Soon I'll want an antenna tuner that can handle full-legal-limit AM from an unbalanced output into a balanced-feedline, balanced loop HF antenna.
There's the Ameritron ATR-30 (I have a 15 currently) - but I thought I'd ask the Great Convened Masters if anyone had any experiences pro or con with the various Tuners extant, new or easily available used.
I am going to build one eventually that will automatically tune my fence-loop at the feedpoint of the antenna over the complete range of impedances that will be seen at that point - probably use coax or hardline for the transmission line from the Transmitter - but until then, I'll be looking for something that can handle, say 500 watts continuous at 100% duty cycle.
My current set-up is: Johnson Valiant unbal out into Ameritron ATR-15, balanced out into 450-ohm ladder-line to the feedpoint of a loop, approx 450' circumference, around my back fence at a height of roughly 6 feet AGL. And it tunes 1.1:1 on the AM Windows of 80 M... so the Concept is working, at least.... A bigger transmitter is, however, on the horizon. ;}
Thanks in advance... Cheers John KB6SCO
