I don't understand all this.  If the 238 is an auto-tuner which you mount at 
the antenna, its balun might be useful.  Have you read the E-Ham reviews of 
the tuner?  Do you already own it?  If this were my Johnson Matchbox, 
installed in the shack, I would have to run 450-ohm ladder line from the two 
balanced outputs of the matchbox all the way to my antenna.  It wouldn't 
matter what traps the antenna had; the tuner would do all the matching.

I assume that this antenna is coax-fed.  Where does the balun go?  I would 
think it would be at the antenna and not in the shack.  Read the reviews of 
the antenna, also.  You might learn something you didn't suspect or 
understand.  Of course, the people who write the reviews don't always 
understand what they are talking about, either.
73 -- W3IUU/6

-----Original Message----- 
From: Tom Behler
Sent: Monday, December 24, 2012 9:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Question on interfacing Cobra Ultralite Senior with Tentec 238A 
Manual Tuner

Hi, everyone.

As Steve (WA1RTB) already knows, I am now getting quite serious about
purchasing the Cobra Ultralite Senior antenna, to help out especially with
80 meters and possibly even a little with 160 if I can get the antenna high
enough.

My question is this:

Does anyone know if the Tentec 238A manual tuner has a balun already in it.

If you read the instructions, there is a section in there about how to
connect a balanced-line antenna to the tuner, which indicates that it might
already have a balun in it.

My other alternative is to simply purchase the recommended Balun Designs
balun, and connect the antenna through the balun to one of the standard coax
connectors on the tuner.

Here's what the manual says 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. "


Thanks for any help anyone can provide.


73 from Tom Behler: KB8TYJ