk] Differential Tuner - Good Idea?


  Can someone explain the plusses and minuses
  of the differential tuner design for HF?

  More of them are showing up and I have read
  the market hype but not read a good discussion
  of strengths and weaknesses.

  -- 

  Thanks! & 73,
  doc, KD4E
  ... somewhere in FL
  URL:  bibleseven (dot) com
  _______________________________________________



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