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write your own review of the BetterRF 7000 Tune Control.
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WB4TJH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 28, 2011 14:39
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Works as advertised.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I had a problem getting my unit to work, but a call to Better RF got it straightened out just fine. It seems that the little hole in the case for the reset button was a bit off center, preventing it's proper function. The guys at BetterRF told me to open the case, remove the circuit board and enlarge the hole in the plastic case. They appologized, saying a few units had been advertantly shipped like mine and repairing it myself would NOT violate my warranty, and if it still did not function properly, they would send me a new unit. I did as instructed, reassembled the unit, and it now works just fine.It only took me 2 or 3 minutes to complete. The fact that you have problem with a product is not as important as how the company handles the problem, and the guys at Better RF cured my problem quickly, with no excuses. I really appreciate their quick answer to my problem, and despite the quirk in my unit, I will give them a 5. Thanks guys, for getting it going properly. It really makes my IC-7000 a lot easier to use with my external, manual antenna tuner.I was really appreciative of their courtesy on the phone and their willingness to help me get my unit operating properly. I'm a very satisfied customer.
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W8NYY
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Rating: 4/5
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May 25, 2011 05:13
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Design Could Have Been Better
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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No doubt that the BetterRF 7000 Tune Control does what it's supposed to do. My only issue is the physical design and how it sits in the 4 pin Molex. Unless you use right angle plugs for your video out, and the C/IV inputs, it's a strain to plug in and seat the Tune Control properly. If it's not seated fully, you get unpredictable results. The male Molex on the back of the Tune Control is situated a bit above center which means the unit requires more space below the unit to be seated properly but in that the 7000 has multiple connectors just below the Molex connector, you have to essentialy bend the connector to get it seated properly. Maybe a short Molex jumper would have been a better design than installing the Molex right on the board.
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KM6CQ
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Rating: 4/5
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Apr 10, 2011 09:51
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Works very well.
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought this in December of 2007 I installed it and it has always worked perfectly. Now about the 4 rating. I do not like how it connects to the radio. I think it should have a pigtail on it instead of hanging off the molex connector. This would also make it easier to access the back of the radio.
73, Dan
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KB2NGK
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Rating: 1/5
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Mar 10, 2011 19:21
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Not as advertised!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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It appears they are aware of there decision to effectivly reduce the radios functionality, and not document the changes to the tune control in any way....see email below...the adapter they refer would need to be soldered in place of the end on a 'Y' adapter cable.:
To: W6TER@att.net
I'll be retuning the unit to HRD. It seems you also forgot to update the PDF on your web site, and ALL images. Seems intentional, and I believe you should include the right angle adapter since your decision to hard wire the cable has resulted in the reduced functionality of the radio.
I'll post my experience on eham.net
On Thu, Mar 10, 2011 at 8:02 PM, Alan Applegate wrote:
> Thank you for inquiring about BetterRF products.
> Since the BetterRF TUNE Controller was introduced, the specific jack we used
> for the CI-V connection, has become nonobtainium! As a result, we decided to
> hard-wire the CI-V connecting cable to the 7000 TUNE Control. Unfortunately,
> not all of the manuals got upgraded in time for the change. We apologize for
> the error.
> The BetterRF TUNE Control, can be used with other serial devices which use
> the CI-V port on the back of the 7000. However, this requires a Y adapter,
> and universally these use a straight connector. Radio Shack, and others,
> have a 90° adapter available to facilitate the connections
> (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2104064).
> If you need additional part numbers, please let us know, as Radio Shack is
> not the only company which has these adapters available.
> Incidentally, the adapters are stereo, but they will work just fine in this
> application.
> Alan Applegate, KØBG
> Support Manager,
> BetterRF Company
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Mar 10, 2011, at 5:35 PM, GerryW6TER wrote:
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Dave Lindsley [mailto:]
> Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2011 5:25 PM
> To: W6TER@att.net
> Cc: w6ter@BetterRF.com
> Subject: IC7000 Tune Control
>
> I have just today received the IC-7000 TuneControl, and I have a concern /
> question. This unit does not have the 3.5mm jack referred to in the
> documentation, and the connection to the remote jack seems to be hard wired
> and soldered into the unit. I would like to use a pigtail, for computer
> control but since the unit mounts on the rear of the radio, there is not
> room between the tune control and the radio, for any 'Y' cable I've ever
> seen.
> I was careful to check your website for documentation, and images before
> ordering from HRO, and if I had seen the modified version that I was sent, I
> would not have ordered it.
> Do you have any of the older models for an exchange?
>
> Thanks
> Dave
> KB2NGK
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8877
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 13, 2011 03:41
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Great Product
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Excellent product. Operates as advertised. 100% reliable. Fair price.
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N3MX
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Rating: 5/5
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Jul 27, 2010 13:49
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Excellent
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Please see my review of the Better RF 7000 Screwdriver controller. Bottom line: this thing works very well with an IC-7000. You can use this to help you tune with a manual DPDT switch or with their screwdriver controller for automatic hands free tuning. I have no affiliation Better RF. This device in combination with their IC-7000 screwdriver controller is much better than my previous automatic controller.
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KJ6DUR
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Rating: 0/5
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Jun 17, 2010 17:58
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I'm Furious!!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I had heard so many great things about Gerry. I heard about this product and had to have it! I ordered from him directly. Shipping was quick.
I received the product, and supporting documentation. I read it cove to cover, and carefully placed it at the back of my 7000. Strangest thing, it didn't work. I then read the instructions again, and it didn't work, I tried using different ports and it still failed. I wasn't quite sure what the problem was, so I called Gerry to possibly troubleshoot. People who have this know it's rather impossible to screw up this installation.
I called him back, and he seemed rather offended, stating that "These things work! I've only had 1 in 2000 units not work.." Then continued to blame me for my lack of installation.
His last email to me included this language, "It is obvious to me you have not spent time with the instructions. Sorry, I will not exchange the unit until you convince me you read and understand."
The next morning, I drove down to HRO and purchased another Better RF Tune Control. Went to the driveway, installed it in 30 seconds and it worked just fine.
THE UNIT I PURCHASED FROM GERRY WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE.
I called him from the car, asked him to PLEASE refund my purchase.
He asked me to send the defective unit back and he would do so.
It's been upwards of 3 weeks and he has not refunded me my money. I call him, I email him and I get ZERO RESPONSE!
While I'm sure he makes a decent product, he's a difficult and challenging person to work with.
I fear I'll never see the money. He's vanished.
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W7WX
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Rating: 5/5
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May 19, 2010 21:30
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Great Product!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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In general, it's a great product. The only complaint I would have is the instructions are just too wordy for my liking, and it got very confusing sometimes. But once I understood what was suppose to happen, things came together just fine.
My initial installation problems were compounded with periodic motor issues on a brand new Hi-Q 4/80RT and more common mode current than I'd care to think about, too. Although I think the Hi-Q is a great antenna, I got a lemon. And it made getting this controller a nightmare. But once that was all taken care of, it took right off.
If there are a few things I can share and suggest from my own bitter experience it would be;
1.) Do not install this until the antenna tunes fully on all the bands you want first.
2.) Do not use the separation kit until you are confident the BetterRF is functioning properly.
3.) Have a back up plan in place (i.e. manual motor controller to wire in) and walk away for awhile if you run into problems.
I did not do any of these things and in hind sight paid dearly for it with a much higher frustration level.
This product deserves a 5/5 in my book as it always tried to do what I asked of it. It just couldn't with the motor problems and CMC present. When the issues were finally dealt with, the unit worked flawlessly (until the Hi-Q motor finally seized one morning).
I switched antennas to a Scorpion SA-680S which has worked excellent with this controller on my IC-7000. It was easy to recalibrate and took all of about 15 minutes to get going again on this antenna...even with the separation kit already installed.
This controller is a joy to use if you are on the road allot like I am.
73's
W7LJB
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W3RXO
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Rating: 2/5
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Jul 24, 2009 16:38
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Can be good, for some
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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In the interest of total disclosure, I am friends with N6VQL, and I know that both of his Better RF 7000 Tune Controllers work absolutely flawlessly. My experience with the one I have has been nothing but headaches. We thought we had it set up pretty close, and it worked well for me on 20 and 40, but that was it. It would not find tune on my Hi-Q 5/160 on 10, 12, 15, 17, 75/80 or 160. So I contacted Alan, to get his input. Upon making the changes Alan recommended, it no longer was able to tune ANY band. Then I got word that my truck was to be sold, and I was getting a new truck, so I un-installed it from the truck it was in, in anticipation of the move. I then installed it in my new truck, using the advice Alan gave, and Felix's experience. After 3 months of messing with it, on two trucks, with 3 different mounting configurations, and countless differing combinations of snap on ferrite beads, in all of the usual locations, and then some, I have taken the Better RF 700 Tune Controller and the Better RF Screwdriver Controller out of my setup, and gone to Charlie's (W6HIQ) manual controller with turns counter.
Now, I do not want to bash the Better RF products, as I know they generally work VERY WELL, but I have had a very negative experience, with them, and wanted to be sure to post here, that in order to use them, you must be a patient person, and one who enjoys a challenge, to tinker with. If you lack the patience, to tinker, endlessly, and would rather have something that is plug and play, consider something other than these products. If you do not mind tinkering, you can probably install it, tinker with it for a short while, and be extremely happy with it's operation, for a long time. I just don't have the time or patience. I need something that requires very little adjustment, and works right away.
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N6VQL
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 22, 2009 22:51
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MY SECOND ONE
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This is the second Better RF tuner controller and screwdriver controller I have purchased. I now have one on both my car and truck. I use an Icom IC-7000, a HI-Q 5/80 antenna and the Better RF. Using this combination is almost a "plug and play" operation. I also used a shunt coil which worked very well. I now use an MFJ-910 which is not susceptible to car wash issues!
Today I assisted a fellow ham to install his IC-7000, Better RF, and a High Sierra 1800. The High Sierra 1800 is somewhat challenging to get operational because it is very prone to common mode current. High sierra does not recommend the use of any screwdriver controller for this specific reason. After trial, error, patience and a few tricks up my sleeve, I was able to get the 1800 fully operational for my fellow ham. Again, the issues I experienced making this combination operational was with the High Sierra and not the Better RF.
Customer service is top notch! Gerry and Alan are fantastic and are willing to assist the consumer with any issues encountered.
Alan's website www.KOBG.com is very informative and will give practical solutions to avoid common errors. I highly recommend visiting his site, especially the Antennas, Commercial section.
I highly recommend the Better RF Tune Control combination.
73's and look forward to my QSO with you from my mobile!
Felix
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