= = = "Sanjaya" wrote in message
= = = link.net...
I've read and heard both sides of the argument about
antenna tuners being great, or not helping at all and are
a waste of money. I've been told they are only for shortwave
transmitting, and I've been told they work well to improve shortwave
reception on faint signals. I've had it suggested to me that I
get a pre-selector instead.

I can't find anyone who actually experimented with either a tuner or pre-selector... at least
none of what I've read and heard was stated as "experience"... rather
it seemed like theory or conjecture.

Does anyone here actually use a tuner or pre-selector for shortwave listening, and if so,
with what results? I'm looking at the MFJ-959C antenna tuner at
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...amps/2574.html
Note that it says "for receive only".

SANJAYA,

The Age Old SWL'ers Question:
Do I Need a Antenna Tuner ? -or- a Pre-Selector ?

The MFJ-959 is OK for what it does. The one feature that would
interest me would be the ability to use it with Two (2) Radios
and Two (2) Antennas. Switch between the Radios and Antennas.
The built-in Amplifier can be helpful for hearing weak signals.

If you are using a simply Random Wire Antenna or any Antenna
with a 'direct' Coax Cable Feed-in-Line. The MFJ-959 should
help in 'matching' you Antenna to the Radio's Input and
improving your signal transfer.

HOWEVER - If you are using an Improved SWL Random Wire Antenna
that uses a 9:1 Matching Transformer (Balun / MLB) then you may
not see any real 'improvement' in your receive signal.

This is the so called "Low Noise" SWL Antenna.
[ Please READ These Three Links ]
http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/ante...e_antenna.html
http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/ante..._longwire.html
http://www.anarc.org/naswa/badx/antennas/grounding.html
ABOUT THE "LOW NOISE" ANTENNA 'DESIGN CONCEPTS':
A Random Wire Antenna Element coupled via a 9:1 Matching
Transformer at the Near-End of the Antenna with a Ground Rod
and Coax Cable Feed-in-Line to the Receiver. This is the basic
SWL Antenna that uses the "Low Noise Antenna" 'design concepts'
that were popularized by John Doty.

You may also wish to consider these two other MFJ Products:
* MFJ-1045C SWL Receiver Pre-Selector with built-in Amplifier
which covers the Shortwave Bands from 1.8 to 54 MHz.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...amps/0807.html
* MFJ-1020C Indoor Active Antenna which covers 300 kHz to
40 MHz (LW, AM/MW and SW Bands) in five bands; and when used
with an External (OutSide) Antenna, the MFJ-1020C functions
as a Pre-Selector.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catalog/sw_ant/1413.html


FWIW: I use a Low Noise SWL Antenna with a Grove Mini-Tuner
"TUN 3" which is very much like the MFJ-956 MFJ-956 Long Wave,
Medium Wave and Shortwave Pre-Selector Tuner.
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...amps/2964.html
- Most times I simply use it in the ByPass Mode.
- Sometimes I will switch it over ti Fine-Tune a Signal.
- The major reason I use it is to Switch-Out "Ground-Out"
the Antenna when I am not using the Radio for Safety.

READ: John Wagner's Shortwave Tips & Tricks
http://www.dxing.com/tips.htm
- Section: Antennas for Portable Receivers
- Point # (7) The Wagner Active Preseletor Antenna

READ: Antenna Tuner, radio preselector, what is the difference?
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...a/message/1119
- Five "Do-It-Yourself" Antenna Turners with Schematics
- Impedance Matching Unit VS. Pre-Selector/ATU
- Pre-Selectors = So Many Choices . . .
- Antenna Tuner / Pre-Selector = The 'little' Box that May Help !


iane ~ RHF
..
Some Say: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Shortw...na/message/502
I BELIEVE: On A Clear Night...
You Can Hear Forever and Beyond, The Beyond !
..
..