Auto Tuners

[KB3FFH]

What is the differance between a lower price auto tuner and a more expensive auto tuner other than the wattage it can handle ? Thanks Bill

[AD5X]

Besides RF power level:  Some have LED indicators only, some have analog meters, some have digital meters, some have both analog and digital meters, some have an internal balun, some have just a single output, some have more than one output (switchable), some have more memories than others, some have an internal biasT for remote powering through the coax.

Phil - AD5X

[W5FYI]

And some have better reputations.

[N4NYY]

Most of the price is about power handling. As other mentioned. some have bells and whistles. Some get to charge more because of reputation. 100W models seem to be in the $250 area.

[WN2C]

It's not a tuner... it's an antenna coupler... Check out SGC antenna couplers.
I think you will find it is best to put it at the antenna end than at the radio end if you are using coax.
Good luck 73 de wn2c

[WB2WIK]

Besides RF power level:  Some have LED indicators only, some have analog meters, some have digital meters, some have both analog and digital meters, some have an internal balun, some have just a single output, some have more than one output (switchable), some have more memories than others, some have an internal biasT for remote powering through the coax.

Phil - AD5X

And some have no indicators at all!  That definitely saves some cost, and the tuner doesn't need an indicator if you already have one.

[K3DAV]

What is the differance between a lower price auto tuner and a more expensive auto tuner other than the wattage it can handle ? Thanks Bill

As has been said, higher power handling cost more to build. But one of the big differences is in how the unti tunes. Most of the lower priced auto tuners have a bank of several relays that pick and choose between capacitors and inductors for the best match. But the best matching cap or inductor selected is not always the best match.   Better auto-tuners use motorized roller inductors to more accurately match the antenna to the radio. The motorized roller inductors can tune more precisely for the lowest SWR, and can take a 3.0:1 SWR and bring it down to flat in seconds. They are also very quiet during tuning. The relay type tuners are usually noisy and sound like a Mexican hat dance with all of those relays clicking away.

David - K3DAV
My Website - http://k3dav.com