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Author Topic: Tune-A-Tenna  (Read 487 times)

N8OXQ

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Tune-A-Tenna
« on: January 16, 2023, 03:57:40 PM »

Was on HF last night and heard the guy talking about his Tune-atenna. He was the designer/builder. Did not get to talk with him but did look up the antenna on the web. Interesting antenna. I looked for any reviews here but none yet. Anyone try it yet? How do you like it?

                    Thanks
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W7XTV

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #1 on: January 16, 2023, 04:38:33 PM »

Interesting, but at US$950, it's way out of my price range.
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W6MK

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #2 on: January 16, 2023, 05:01:30 PM »

Interesting antenna.

Important to read an antenna book to understand basic principles of design.

Reading what is on the Tune a Tenna website suggests to me that the designer doesn't really understand some fundamentals of antenna design. Yes the antenna probably works well enough, but the design is far more complicated (and expensive) than it needs to be to perform as a dipole that is usable on all HF bands.

The lack of understanding is evidenced in the notion that an antenna must be resonant in order to perform well. Not so. Reflected power is not lost, but is radiated. And so on.
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KH6AQ

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #3 on: January 16, 2023, 06:45:06 PM »

TUNE-A-TENNA    https://tune-a-tenna.com/

It looks great electrically. I wonder how it does in high winds and with rain and ice?
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K6AER

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #4 on: January 16, 2023, 07:28:58 PM »

I have talked with him several times on 40 SSB and got the same impression that his solution to a problem that does not exist.
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K6JH

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #5 on: January 16, 2023, 07:43:43 PM »

Also he appears to be using steel cable, which is likely to be somewhat lossy at hf.

And a separate DC cable to operate the motor, when he could have run the DC up the coax. Adds to the users installation cost.

Using weights to extend the wires means it will only work in an inverted Vee configuration, not as a straight dipole. Have to be some weights to hold the wire up for 80m, and this is only really useful to broadband 80/75. Otherwise just run a fan.
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73
Jim K6JH

KF4ZGZ

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #6 on: January 17, 2023, 03:34:32 AM »

Looks like he just more or less motorized the clothesline antenna.
It's been around forever.

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Matt

N4MU

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #7 on: January 17, 2023, 05:30:10 AM »

I looked up the call and discovered that he's using an alias. His real name is Rube Goldberg. :)
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KG4RUL

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #8 on: January 18, 2023, 03:52:55 AM »

$950 + the cost of a flagpole and installing same.
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K2CMH

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #9 on: January 18, 2023, 05:17:21 AM »

Way way way overpriced...at a much lower price, there might be those that would buy it just to experiment with it.
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W9IQ

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #10 on: January 18, 2023, 05:32:01 AM »

TUNE-A-TENNA    https://tune-a-tenna.com/

It looks great electrically. I wonder how it does in high winds and with rain and ice?

I particularly like the indicator lamp that is labeled 'indicator lamp'. That removes all ambiguity.

- Glenn W9IQ
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- Glenn W9IQ

God runs electromagnetics on Monday, Wednesday and Friday by the wave theory and the devil runs it on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday by the Quantum theory.

K0UA

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #11 on: January 18, 2023, 03:09:33 PM »

TUNE-A-TENNA    https://tune-a-tenna.com/

It looks great electrically. I wonder how it does in high winds and with rain and ice?

I particularly like the indicator lamp that is labeled 'indicator lamp'. That removes all ambiguity.

- Glenn W9IQ

Well, that certainly clears that up!.

As for the wire and weighted ends, yes the first frost or ice drizzle would fix that up pretty good. Not to mention a generous dollap of bird poop !  At least steppIr puts their elements inside a fiberglass housing. Not that they don't have their own troubles.
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73  James K0UA

K6AER

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #12 on: January 18, 2023, 07:41:11 PM »

I would take a SteppIR any day.
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K0UA

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Re: Tune-A-Tenna
« Reply #13 on: January 18, 2023, 10:21:32 PM »

I would take a SteppIR any day.

Yep..
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73  James K0UA
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