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Reviews For: Elecraft T1 Miniature ATU for all Low-Power Transceivers

Category: Antenna Tuners/Matching Networks

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Review Summary For : Elecraft T1 Miniature ATU for all Low-Power Transceivers
Reviews: 63MSRP: 135
Description:
This may be the world's smallest high-performance, stand-alone ATU. At just
4.4 x 2.5 x 0.9 inches, and weighing only 5 oz., it's about one-fourth the size
and weight of other compact automatic antenna tuners.

The T1 has 7 inductors and 7 capacitors to provide a wide tuning range. It
can be used with any 0.5 to 20-watt transceiver or transmitter, and can be
tuned in any mode, even SSB voice. Many L-C settings are saved in the unit's
EEPROM for quick re-tune (typically 1 to 2 seconds).

An internal 9-V battery powers the unit, and battery life is excellent thanks to
the use of latching relays and auto power-off after each use. There's zero
power consumed except when actually tuning.

There's a "smart" adapter cable available for the Yaesu FT-817. This
convenient accessory allows the T1 ATU to track band changes made at the
transceiver, recalling per-band L-C settings without the need to transmit.
Product is in production
More Info: http://www.elecraft.com
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
15634.7
WB3GCK Rating: 2014-07-12
Matches Just About Anything Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I use the Elecraft T1 with my portable QRP set up. It's small, light and I haven't come across anything that it won't match. I was leary, at first, about laying out the money for this thing but now I'm glad I did.
K2GK Rating: 2014-05-31
Great Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Hold the button.
Send a carrier.
let go and let it tune.
Enjoy your radio usage made easy.
Thanks Elecraft!
K4SHQ Rating: 2013-12-30
Excellent kit Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This is an excellent ATU and very good as a kit. Anyone contemplating buying the kit, should be good at reading and following directions. Failing that you need to be good at desoldering. I fall into the later category. The direction are very good but must be followed exactly. I had to go back and rewind the sampler transformer cores. You can buy the transformers/inductors factory assembled from Elecraft, but with a little care and reading the directions they can be successfully hand wound.

Either factory or home assembled the end result is very good little ATU and should be suitable for QRP or mobile use.
KS1U Rating: 2013-10-27
Another winner for Elecraft Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The T1 is a well designed easy to assemble kit, which does exactly what it's supposed to. I had just finished building my T1 about 1 AM on a Friday and was about 90% done with a homebrew 30 xcvr and had to try them out together. I didn't have an antenna for 30, but did have an aluminum extension ladder up against my TV antenna tower, which I had been working on. With an alligator clip on the ladder, one on a ground rod and a few on the xcvr, I was able to get a better than 1.5 to 1 SWR on the ladder and worked TX and NC on 20 watts from coastal CT.
I really like the fact the T1 takes up so little space at the operating position and the 20 watt rating is perfect for most of my home-brew projects. I'd really like to see Elecraft offer a 100 watt version of this tuner so I could use it with all my radios. Whether you buy it assembled or build it yourself it will be money well spent. When building Elecraft products it's easy to see how much thought has gone into each item. It was another fun build and another product I'll get a lot of use out of.
KD8IGK Rating: 2013-10-02
Excellent Design Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I just got one of these little tuners. In my testing with a Soft Rock RXTX transceiver. It tuned up to all my antennas and gave me a 1.1 SWR on each antenna. My plan is to use this in the field for QRP operations and this looks like a very light and small tuner that will work well. It is very simple to use.
KC9TNH Rating: 2011-05-06
Outstanding portable/QRP solution Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Rig: FT-817ND (both CW & SSB)
Setup: When portable, Craig's $-Store Special (thrown speaker wire w/couple of counterpoises); at home QTH, 80m OCF dipole.

I think this tuner could find a match on a coat hanger or piece of rebar. It is quick, gives reasonable other data via the LEDs if you can learn to read some slo-Morse. Best of the small autotuners.

Now have a THP 45w amp for the 817 when at home, but dialed back on the 817 as I don't want to hurt the precious T1. When a more robust tuner (rated at >20w) comes to hand for home use the T1 will go permanently in the field-bag. I don't hang out on one band all the time, but jump around and an auto-tuner is the ticket. LDG probably has a couple of 100w-rated tuners that will act like this T1, but I too wish the Elecraft would make an assembled 100-125w version of this T1 - just clone it, but a little bigger.

A nice gent sold me this one as he retired from working portable stuff; it's still in great shape and no one is getting their hands on it.
KC9ECI Rating: 2011-04-24
Brilliant! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I really like this little tuner! I purchased it to use with my Flex 1500. If I had any complaint about it, it would be that it doesn't interface with enough rigs like it does the FT-817. I also like the suggestion of a clear case. That would look cool. I was recently working a RTTY contest when my autotuner from another company failed. I dialed the power on my Icom 706 back to 20W, put the T1 in line and carried on and worked a lot of DX. I wish Elecraft would make a line of tuners.
KV4AN Rating: 2010-06-06
WORKS FB AND VERY SMALL Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bought the T1 to go with my FT-817. Very high-quality construction with a slide-off battery cover. The best thing about it is it is very small. I like the other popular brand of tuners too, but went with the T1 because of the very small size. It tuned my portable OCF multi-band dipole and I worked several north eastern states from my QTH in Virginia on 20, 12, and 10 meters QRP from my patio. I like the couple push-button controls and the operator feedback from the LEDs. When tuning, it grinds for a second or so and then gets a perfect match. The small size, buttons, and indicators caused me to buy it over the other brand even though the T1 was more expensive. I'm glad I bought it as it is a very nice QRP tuner. I didn't get the FT-817 adapter and not sure it would do for me for the extra cost.
N6AIR Rating: 2010-03-06
Amazing Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have several tuners. The T1 is cut above the rest.

Everybody raves about Elecraft quality. With this tuner, I see why.

It's not hype. Elecraft is really extraordinary.
XE1UFO Rating: 2008-08-19
TOTALLY AWESOME!!! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I want to report my experiences with the Elecraft T1 ultra-portable (pocket-size) automatic antenna coupler. I have used it extensively with two different rigs:

1. My Yaesu FT817ND
2. My SGC SG2020ADSP2

I purchased the assembled version, with the cable for the 817. I have found the T1 to be very versatile, and have used it into many different random and long wire configurations, dipoles and G5RV's. I have also used it in conjunction with my MP1 SuperTenna antenna.

I am amazed how tiny this thing is, and how easy to use. We do backpacking into remote mountain villages. Also amazing is how long the internal 9-volt battery lasts. This is because the unit turns itself off once the match is found. In over six months of weekend use, I have not replaced the battery.

When used with any unbalanced antenna system, of course, you have to lay down at least one counterpoise wire for best overall efficiency. I
consider this one of my best ever antenna coupler investments.

My two pesos' worth.

Steve, XE1UFO a.k.a. KA5SUT
San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico

----------------------
Earlier 5-star review posted by XE1UFO on 2008-08-19

I want to report my experiences with the Elecraft T1 ultra-portable (pocket-size) automatic antenna coupler. I have used it extensively with two different rigs:

1. My Yaesu FT817ND
2. My SGC SG2020ADSP2

I purchased the assembled version,with the cable for the 817. I have found the T1 to be very versatile, and have used it into many different random and long wire configurations, dipoles and G5RV's. I have also used it in conjunction with my MP1 SuperTenna antenna.

I am amazed how tiny this thing is, and how easy to use. We do backpacking into remote mountain villages. Also amazing is how long the internal 9-volt battery lasts. This is because the unit turns itself off once the match is found. In over six months of weekend use, I have not replaced the battery.

When used with any unbalanced antenna system, of course, you have to lay down at least one counterpoise wire for best overall efficiency. I
consider this one of my best ever antenna coupler investments.

My two pesos' worth.

Steve, XE1UFO a.k.a. KA5SUT
San Juan del Rio, Queretaro, Mexico