[TowerTalk] Dorm room antenna?

[Jim Brown]

On Tue, 28 Oct 2008 04:33:58 -0400, Richards wrote:

>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.  

Random wire is VERY generic, and implies no scientific thinking 
about what is suitable for the bands in question. That is, the 
infinite numbers of monkies and typewriters, or "throw a wire out 
the window and pray." My suggestion is for a length that is not 
resonant on either band but isn't a serious mis-match on either 
band.  That is, application of the fundamental science. 

OF COURSE A DEDICATED TUNER IS SUPERIOR TO MOST INTERNAL ONES. DUH! 
I own six Ten Tec 229/238 tuners, primarily because I run full legal 
power for contesting.  All my rigs have internal tuners, and they 
tune all of my antennas just fine, even when running a loaded dipole 
on 3900 that's cut for 3550. 

73,

Jim K9YC