[TowerTalk] Dorm room antenna?

[Richards]

Exactly what I thought!   I have been told by most experienced
hams and radio vendors, such as AES and HRO, that most
internal antenna tuners are incapable of tuning a range in excess
of 3:1 SWR.

As the original question was only asking about internal tuners,
and not outboard tuners, I think the statement remains true...
most internal auto tuners are not capable of tuning a random
wire.   My TenTec transceiver has an internal ATU that TT claims
has the ability to tame an antenna with 10:1 SWR mismatch...
although I think it is closer to 7:1 in use.     And this is why I spent
the extra bucks to get a big outboard tuner.

Thank you for playing along, but I think your answer really
confirms, and does not contradict, the original premise that
internal tuners cannot really tune a random wire.  Something
bigger may be required in many cases.   (I wish I knew more
about antenna modeling, so I could see what random wire
lengths WOULD be "suitable" for use with an internal tuner.

Happy trails and 73 !!  ========   K8JHR  ============


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Jim Brown wrote:

> Suitable would be with an SWR no greater than about 4:1 or 5:1. For 
> example, a 45 ft wire would likely load on 20 and 40 with a decent 
> tuner. On the other hand, you want to avoid a half wave on either 
> band. 
> 

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