New ATU Elecraft T1
Elecraft offers a new automatic antenna tuner for range 160 – 6 m to a power of 20W (SSB/CW) or 10W (AM / FM / digi). This tuner is characterized primarily by its subminiature dimensions (112 x 63 x 23 mm) and weight, which is just 0,14 kg. L-cell, which adapts the antenna to the device. The power supply is an internal 9V battery
There are three LEDs and two buttons on the front panel. LED (green, yellow and red) are used as a simple power meter and PSV. The buttons have two meanings, when tapped on them first (PWR a by-pass) and the second when held (tuning and info).
The T1 is a truly universal ATU, which allows connecting different antennas, like dipoles, vertical or directional antennas, as well as RW or LW antennas. The capacity and inductance in the L-cell is controlled by the electronics. The capacity of the capacitor is variable from 0 po 1300pF v 128 steps and inductance from 0 up to 7.5uH also in 128 steps.
ATU is trying to achieve PSV 1,0:1 – not like other tuners, which after reaching the value 1,5:1 they stop tuning. It is also not necessary to switch from SSB to CW, so that the tuner can tune. Most L-cell settings are stored in EEPROM, thus achieving a tuning time of one or two seconds. Unless the setting is in memory, tuning time varies from two to eight seconds. During tuning, the current consumption is approx 20 mA.
The Elecraft T1 ATU is an ideal complement to various lower power transceivers, for example IC-703, when the light of the world saw the light of the world the first commercial equipment for radio amateurs, SG-202 or FT-817.
ATU T1 is sold as a finished and set-up product 159 dollars, or as a kit with a printed circuit board behind 135 dollars. The adapter T1-FT817 costs 49 dollars.
Literature:
[1] www.elecraft.com
