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Reviews For: SGC SG-230

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : SGC SG-230
Reviews: 66MSRP: 595.00
Description:
SG-230 Smartuner automatic microprocessor antenna coupler.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.sgcworld.com/products/230/sg230.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00664.6
N4CT Rating: 2009-02-07
SGC 230 REPAIR Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I HAVE HAD MY SGC-230 TUNER FOR YEARS AND IT WORKS GREAT. LATELY THOUGH IT WOULD NOT TUNE SO I FAX'D SGC AND ASKED IF I COULD SEND IT FOR REPAIR. I WAS SHOCKED TO RECEIVE AN EMAIL THAT REPAIR WOULD BE $245.00!!! FORTUNATELY I FOUND STEVE, KG4LJB, COMMENTING ON THIS SGC SITE AND SENT IT TO HIM FOR REPAIR. HE FIXED IT QUICKLY AND FOR $50.00 PLUS SHIPPING. SURE BEATS SGC COST BY A MILE!! TNX STEVE.

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Earlier 5-star review posted by N4CT on 2002-07-24

DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON EXPENSIVE COMMERCIAL HAM VERTICALS. BUY THIS TUNER AND JUST USE WIRE AS A VERTICAL UP THE TELESCOPING 33' FIBERGLASS GERMAN POLE (DON'T BUY THE CHEAPER MFJ FIBERGLASS POLE..IT IS NOT MADE WELL). YOU WILL HAVE A FULL SIZE VERTICAL ON 7MHZ AND 3/4 ON 21MHZ AND THIS TUNER WILL EASILY TUNE IT ON ANY BAND. IT IS A GREAT PRODUCT! I ACCIDENTALLY PUT A KW INTO THE UNIT ONLY FOR AN INSTANT...IT DID NOT HARM IT BUT DON'T DO THAT, HI!
KG4LJB Rating: 2009-01-03
Get one if you can! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I use mine with a TS-480HX (200 watts). This rig has a "PF" (programmable function) button that I have set up to put the unit into the transmit mode, and produce about 10 watts of RF. Most of the time this is sufficient to kick the tuner into action, but not always. A few more watts would help to wake it up more consistently.

If it decides to be uncooperative, I just press a monetary contact switch that briefly grounds the SG-230s' "reset" line. This forces the unit to come out of its sleep mode, and the the tune process proceeds as planned. When times permits, I'm going to explore increasing the output power that the PF key button invokes, to 15 - 20 watts.

The antenna is a 14 gauge wire - roughly 75 feet long, strung between two poles - about 30 feet up, with one end going down to the tuner, that is bolted to the wood fence about 25 feet away.

My ground system consists of 3 copper rods and a number of random length ground wires (radials) - ranging from 20 to 70 feet long, laid out on the ground along the fence line, and the QTH foundation. As time permits, I'll add more radials, and probably bury them to keep them out of reach of the lawn mower. More will no doubt help make the system more effective and efficient.

Performance wise, this system provides very good operation from 160 to 20 meters. The SG-230 can provide a match that reduces the reflected power to 5 watts or less with a 200 watt input. Above 20 meters, the reflected power grows beyond my pain threshold - which I admit is pretty low. I generally won't transmit unless the permanently installed Bird 43 watt meter indicates that the reflected power reads less than 10 watts.

As conditions improve, and the M.U.F. goes up, I'll get around to putting up a shorter wire antenna for that will allow the tuner to work effectively on the upper bands.

Like other auto tuners, this one is full of relays that make noise during the tune process. Since the tuner is mounted outside, I never hear it, unless the window is open. It is sealed fairly well, but it's still a good idea to protect it from the weather.

Many (but not all) SG-230s have 3, .33 uF caps in parallel, between the tuning elements ground plane, and the RF ground bolt. I understand that this should allow the tuner to use a loop antenna between it's output and ground connections, but I've yet to try it.

G3YNH has a interesting web page dealing with the SG-230, and his efforts to get the unit to work with a balanced antenna. Lots of good information, and well worth the look.

http://www.g3ynh.info/atu/sgc230.html

BTW - I've been in the marine electronic repair business since the early 80s, and am quite familiar with the SG-230 and it's close cousin, the SEA 1612B. I have become pretty comfortable repairing these units, and have been able to repair just about all of them, so long as lightning is not involved. If you need a hand getting your running, feel free to contact me at andros2112 - at - yahoo.com

73's, Steve - KG4LJB
G3XAP Rating: 2008-07-19
It works on 6M too! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use the SG-230 at the base of a 33ft vertical with a decent earth system comprised of radials, plus copper ground spikes. The tuner is about 60ft from the shack.

It was a case of "instant success" - I connected everything up, put 5 watts of AM into the feeder and, hey presto, almost instantly I had an SWR of almost 1:1 on 40 metres.

It tunes every band from 160 to 10 with SWRs of below 1.5:1 in every case.

About 6 months ago I bought a Yaesu FT-2000D - my first rig with 6 metres, and thought that I'd try to tune the vertical via the 230 on that band. It actually works!!!!! I get SWRs of between 1.2:1 and 1.5:1 depending on which part of the band I'm on.

All in all a great piece of gear - money well spent.

Phil, G3XAP
VU3MES Rating: 2008-07-02
sgc sg230 antenna couplr Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
hello friends

i had been using an sg230 antenna coupler for sometime, this was salvaged from a shipbreaking depot and according to SGC the serial no shows that this unit is 8/10 years old. i have erected a delta loop 30x30x30 size at 30 odd feet height and my txcvrs are a classic Yaesu ft101e and a modern 857d. i work a lot on split modes with other hams in south india and band hopping with this coupler is a breeze. just change the band, shout some words in your normal voice and the rest is taken care of by the coupler, especially with the modern 857d. i must mention that the inner part of this coupler is still in prestine conditon eventhough the outer ABS cover is weather beaten. instead of spending money on multiband fantasy antennas, one can simply have an sg230 and have lot of fun on radio.

vy 73s de vu3mes. satyan chennai/india
M3SXA Rating: 2008-02-20
Works 100% Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I was actually loaned this very old unit, then told to "Keep it" by a very generous and good friend...
Being an M3 here in the uk I can only say this works very well.
I sunk several copper rods spaced over 1 meter apart attached a wire approx 70ft and it tunes up on all bands, about 1.8 is the highest on top band... Thumbs up :-)
M0TNX Rating: 2008-01-26
Does exactly what it says on the tin! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought this tuner for the bargain price of £170 off ebay, it was brand new and unused..
I am tuning a 33 foot vertical, tuned against a large earth mat.. Was amazed at the speed it tunes, and the no fuss installation, plug n play I'd say!

It really does show inadequacy in your earthing systems, so make sure that you do use good grounds...
a simple rod hammered in the ground ain't good enough at 160 metres, so all these miracle *wideband* antennas that dont need earths really ARE pants...

I've heard DX on 80 metres tonight for the first time from home, most of the DX I've worked before was from half wake kite held verticals whilst portable, so hearing stuff from home is a new thrill... The SGC has allowed easy and no fuss tuning after converting the vertical to an inverted L of sorts...

Great instructions and no jargon text means that your understanding of this unit will be instant.

If you want a small box to tune your antenna, this isn't for you, it's not cumbersome, it's really quite slim, but it is fairly large dimensions wise.

Should you go for the cheaper versions that are now available? that's up to you, all I know that I am made up with the initial performance of the SGC.. I'll write another review after 12 months or so.

Buy a trapped vertical? no way.. make your own and tune it properly to get all the power you can into it with an SGC
W0QH Rating: 2007-11-19
Fault less Operation Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used SGC products for years.

They have been flaw less in there performance. This is a great product for applications that require little operator intervention....


I have used this tuner in some of the most inclement environments you can imagine it has worked , and has pr oven to be reliable...
G0TMX Rating: 2007-10-11
Good Investment Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
This is one of the first reviews I have written for eHam, but was so pleased with the SGC 230, that I thought I would spend a few minutes to tell of my experiences.
I have a relatively small garden at our new QTH and for some months, I experimented with a W3DZZ, G5RV, shortened loaded dipoles and verticals. None really worked very well, and I was getting dispondent, spending money and time without seeing any apparent return for my efforts. All these traps etc attracted curious stares from passers by too.. It was then I saw the ad on this website for the SGC 230. It was a bit expensive - costing about as much as a commercial HF vertical. I had seen someone else say elswhere on another review 'save the cost of a vertical and buy an SGC'. They were right.
Having had one for the last 6 months or so, I can highly recommend it!

I have a 60ft inverted L running off mine, and a counterpoise of buried radials and chicken wire! The more of a couterpoise you have - the better. It tunes up a treat on most bands (favouring the low bands) and I have, for the first time, been able to have meaningful QSO's on 160m. This I find really impressive - it does exactly what it says on the box!

The only problem I had was supplying 900ma at 12v to the unit. It was placed at the bottom of my garden, and a number of swithced mode PSU's generated terrible hash. After experimenting with small lead acid batteries, I have now got a 12v Golf Caddy Battery in a waterproof enclosure which can run the SGC all day - every day, without problem. This battery is then kept topped up with a small solar panel - how eco friendly is that?!
KC0PET Rating: 2007-06-12
Best Feed Point Tuner on the Market Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have used the SG230 on many different configurations including short wires, long wires, dipoles, loops. This tuner will tune just about anything you hook to it on just about any frequency even with bad connections. It does favor simple wire antennas and loops seem to be the most problematic.

I highly reccomend adding the SmartLock box, so you can see what the tuner is doing and "lock" it in once tuned.

We managed to break one unit after several years, but most likely due to hard useage (probably more like abuse).

There are a few minor quirks, but nothing to really complain about.
K4ELO Rating: 2007-06-04
Excellent Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Unfortunately, my SG-230 was doa. Simply would not tune. Back to the factory for repair, and it came back working perfectly. I am using this tuner at the base of a ZeroFive all band vertical with 60 radials 50' long and fed with 100' of coax to the shack.. I have also installed a lightening protector/static drain between the tuner and the vertical for tuner protection.
t tunes at less than 2:1 swr on every band from 160 to 10. On the low to mid part of 40 and 20 where I operate the most, the swr is 1.1:1 or less. Results have been excellent, easily working Europe and SA with 20 watts from KY. Using an Orion II, if I can hear them, I can work them, even in pileups.
It tunes fast and it works. Absolutely recommended.