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Author Topic: Message to manufacturers  (Read 762 times)

KE7FD

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Message to manufacturers
« on: August 18, 2022, 03:22:43 PM »

You tuner manufacturers, like MFJ, LDG, SGC, others(?), what gives with the mediocre selection of remote tuners? Sure MFJ has several automatic remote tuners for different power levels but there's really only two power levels to build for: 100w and 1,500w. If you would streamline the manufacturing process for those two type of tuners, you could simplify the supply chain problems and provide greater inventory to the end customers. If someone needed a remote tuner for 500 watts, they would just buy the big one. Otherwise, most stations run barefoot at no more than 100 watts. There you go, two models. Keep it simple. And by streamlining your manufacturing, your cost and the price for these units would go down. What is so hard about that?

I don't know what's going on with LDG right now, but hopefully they'll get their act together soon.

And SGC, you make such good tuners, why don't you make something for high power users? You've got barefoot customers covered, but there are a lot more power users out there than there used to be.

It just seems like the manufacturers are working from ancient playbooks rather than staying in touch with the hobby. There's a Chinese outfit which has produced several barefoot tuners; I wouldn't be surprised at all if they come up with a legal limit remote tuner as well. And if that happens, shame on the existing tuner manufacturers for dropping the ball, again.
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K1VSK

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Re: Message to manufacturers
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2022, 04:37:14 PM »

Why write this here - they likely don’t read this forum. Why not make your own? Building a tuner is one of the simplest projects there is. In so doing, you would realize the differences between a 500w capacity and 1500 watt tuner is not much.
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KT0DD

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Re: Message to manufacturers
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2022, 07:22:51 PM »

It also makes a difference on what you are matching. If your antenna is just somewhat off resonance, say up to 5-10 to1, it's not a problem for a lot of tuners. If you are trying to load that Sealy Posturepedic box springs on 160, you can blow up the best tuner in the world.

Todd - KT0DD
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K6AER

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Re: Message to manufacturers
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2022, 07:30:57 PM »

Antenna tuner marketing and manufacturing is a more complicated issue than making a legal limit or 100 watt tuner. For those hams running 600-1000 watts they don't want to spend the extra bucks for a 1500 watt tuner.

Another issue is what is your antenna impedance you are trying to match. The higher the impedance the higher the voltage at the tuner output. Stray capacitance in the tuner will limit the upper frequency capabilities. Lower impedance matching will be limited by resistive losses in the tuner. High power means depending on antenna impedance the possibility of capacitor arcing.

Ninety seven percent of the hams on the HF band do not own an amplifier.

This is not a supply issue but a marketing target exercise. The ham radio market is a very small market to bring a developed product and make it worth wile to produce. Just look a the number of amplifier manufactures in the product review section. Ninty seven percent are no linger in business.

You need to walk a mile in the shoes of a manufacture trying to bring a profitable design to a very limited market.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2022, 07:37:09 PM by K6AER »
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GRUMPY2021

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Re: Message to manufacturers
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2022, 10:16:30 PM »

Here's an idea...at least something I would do and I realize I'm probably not the norm.  You really contradict yourself.  You complain (b****) about mediocre selections and then in the next sentence want the manufacturers to streamline down to two units.   I digress...
What I would do instead of wasting time and energy on a misc topic that none of the listed manufacturers will see how about hitting the "contact" button on each website listed and giving them your personal contradictory idea how they should run their business.   

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KC6RWI

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Re: Message to manufacturers
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2022, 10:20:14 PM »

Just a minute aer, i was going to respond to being in the 3% of hams that don't use an amp, after all most radios will put out 100 watts, probably more like 80 watts. Thats plenty of power for me, I won't have as many problems with rfi as with an amp, its hard enough to get a low swr, the problem amplified by hi power,
But the same 97%  no longer in business? can you clarify that statement, no offense implied.
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K4HB

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Re: Message to manufacturers
« Reply #6 on: August 19, 2022, 06:37:24 AM »

Why write this here - they likely don’t read this forum.

Maybe to see if other ops have the same issues with tuners that are available? Maybe he did send messages to the companies, he didn't say if he did or didn't. And maybe to encourage other ops to send messages to the manufacturers.

Why not make your own?

Good idea, if you don't like what's available, do it yourself. I did exactly that with a remote tuner 100 feet from the shack. The roller inductor and variable vacuum cap were in a Collins tuner built in the mid 50s for aircraft. This tuner handles full legal power very well. Also built the controller, which switches Tuner/Bypass, Hi/Low Z, 1K Pf fixed, Camera On/Off. Been using this tuner for over 11 years, and never had a problem other than shorted flyback diodes from lightning strikes. https://www.k4hb.com/homebrew.html
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KG4RUL

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Re: Message to manufacturers
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2022, 10:19:54 AM »

being in the 3% of hams that don't use an amp

Where did you pull that number from?
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KC6RWI

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Re: Message to manufacturers
« Reply #8 on: August 19, 2022, 01:35:42 PM »

Opps, I was trying to comment on the post that said 97% don't have amps.
so I had it backwards, I am in the 97% who don't have an amp, if those %'s are right,
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