I don't have a screwdriver antenna, but I use a pulsing noise bridge all of
the time with my palstar tuner, and it works GREAT!. I have found the best
noise bridge to be the Vectronics 512 as it is set for a 50 ohm load and you
tune for a null listening to a pulsing hiss noise in your receiver. The
noise bridge lets me tune up my all band antenna without sending out an
interfering signal and when I check my swr, its usually 1 to 1 or as close
as I can get the tuner to tune to a best swr possible.
Bob, K8LR, [log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gary Lee" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2012 9:05 PM
Subject: Re: Easy to use and inexpensive antenna to use for HF in RV
Tom:
Have you considered using a noise bridge to tune the screwdriver?
I used to use the tuner tuner from palomar engineers and the noise =
bridge from tentech. =20
Turn off agc and tune for minimum noise. checked with a swr bridge and =
someone with sight, got to below 1.3 every time.
Gary Lee
[log in to unmask]
On Apr 27, 2012, at 10:45 PM, Tom Behler wrote:
> Hello, all.
>=20
> It's been a very long story, but I need advice on a possible =
alternative HF=20
> antenna system to use when in my RV.
>=20
> Some of you may recall that for years, I used a Predator Screw-driver=20=
> antenna, and tuned it with something called a Turbo-tuner from N2VZ=20
> Enterprises. The screw-driver, even with the turbotuner, was =
obviously a=20
> compromise antenna system at best, but it did seem to work to some =
degree.
>=20
> Anyway, since last June, I have been struggling with Bill Kantz from =
N2VZ=20
> Enterprises, to get my Turbo-tuner unit serviced. The tuner had a bad =
diode=20
> in it, and Bill promised to fix it without charge, in honor of his =
"lifetime=20
> no matter what guarantee".
>=20
> After countless e-mails, phonecalls, and a certified letter, I am =
beginning=20
> to give up on ever getting my Turbo-tuner back. I can run the =
screwdriver=20
> up and down, using the manual control, but as you might expect, the =
antenna=20
> is very narrow, which makes quick and easy tuning of the antenna a =
challenge=20
> at best even with the auto-tuner in the TS480 that is in the motor =
home.
>=20
> In light of all this, I'm now looking at other possible alternate =
antenna=20
> systems. I would like to be able to operate at least 40 through 10. =
The=20
> lot size for the camp spot our RV occupies during the summers is very =
small=20
> (probably roughly 40 feet by 40 feet), so I don't think an Alpha Delta =
DXCC=20
> antenna will fit. I just don't have the lot width to accommodate an =
82-foot=20
> long antenna. I suspect I could use a long wire, but then would need =
to use=20
> an outboard manual tuner and balun to properly tune it.
>=20
> So, my question is this: Do any of you have an idea as to what I =
might try=20
> to use in place of the screw-driver, just in case I never get my =
Turbo-tuner=20
> back? I'm looking for something that would be simple, cheap, and =
pretty=20
> easy to deploy. I have heard of Yoyo antenna systems, Miracle whip=20
> antennas, and others, but simply don't want to spend the money on =
something=20
> like this without knowing whether it will truly work for me.
>=20
> I know this will probably start a fire storm of discussion, so please =
don't=20
> bake it personally if I don't respond directly to each individual =
post. I=20
> assure you that I will read them all.
>=20
> Tom Behler: Kb8TYJ=20
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