| K4AEC |
Rating:      |
2021-12-15 | |
| Ten Years of Flawless Performance! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I bought my TEN-TEC 238A manual tuner for use with a legal-limit amp (AL-1200) primarily for calling a state-wide HF net on 75 meters. It has worked like a charm, and matches my slightly modified G5RV antenna (which is marginal on 75M) down to a 1.1 or between SWR. The best my MFJ-998 autotuner can do on 75M with the same antenna is 1.5 or 1.6. It will also match the G5RV to a low SWR down below 3.5 MHz on MARS/SHARES frequencies. I believe it would find a match on the proverbial set of bed springs! My only wish to make this tuner better would be for a true, peak-reading watt meter. Otherwise, it's perfect as is. |
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| KZ4B |
Rating:      |
2016-03-06 | |
| My favorite of the 229/238 Series Tuners. |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
The 229/238 Series Ten-Tec Tuners are the most efficient Tuners available anywhere (with the exception of a near tie with the Ameritron ATR-30). This is because Ten-Tec's L Network is designed to switch in up to approx. 2000 pfd in parallel with the near 500 pfd Variable Capacitor. The more (virtually zero-loss) capacity available--the less relatively lossy (Series) Variable Inductance is required! Most T Network Tuners are limited to 350 to 500 pfd Maximum Variable Capacitors--so the Lossy Series Inductance Values must be relatively higher for any given "Tune"!
The Ten-Tec 238(A & B / Grey & Black respectively) are in my opinion the best of the TT Tuners. While the tuner "guts" are pretty much the same--the all-important Rotary Inductor Turns Counter and Crank Knob are superior on the 238 (A & B). The relatively "smallish" SWR/Power meter on the 238 (A & B) is not peak reading and requires relatively frequent sensitivity re-adjustments--but is (for me) more informative (I.E.--provides direct SWR Calibration Units) than the larger and better-looking "Cross-Needle" Meter in the 238C.
All of the 229/238 Series Tuners use relatively marginal [Current and Voltage (3 KV) Rating-Wise) nominal 470 pfd Disk Ceramic Capacitors (paralleled with the 500 pfd, 3.5+ KV Variable Capacitors). Unlike the earlier 229/238 Tuners, the 238 (A & B) Tuners use paralleled nominal 240 pfd Capacitors in place of singe 470 pfd Capacitors to improve the Current Handling Capacity. I have therefore modified numerous 229/238 Series Tuners with the addition of four nominal 470 pfd, 5 KV "Door-knob" Capacitors mounted directly below and in line with the Capacitor-Selector-Switch Shaft. I have NEVER had a Tuner failure with this modification even when running the Legal Limit with "Marginally" Tune-able (High SWR) Antennas. NOTE that I have avoided modifying 238 (A & B) Series Tuners because the Capacitor Selector Switch and Capacitor Mounting PCB (with relatively low current capacity tracing) don't look like they can handle the higher-current-rated "door-knob" capacitors. Note also that the burned-trace-prone PCB is no longer available from Ten-Tec. I therefore try to limit RF Power to the 238 (A & B) Tuners to about 1200 Watts PEP, 1000 Watts Continuous. |
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| N2ETJ |
Rating:  |
2010-08-10 | |
| Buy a palstar |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
Second time back and TT wants in excess of $400 to fix. Don't think so. Ordered a palstar which I should have done first
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Earlier 5-star review posted by N2ETJ on 2006-07-27
After ownership of this tuner for over 4 years, it still performs flawlessly. I use a 160m full wave loop and tunes easily any frequency with exact duplication by the numbers. A real bonus when band hopping. No problems with Alpha 99 at max. either(legal power that is)
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Earlier 5-star review posted by N2ETJ on 2001-06-11
Like the others, considered Pal-Star but dollar for dollar, the Ten-Tec is a better value. Handles all the Alpha 99 can throw at it. Yes the capacitor and inductor knobs are tight but look inside and you will see why. Very hefty. It compliments the station and loads my zep very well on all bands......... even 160 as a marconi. Very close duplication of resonate frequency on bands when switching. Well the meter in kinds chinsy but have external meter anyway. Could use on and off switch for meter but easily remedied with a switch in line.....all in all would i recommend it? YES and would buy it again..... |
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| HFRF |
Rating:     |
2009-11-28 | |
| Could be more rugged |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
I would use a well designed L tuner like this one than a high loss touchy T type tuner any day. The TT tuner is built using some flimsy parts and the new price for this tuner is very high. But it is a good tuner overall.
At one time TT made an auto/preset tuner that was essentially the same as this one except auto. After using a auto tuner, its hard going back to manual. It is fortunate that most auto tuners are L tuners and they run circles around T tuners.
I am not sure why TT has not produced a current auto tuner that will work high power. That would be a very desirable piece of equipment. |
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| K0XX |
Rating:     |
2009-11-28 | |
| Close.....robust? |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
| I have owned this tuner for years. It is close to being a superb device. Very good loss characteristics, and truly wide ranging. BUT, I have now replaced the rear populated PCB twice due to burning holes in it at near legal limit power on high freqs (21-28Mhz). The ceramic impedance switch and associated wiring could be more robust! |
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| KA5ROW |
Rating:      |
2008-11-15 | |
| By far the Best Tuner |
Time Owned: 3 to 6 months. |
The Ten-Tec 238 A tuner I by far the best tuner I have owned. My previous tuners were a MFJ 989-C and a Dentron MT-3000 and both them worked fine, except on 160 meters. But on 160 meters They would arch at about 300 to 350 watts. The Ten-Tec would not arch, even at 1300 watts. The Ten-Tec is a L network and both the MFJ and Dentron are a T network. I don't know if that had any thing to do with it are not, but the Ten-Tec has never arch.
I wrote this same review on the Ten-Tec 238 on e-Ham.
The only thing I don't care for is the on the 238 was the slide rule dial. But the new 238-A has corrected that.
I have traded up and got the Ten-Tec 238 A same results no arching on 160 with 1300 watts.
"But I like the looks of this tuner, and will keep it" |
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| K5NT |
Rating:      |
2004-08-29 | |
| A Great Product! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
The versatility and flexibility of this tuner came to my rescue when I moved to a restricted community and found myself using an attic dipole (Alpha Delta DX-EE) for my HF activity. My smaller tuners just couldn't handle the challenge, but the 238A lets me achieve 1.2:1 on all bands, which my Corsair II likes just fine. In all its variations, this is a great tuner and I recommend it highly!
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Earlier 5-star review posted by K5NT on 2002-11-02
This tuner is truly a quality product. The construction is excellent, and the unit is both nice looking and a great performer. The metering is accurate, and responds so quickly that it could almost be advertised as "peak-reading". Being an L-Network, this tuner also serves as a harmonic supressor. I am told that T-Network filters do not do this. I am very satisfied with my investment in this tuner. There is now a version called the 238B, but the only difference is a black paint job to match Ten-Tec's new color scheme. You can't miss with one of these! |
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| K8JS |
Rating:      |
2004-02-22 | |
| Very Close To Excellence!! |
Time Owned: more than 12 months. |
My own comments would largely echo those other previous "5/5" Ten-Tec 238 reviews.
No need for me to repeat them.
However, as a suggestion to Ten-Tec I would highly recommend as future improvements:
1) A LARGER meter that is also the modern design of dual-reading SWR and Peak at the same time without having to manually readjust it when changing bands and/or antennas.
I was truly disappointed when TT's "new" all-black 238B was still sporting that tiny old-fashioned SWR meter.
Oh well, at least TT eliminated that stupid smoky-dark, viewing window so that now one does not need to use the meter lamp.
2) Design-in more inductance and capacitance for better, more successful tuning on 160 meters.
The Ten-Tec 238 is very efficient when it comes to transferring the RF from your rig to the feedline. Unlike those T-network and Pi-network tuner designs, the L-network inside the 238 has hardly any internal losses. THAT is a big plus!!
An L-network type of tuner will not force a "fake" or "partially fake" loading only to end up merely heating up the tuners internal components instead of delivering most all of the RF into the feedline.
in other words if an L-network type of tuner design, such as the Ten-Tec 238, will not totally tune your antenna-feedline system, then that system isn't worth a damn, and should be modified or replaced.
Bottom line: An excellent rugged tuner that only needs a couple of additional modern design updates. ---John, K8JS
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| W3ULS |
Rating:      |
2001-11-12 | |
| Tuner for life |
Time Owned: 6 to 12 months. |
| Like WQ8Q, I use a Carolina Windom, a CW-80, with the Ten-Tec 238A. I have a Japan Radio JST-245 transceiver, which puts out about 160 watts (PEP), and has a built-in antenna tuner. The built-in tuner works fine on 80 and 40 with the CW-80, but not on 15 and 10, which is when I switch in the 238A. It works just as WQ8Q describes, quickly and efficiently. And, if I decide on adding an amp, it will be just as effective I'm sure. So, you only need to buy one tuner once to handle all a (modest) station's needs. A good deal. |
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| WQ8Q |
Rating:      |
2001-11-12 | |
| Works like a champ! |
Time Owned: 0 to 3 months. |
| After years of spending money on those clunky antenna tuners built in the deep south, and now that I have decided to run some "power" I decided to get a high power antenna tuner before I bought an amp. I figured I could use the tuner at the 100 watt level, and then I'd have it for the amp. I am also tired of buying things that become obsolete, so I was looking for a tuner that would last pretty much forever. I ordered the tuner from TT on the internet on a Tuesday afternoon and it came standard UPS on Thursday. The antenna knob was broken, and the bypass/impedence selector knob (same type of knob) broke within an hour. I called TT and they immediately sent me two new knobs which have worked just fine. Must have been a manufacturing glitch from the knob company. I made up a tuning guide (hate to call it a cheat sheet) and, tuning according to TenTec's manual, discovered that this tuner tuned up easily and quickly and was extremely repeatable. During contests I like to "hunt and pounce" and it's nice having a tuner that I can quickly set for a particular band and jump into the fray. And I do mean set for a particular BAND. Using either the Carolina Windom or my G5RV the tuner is so broad banded that I can pretty much set it up for the CW end of a band or the SSB end of a band, and it the SWR stays within comfortable limits for the whole band segment. It's nice not to have to retune. Some folks have said they don't like the meter. The meter that comes with it is a quick reacting unit, unlike those meters on some of those other products out there. Lets you know when things are tuned. The bottom line is that it works, and have no real complaints about it. I took the top off, and was impressed with what I saw inside. And the controls work tightly but smoothly, and I've got no complaint there. All in all, a nicely designed unit. If I'd had the money I'd spent for all those other tuners over the years, I could have bought this one and had money left over. I'd buy another one, but hopefully will never have to. I'm not an expert in antenna theory, but I bought the explanation from TenTec that the modified L-network they use in this unit is less lossy than the pi-network or other brands. Anyhow, have had glowing signal reports on my regular nets, and that's what it's all about. I like dealing with TenTec. Products for hams BY hams. They actually use the stuff. |
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