LDG Z-11 Pro Antenna Tuner
Recently I decided to get a small autotuner to go with my Icom IC-7000. The Icom AH-4 is an excellent remote tuner (see IcomAH4Tuner), but it is a bit large and I want to package the rig and tuner into a smaller case for field carry, so the remote configuration is not what I was looking for in this case.
Originally I considered the LDG AT-7000 which is designed to go with the radio. Upon further investigation I decided the Z-11 Pro was more interesting for this project.
I received the Z-11 Pro just a few days after ordering from AES (excellent service). It is fairly small, but a bit deeper than the IC-7000, so it barely sits on top of the radio. This is not important in the long term, as I won't be placing it there, but was noted during initial testing.
I have a lot of experience with auto-tuners, and I have to say that this Z-11 Pro is a cut above the rest. It auto-tunes while you talk - it doesn't need a steady carrier. It is very convenient and so far finds good matches on my system. My antenna is an inverted L fed at the bottom against radials with windowed ribbon line to a DX Engineering 1:1 Tuner balun to a few feet of RG213 through the wall, and the SWR varies up to 10:1 on some bands. (See InvertedLantenna). The Z-11 Pro tunes it to a low SWR value. Once in memory it recalls the tune quickly.
The 'Tune' button on the IC-7000 does work with this tuner setup, and so does the 'Tune' button on the tuner, but you don't have to use either one. Just make some RF and the tuner will tune. I recommend that you keep the RF power low while tuning, but to do this you don't have to turn the power down, just make soft audio into the SSB mic and you will get low power tuning.
The Z-11 Pro accomplishes what the other tuners should do - to automatically take care of tuning, when needed, without a 'tune' cycle. Good Job, LDG!
References
AlanB
CategoryHamRadio
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