Doc,

If a rig has automatic antenna tuning, even like the older
Kenwood TS-850SAT, how does that usually work if you have a
balanced feed line? Would you still use a balanced antenna
tuner in addition, or would you override the auto tune in the
radio, or would the radio be able to handle it?

PS, concerning murphy's law or somesuch, I have been waiting to
put my coax from the 80m OCF, in some conduit through the field
to my house. I even said to myself "watch out while you mow",
but there is something hypnotic about the mower and me being
slightly a geezer (Doh! as I slap myself on the head), sure
enough, I mowed right over it, so now I have to run an
extension cord out to the field so I can do some soldering, I
assume they make a female to female bulkhead connection or
something, I will check at the local electronics store
tomorrow, of course those connectors will not fit inside the
conduit I have...etc. Sometimes I think I have the short term
memory of a gnat.

'Doc wrote:

Bill,
I'm not familiar with the 'Palstar', so can't say how
'suitable' it would be. There are a number of the 'older'
(used/cheap) tuners that should work fine, though. I have
an old Dentron 'MT-3000' that will match almost anything
you can hook to it, for example. Something of that nature
wouldn't be quite the inve$tment of a 'Palstar' (maybe?).
You're right, there used to be many more of the 'bread-
slicer' sized variable capacitors around than now. They
were used for a lot of different applications where high
voltages were present (as in matching 'odd' impedances).
You also have other options, changing feed line lengths
to the loop for various bands. Not exactly the easiest
thing to do, but it certainly will work. Or, experimenting
to find a 'magic' feed line length that is a good compromise
for multiband use. Ask Cecil about that...
'Doc

PS - If you happen to run across a dump truck load of those
old 'bread slicers' I would gladly take them off your
hands...(he said with $$$ dancing in his eyes).