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.
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
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On Apr 27, 2012, at 10:45 PM, Tom Behler wrote:
> Hello, all.
>
> It's been a very long story, but I need advice on a possible alternative HF
> antenna system to use when in my RV.
>
> Some of you may recall that for years, I used a Predator Screw-driver
> antenna, and tuned it with something called a Turbo-tuner from N2VZ
> Enterprises. The screw-driver, even with the turbotuner, was obviously a
> compromise antenna system at best, but it did seem to work to some degree.
>
> Anyway, since last June, I have been struggling with Bill Kantz from N2VZ
> Enterprises, to get my Turbo-tuner unit serviced. The tuner had a bad diode
> in it, and Bill promised to fix it without charge, in honor of his "lifetime
> no matter what guarantee".
>
> After countless e-mails, phonecalls, and a certified letter, I am beginning
> to give up on ever getting my Turbo-tuner back. I can run the screwdriver
> up and down, using the manual control, but as you might expect, the antenna
> is very narrow, which makes quick and easy tuning of the antenna a challenge
> at best even with the auto-tuner in the TS480 that is in the motor home.
>
> In light of all this, I'm now looking at other possible alternate antenna
> systems. I would like to be able to operate at least 40 through 10. The
> lot size for the camp spot our RV occupies during the summers is very small
> (probably roughly 40 feet by 40 feet), so I don't think an Alpha Delta DXCC
> antenna will fit. I just don't have the lot width to accommodate an 82-foot
> long antenna. I suspect I could use a long wire, but then would need to use
> an outboard manual tuner and balun to properly tune it.
>
> So, my question is this: Do any of you have an idea as to what I might try
> to use in place of the screw-driver, just in case I never get my Turbo-tuner
> back? I'm looking for something that would be simple, cheap, and pretty
> easy to deploy. I have heard of Yoyo antenna systems, Miracle whip
> antennas, and others, but simply don't want to spend the money on something
> like this without knowing whether it will truly work for me.
>
> I know this will probably start a fire storm of discussion, so please don't
> bake it personally if I don't respond directly to each individual post. I
> assure you that I will read them all.
>
> Tom Behler: Kb8TYJ
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