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Reviews For: Turbo Tuner

Category: Antennas: HF Mobile & Accessories

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Review Summary For : Turbo Tuner
Reviews: 156MSRP: 269. USD
Description:
Automatic Screwdriver Antenna Controller for Icom, Kenwood, and Yaesu. Handles antenna motor currents up to 2 amps. Firmware is user upgradeable using a computer. Controller is powered by the radio. Plug and play with no calibration required. Works with all models of screwdriver antennas. Tarheel, High Sierra and others. RF bullet proof with extensive RFI filtering. Full 30 day money back satisfaction guarantee and 2 year no questions asked parts and labor warranty. We stand behind our products.
Product is not in production
More Info: http://WWW.N2VZ.COM
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
001564.5
WB1FUA Rating: 2006-02-12
Great Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My first purchase was the Antenna BossII ( didn't know about the Turbo Tuner). The ABII worked OK although a bit finicky like requiring multiple pushes of the tune button to find true resonance. I also had problems with the antenna connections spinning when I attached the coax and one time breaking off one of the wires going to the circuit board. After about 8 months use I managed to fry the motor controller in the ABII (not sure exactly how I managed it). I sent it back for repair and since getting it back I have not been able to get it to move the antenna at all. Numerous emails have ensued with no luck getting it working (have to send it back again).

Enter the Turbo Tuner. I read the reviews here on eHam and decided to give the TT a try. All I can say is fantastic! First off the packaging is top notch. Secondly the install is a breeze. I initially had a problem getting the antenna to tune which was my own fault. I was too close to the garage. Once I moved the car away from the garage the TT tuned right up. A road test proved that the TT finds the lowest SWR first time. No more taking my eyes off the road to check whether or not I am at true resonance.

Thanks Bill - great product.

My set up is:

IC706 MKIIG
High Sierra SideKick

If anyone is interested purchasing my ABII give drop me a note at W1WAF@arrl.net

Rating: 5/5
WA1GZY Rating: 2006-01-29
Simply the Best! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Having just upgraded to an ICOM 7000 from the Icom 706MKIIG, I did not anticipate needing a new antenna controller. My W4RT Antenna Boss II should have worked with at least one of my favorite mobile antennas (HI-Q 3XTL screwdriver and/or my Tarheel collection LITTLE TARHEEL and Tarheel "Stubby" Model 75).. right? WRONG! The Antenna Boss II does indeed move all of the aforementioned antennas....RANDOMLY! Oh for a manual up/down switch (W4RT are you listening?). After several unanswered emails to W4RT and being told the IC7000 was too expensive to work on, a friend clued me in to the N2VZ TURBO-TUNER. I encourage you to rate this model as "indispensable" to safe and accurate mobile operations. Bill is too modest to boast of his successes. His background as a milspec communications consultant, software developer and engineering expertise has clearly paid off in this new product release. For those of you who already own a Turbo Tuner, there's more good news! His earlier releases are easily upgraded via the internet. You don't need an up/down acuator switch when the antenna controller does the SWR match with precision. In fact, to my great surprise and delight, it was dead on.. bringing my SWR down to a virtual unity match on all bands, 80 through 10 meters.
It's fast, simple to install and bulletproof to RFI.. (I use the SGC, SG500 HF linear with output to 600 watts). By the way, I also recommend using the CWS W2FMI UNUN at the screwdrive antenna base. This multitap impedance transformer works beautifully with the TURBO TUNER and effectively transfers the mobile RF to its intended destination.
VA3QR Rating: 2006-01-09
Best HF Purchase Yet! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Ordered the TT along with a Little Tarheel II screwdriver for my 2000 Chevy Blazer 4WD. Installed the TT today without even opening it up to change the DIP switches and it tunes 80-10 on my TS480 to 1:1 EVERY TIME. I spend a lot of time travelling for work and this little box is going to make the DXing a heck of a lot easier. Thanks N2VZ and keep up the great work!
N1DL Rating: 2005-12-17
Great with IC-7000 Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
Just replaced the trusted IC-706MKIIG with the IC-7000 in the car. The Turbo Tuner works well with the 7000 when it is set to the CI-V code of 58.
Using the HiQ 3-80 RT as an antenna.

Great product Bill!

Karl N1DL/mobile
N1VJ Rating: 2005-11-27
BEST EVER WARRANTY Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I damaged the turbo tuner before I got to use it. It was entirely my fault, Bill sent me another one and didn't even charge me shipment. Now that's good business for the consumer. They really stand behind their warranty. Thanks Bill,
73, Sylvia, N1VJ
N1LF Rating: 2005-11-24
A perfect solution! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
What can I possibly add about this wonderful product? My HF mobile installaton includes a Yaesu FT-857D mounted in a 2005 Chevy Colorado.

Antenna is a Tarheel Model 300 mounted on a stainless steel (MT-3) fold back trailer hitch mount. Both radio and Turbo Tuner are mounted under the drivers side seat, with only the remote faceplate for the radio visible. Mine is attached to the transmission hump.

My primary amateur activity is public service work, and this combination quickly tunes any frequency from 1.8-30mhz...including non-amateur frequencies for operation on SHARES, MARS, and
FEMA channels.

The value of having one radio cover all bands 1.8-440mhz was proven to us during our six weeks of volunteer work in the affected areas of LA, MS, and Texas following Hurricane Katrina and Rita.
We were able to jump from ARES nets, to SHARES operations, and keep in touch with folks back home via 20 Meters. Add a laptop computer and TNC, and we had WinLink 2K capability which really helped out.

The added safety benefit of an automatic tuner cannot be overstated, and my recommendation is simple...if you want a high performance/great value combination for HF mobile, this is it.
Buy a Tarheel/Turbo Tuner and you won't ever be sorry.
N2DY Rating: 2005-11-22
A Great Safety Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Bill's Turbo Tuner has made me a better driver. I have it hooked up to a Kenwood TS-480HX (a great mobile rig) and a Little Tarheel II screwdriver (another superb product). Before getting the Turbo Tuner I would manually tune the antenna with a switch located near the driver's seat in my SUV. This required quick glances over to the rig to check for SWR dips. I don't ever like to take my eyes off of the road and so the Turbo Tuner was the answer I was looking for. It was incredibly easy to hook up and worked perfectly right out of the box. The instructions are quite clear. I get a 1 to 1 SWR on any frequency that I tell the Turbo Tuner to tune up on. One shot, right on target, every time. No more taking my eyes off of the road. This product has made mobiling much safer. It is a must have for anyone running a screwdriver antenna. It's not just that it makes tuning up easier, it makes tuning up while mobile completely safe. Thanks for a great product Bill.
NK8T Rating: 2005-10-27
Does it all Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Having used my FT-857D with several makes of single band antennas, I thought the ATAS was the answer to HF mobile operations. It is a good antenna but has it's limations. Purchased a High Sierra Sike Kick to replace the ATAS 120 with improved results. Did find I was distracting myself from driving while trying to tune the Side Kick (not a recommended procedure). Came across the Turbo Tuner and thought I would give it a try. What a combination now, FT-857D with the Side Kick and the Turbo Tuner. Well build, simple to install and operate (15 min) and better then expected results. Back to "One Touch" tuning with 1.5 to 1 or less SWR. Now I can pay more attention to driving and just push a button for easy tuning to any band. Thanks Bill
WT8L Rating: 2005-10-27
Fantastic! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Worked right out of the box, no adjustments needed. Only took 5 minutes to install and that included two minutes to rip out the old manual up/down switch! Finds a 1:1 match on all bands from 10 to 75 with the touch of a button. Includes the coax for the radio to turbo tuner connection. Makes mobile HF a breeze with my 706M2G and Little Tarheel II! Searching for that active band is a pleasure rather than a pain... Park feature is handy too. Great stuff Bill!
WA4NGR Rating: 2005-10-10
A "Must Have" for screwdriver antenna Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Just received TWO tuners - one for my Icom 706MIIG and another for a Kenwood TS-2000x. All it took was 5 minutes to set up tuner and connect to the ICOM in my Saturn VUE. Works GREAT with the High Sierra 1800 PRO!!!!! An absolute MUST for mobile ops. The Kenwood TS-2000x is in my shack - I use three antennas with the 2000x: I have a SteppIR 3-element beam, a B&W 90 folded dipole and a High Sierra Sequoia (a High Sierra 1800 Pro with an extension). As with the mobile set-up - it took only 5 minutes to set up the Turbo Tuner and change two menu settings in the Kenwood TS-2000x and Turbo Tuner was doing a great job with the High Sierra Sequoia antenna. I have been an electronics tech for 50 years - have nothing but PRAISE for the Turbo Tuner. Don't delay - get yours today - it's worth every red cent !!!