John: I'll do some checking for sure, and if you can tell me the brand and model number of the one you have, I'll check that specifically. Tom Behler: KB8TYJ -----Original Message----- From: For blind ham radio operators [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of John Miller Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 11:54 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: More on interfacing Cobra Ultralite Senior with Tentec 238A manual tuner I still think you could get a more reasonably priced balun if you looked just check reviews out there there is some real junk on the market. The 1:1 one I have on a wire that was just put up NVIS here I'm sure has a 4:1 counterpart and was about half that price new, I got it used for a price I couldn't pass up but it looks like great quality and has great reviews. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 4:36 PM Subject: Re: More on interfacing Cobra Ultralite Senior with Tentec 238A manual tuner > Agreed, Steve. > > It's only another $80, and that might be well worth the price for not > having to worry about stray RF going who knows where. > > Thanks to all for helping me think this through. > > Tom Behler: KB8TYJ > > > -----Original Message----- > From: For blind ham radio operators > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > On Behalf Of Steve Forst > Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 2:33 PM > To: [log in to unmask] > Subject: Re: More on interfacing Cobra Ultralite Senior with Tentec > 238A manual tuner > > Tom, > > You can always try it without the other balun and see how it works, but > I think you are looking at RF in the shack and house. Also when > bring in the open wire into the shack, you need to be a lot more > careful in how you route it compared to coax. > > Geez, you got that big promotion, spring for the balun and some low > loss coax to connect between balun and tuner. > > 73, merry Christmas, Steve KW3A > > On 12/24/2012 2:27 PM, Tom Behler wrote: >> Thanks, John. >> >> Just for the record, I wrote to Joe (K1JEK), the maker of the Cobra, >> and he said that it probably would be best to go with the Balun >> Designs balun, since using the tuner without a balun outside of the >> shack might introduce the potential for more stray RF in the shack. >> >> Now, maybe he just wants to sell more baluns, but his argument does >> make some intuitive sense. I was just trying to see if I could save >> myself $80, by not getting the Balun Designs balun. >> >> Tom Behler: KB8TYJ >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: For blind ham radio operators >> [mailto:[log in to unmask]] >> On Behalf Of John Miller >> Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 1:59 PM >> To: [log in to unmask] >> Subject: Re: More on interfacing Cobra Ultralite Senior with Tentec >> 238A manual tuner >> >> The wing nuts are for a balun, the one thing to make sure of, is for >> the cobra antenna, you want a 4:1 balun, as long as that's a 4:1, not >> a 1:1 balun in there, you should be in great shape. I wouldn't think >> there would be any more or less RF one way as the other. I wouldn't >> worry about the power rating either, if the tuner can handle 2K the >> balun should be good for close to that and no way your amp should >> hurt it. >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Tom Behler" <[log in to unmask]> >> To: <[log in to unmask]> >> Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 1:16 PM >> Subject: More on interfacing Cobra Ultralite Senior with Tentec 238A >> manual tuner >> >> >>> Hi, again all. >>> >>> My apologies: >>> >>> I should have given more complete info in my last post. >>> >>> First of all, the Tentec 238A is rated for up to 2000 watts, so I >>> would think I'd be ok in that regard, since the most my Ameritron >>> AL811H puts out is about 600 watts. >>> >>> Second, here's a more complete set of instructions about antenna >>> connections: >>> >>> For balanced feedline systems, adding a jumper from SINGLE WIRE to >>> one of the BALANCED LINE terminals as shown on the rear panel is > required. >>> A tin-plated steel jumper for this purpose has been provided. >>> It is attached to one wing nut connector on the back; if balanced >>> line will be used, attach the other side of the jumper to the other >>> wing nut. Then connect the feedline to the two BALANCED LINE terminals. >>> ANT position 4 can be coax, single wire, or balanced line. ANT 1, >>> ANT 2, ANT 3 must be coax only. >>> Please note that 238C does NOT allow for the connection of either >>> coax-fed and balanced line or single wire antennas to the ANT 4 >>> connection at the same time. There is no switchable configuration >>> for ANT 4 - any antennas connected to these jacks will be in use. If >>> you have a coax fed antenna and a balanced line or single wire >>> antenna connected to ANT 4 at the same time, both of these antennas >>> will be in use when ANT 4 is selected from the front panel." >>> >>> In light of this new info, would I still be ok without the Balun >>> Designs balun, as far as anyone can tell? >>> >>> On the negative side, would using just the tuner and the antenna >>> without the additional Balun Designs balun possibly lead to more >>> stray RF in the shack? >>> >>> 73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ >>> >> >> >>