If you can afford it, this is a good deal. The prices for a new tuner can vary from around $100 to $500 or more. You may not need an external antenna, but you should check the maximum number of channels that can be received with an external antenna and compare it to the number of channels you will use in your base station setup.Īfter all, the technical considerations are in place the last thing to consider is cost.
It would be best if you also considered whether you plan on using an external antenna. You can select a tuner that handles up to eight channels, but you may find yourself with only enough power for two or three of them. Next, determine how many channels you need for your base station setup.
#Remote antenna tuner reviews portable#
A portable antenna tuner is a good choice for mobile operation. If you plan on taking your antenna tuner with you to different locations, consider the size of the unit. Portability is also an important consideration. If you plan on using a high-power amplifier with your tuner, choose one with a high-power rating. Some antenna tuners can handle more power than others. The next consideration is the power rating.
If you need a tuner that covers a wider frequency range, be sure to check the specifications carefully to make sure it will work with your antenna. Most antenna tuners cover amateur radio bands, but there are some that cover a wider range of frequencies. The first step is to determine the frequency coverage you need. Other factors to consider are frequency range, power rating, and portability. The most important consideration is the antenna you will use with the tuner. There are many factors to consider when choosing the best ham radio antenna tuner for your needs. A tuner helps to ensure that the power delivered to the antenna is as efficient as possible. This is necessary because the impedance of an antenna can vary significantly over different frequency bands. The Need for Antenna TunersĪn antenna tuner is a device that matches an antenna’s impedance to a transmission line’s impedance. Another thing is the use of a preselector with a system of loops on the input. More advanced antenna tuner models provide operation with both unbalanced (coaxial) and symmetrical wired transmission lines or single wire antennas.Īs for the effect of the tuner on the reception, practical studies did not give positive results because the system is very broadband. Or to the coaxial cable used as the antenna feeder. Technically speaking, the antenna tuner converts the total resistance of the antenna-feeder device and leads it to the typical value inherent in your transceiver/receiver unit – 50 Ohm or 75 Ohm. The VSW in a particular transmission line depends only on the transmission line itself and the load connected to it. In reality, the antenna tuner has no effect whatsoever on the VSWR in the feeder.