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
[log in to unmask]



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