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[TenTec] Front End Protection

To: <tentec@contesting.com>
Subject: [TenTec] Front End Protection
From: dbowker@shire.sjv.net (Dave Bowker)
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 07:31:57 -0400
(snip)
> If this is such a great idea, then WHY don't those who make ant
> tuners putta 100K shunt across the ant inputs for precip static
> reduction?

One highly reputable manufacturer of transceivers DOES protect their
[transceiver] front ends.   Their name is Ten-Tec!   TT places an RF choke
across both the AUX and regular antenna jacks of their OMNI VI+.  See my
earlier posting on this dated 09 October 1998.

Most manufacturers of linear amps also place an RF choke at the RF output
terminal of the amp to provide a DC path to ground in the event of an
output component fault which would put HV DC on the antenna.  This also
serves as a VERY effective bleed for static charges when the amplifier is
in-line.

Placing a resistor at the antenna terminal of a tuner is NOT a very good
idea.  Extremely high RF voltages can be present there, especially when
feeding a long-wire or any other antenna which is fed at a voltage node. 
The cost of a HV non-inductive resistor which would handle the high
voltages encountered with even a 200 watt rig in such applications would be
prohibitive, and for a legal limit amp, unthinkable!

Collins used an 8.2 Meg IRC Type MVH-2 non-inductive resistor in their
military airborne antenna tuners (180L) for years.  These tuners were
designed for use with the ARC-38 and 618()-series HF airborne radios (180
watts).  If you purchase a surplus C501/180L capacitor assembly from one of
these units and are lucky enough to get one labled Mod-1, it will have the
2-1/2" tall x 1/2" diameter resistor mounted next to the VVC.  The cost of
one of these resistors today is well over $100 in quantity!

73, Dave, K1FK
Fort Kent, ME


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