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Tuner Opinions Needed

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Joel Black-2

Tuner Opinions Needed

My trusty LDG Z-100+ tuner died last night. Luckily, it is one month
before the end of the two-year warranty so I will be sending it back for
repair. In the mean time, I am without a tuner. I do not know when (if
ever) I'd buy an amp, so I do not need a high-power tuner. I will be
using the tuner with an Elecraft K3 and Genesis G59 with 10W amp (GPA10).

I have narrowed my selections down to the following:

LDG Electronics:
AT-100ProII
AT-200ProII

MFJ:
993B

I am *no* fan of MFJ. I had a 949E that I never liked, the meters would
never calibrate, and the DL was ~60ohms. However, I like the Z-matching
range and the SWR-matching range. It also has the cross-needle meters
(that wouldn't previously calibrate) and an LCD readout with multiple
functions. Also, I have since built a reliable, 100W 50ohm dummy load.

The Z-100Plus has problems tuning some freqs especially in wet weather.

The reviews on eham.net (read with a grain of salt) do not favor the
AT-100ProII as much as the AT-200ProII and MFJ-993B.

Anyone have any experience (good or bad) with any of these tuners? Are
there any other recommendations (other than the KAT3)?
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Joel Black-2

Re: Tuner Opinions Needed

Sorry, I forgot to sign the previous...

Joel - W4JBB
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Ian Kahn, KM4IK

Re: Tuner Opinions Needed

In reply to this post by Joel Black-2

I used the original AT-100Pro with my FT-857D for several years and
really liked it. For me, it did an admirable job. I don't have any
experience with the other two tuners. In fact, my K3 (#281) has the
KAT3 internal tuner. One push tuning and I'm done. No power
adjustments to remember, and it takes about half a second (in my
environment - YMMV) to tune. It is internal to the K3, so doesn't take
any more desk space, and is only slightly more expensive than the other
two tuners you're considering.

Just my two cents' worth.

73,

--Ian

Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA
[hidden email]
K3 #281, P3 #688

On 2/18/2012 6:14 PM, Joel Black wrote:

> My trusty LDG Z-100+ tuner died last night. Luckily, it is one month
> before the end of the two-year warranty so I will be sending it back for
> repair. In the mean time, I am without a tuner. I do not know when (if
> ever) I'd buy an amp, so I do not need a high-power tuner. I will be
> using the tuner with an Elecraft K3 and Genesis G59 with 10W amp (GPA10).
>
> I have narrowed my selections down to the following:
>
> LDG Electronics:
> AT-100ProII
> AT-200ProII
>
> MFJ:
> 993B
>
> I am *no* fan of MFJ. I had a 949E that I never liked, the meters would
> never calibrate, and the DL was ~60ohms. However, I like the Z-matching
> range and the SWR-matching range. It also has the cross-needle meters
> (that wouldn't previously calibrate) and an LCD readout with multiple
> functions. Also, I have since built a reliable, 100W 50ohm dummy load.
>
> The Z-100Plus has problems tuning some freqs especially in wet weather.
>
> The reviews on eham.net (read with a grain of salt) do not favor the
> AT-100ProII as much as the AT-200ProII and MFJ-993B.
>
> Anyone have any experience (good or bad) with any of these tuners? Are
> there any other recommendations (other than the KAT3)?
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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NZ0T

Re: Tuner Opinions Needed

In reply to this post by Joel Black-2

The KAT3 is an excellent internal tuner and if you don't plan on ever having an amp why not get one? If not there are a lot of good tuners out there. I would look for an L network tuner as they are more efficient and more broad banded than the differential T units out there. For high power work I have an old Ten Tec 229 which is and L network unit and works really well.

ny4g

Re: Tuner Opinions Needed

In reply to this post by Joel Black-2

I have an AT100pro that I use with the K2/100 and has been trouble free. It has dual range watt meter and displays SWR. It tunes my G5RV without issues.

Ariel NY4G

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 18, 2012, at 6:14 PM, "Joel Black" <[hidden email]> wrote: