"Jimmy on reading the postings over time I see a lot of
people asking about the G5RV which is an inexpensive way of
of operating on many bands. I thought that maybe a inexpensive way
of matching such an antenna would be a cheap sort of tuner.
I don't need a tuner, it was just an idea that popped
into my head. Clark raised the subject of excess heat
that I hadn't thought of but I am enjoying the challenge
of putting together suitable mechanisms that would not be
subject to breakdown, that one could place at a antenna feed point.
If it explodes it would be more spectacular than having a
neon light blinking during radio operation !
If one must have 1: 1 SWR at all times then they can spend a $200
amount or more to buy the SGC tuner ( I thing that in the name
of the automatic tuner which I believe is limited with respect
to power.)
The mechanism I am making is a star shaped wheel with a slot in
each point.
It has a interconnecting rotary switch that sweep each transformer
connection and when it has rotated once engages the star wheel
so that it rotates a distance equal to the transformer connection
where it stays in place for the next rotary switch rotation.
Making the parts from a plastic sheet used to replace a glass
window pane plus the use of a small hand grinding tool.
Duing this in the garage to escape the heat




Jimmy" wrote in message r.com...
I would suggest that anyone that strapped for cash use transmission line
segments for impedance matching. That is about as cheap as it gets.

"Art Unwin KB9MZ" wrote in message
m...
Seems like a lot of hams with limited resources are still compelled
to operate on many bands with just a long wire and a tuner.
The wire is inexpensive but the tuners are not. Thus my present
project.
I was given a Palomar enginnering balun with 5 female connenection
which by selection can match a antenna in steps from 5 ohms to over
450 ohms
in a series of steps. I am presently rigging it up so that all
steps can be switched thru remotely by a single motor. The switching
arrangement
is the main challenge since inexpensive means simple.
Now I have not measured losses of the balun before hand because the
switching
challenge is what is driving me.
Anybody have any thoughts about what I should expect from this
balun other than knowing that it is not a tuner as is generally known
since
it does not have the ability to obtain the priceless 1:1 condition
that so many desire?
Regards
Art