In the most literal sense; a tuner does nothing for an antenna. It
changes no aspect of the antenna at all. So the statement, is correct.
In the simplest sense, what a tuner does, is (attempt to) adapt the
impedance of the antenna to that of the source so that the max energy is
exchanged between the two (what works for TX, works for RX).
It doesn't increase efficiency in any other aspect; it allows the most
energy transfer (ignoring component and heat losses). It is an
impedance matching circuit (and sometimes, a device to automate it).
If you wanna nit to pick; choose 'balun' an over (ab)used term for
matching transformer; or is it a voltage choke or is it a current choke
or any mix of all of the above? 😂😛
73,
Rick nk7i
On 9/30/2024 1:23 PM, Al Lorona wrote:
I've never understood what "The antenna tuner does not tune the antenna" even
means. The reason people say this might stem from the mistaken belief that the resonant
half-wave dipole is somehow the best because of its length. But there's nothing about a
half-wave dipole that makes it radiate any better than a wire of some other length.
There are a lot of hams out there that are dead-set against using a tuner of
any kind, feeling that the naked antenna must work without any assistance from
the outside world. I suppose there's a kind of purist thinking behind that
notion. I suppose there could also be a fear of losses in a tuner (which are
usually unfounded, by the way). I have often found that more consequential
losses elsewhere in the system are overlooked by the same tuner-averse hams.
If a person has a fundamental problem with antenna tuners, they must also object to what
the output matching network of the final amplifier in their transmitter does to bring the
transmitter's output impedance to 50 ohms. Would they say, "My transmitter's output
matching network doesn't tune the power transistors"? I mean, what does that even
mean? Without that network, nothing would work.
This mantra that we hear over and over-- 'my antenna tuner does not tune my antenna'-- doesn't say
anything important. We may as well say, "My sunglasses do not tune the sun," or "My
salt shaker does not tune my mashed potatoes." Is the point they're making that a capacitor
down in the shack acts differently than a capacitor up at the antenna? If so, they're wrong.
Al W6LX/4
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home:http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help:http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post:mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by:http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list:http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered torick.n...@gmail.com
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net
This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
