SmartSDR v3.8.20 and the SmartSDR v3.8.20 Release Notes
SmartSDR v2.12.1 and the SmartSDR v2.12.1 Release Notes
Power Genius XL Utility v3.8.9 and the Power Genius XL Release Notes v3.8.9
Tuner Genius XL Utility v1.2.11 and the Tuner Genius XL Release Notes v1.2.11
Antenna Genius Utility v4.1.8
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PowerGenius Tuner
Thanks
Rich - N5ZC
Answers
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Exhibition prototype shown. Ranko said it will be controlled via the amp's touchscreen. 73 Steve K9ZW0
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Any pics of the Tuner?
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When I get some connectivity I'll put one up.0
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Thanks, Steve!0
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Sounds great Steve, thank you! If you took pictures of the FRS booth/gear in general, they would all be appreciated. How wide ranging is this tuner?0
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Lash up for the show. Final unit will differ. 73 Steve K9ZW0
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My understanding is the tuner will now come with the Power Genius ordered in 2017. Tim VE6SH0
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Steve, Will it fit inside of the PG XL amp? Thanks! Larry WA7LZO0
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Yes. I should have said delivered. And yes i understood it would fit behind the amp with an option to remote. Tim VE6SH0
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What's with the 3 knobs sticking up towards the back of the unit?
Rich - N5ZC
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The prototype FLEX tuner has three coax connectors. Do you know if that is 1-in / 2-out or 2-in / 1-out? Have not seen that question posed or answered.
Doug - W9PN/5
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I don't recall if they were labeled.
The unit was one of their "test mules" prettied up as a "lash up" for the show according to Ranko.
Would look to the production unit spec for connectivity.
BTW there was a fourth control - the red "stick" button that was brought up through the cover and signs of possibly a few more that were not brought out on this show display unit.
Hoping that Ranko 4o3a will post more information and pictures of a unit closer to the ones we will see with the PowerGeniusXLs when they deliver.
73
Steve K9ZW
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The only bummer about the tuner is it will only tune 3:1 SWR from what I have been told.0
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@Burch - That was the rating for the amp Without the Tuner. I think Ranko had quite a number circa 9:1 with the tuner inline. Wish I had a better 80m and 160m antenna option, as I need a tuner only for those two bands due to compromised antenna sizes. 73 Steve K9ZW0
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I think I read the tuner will handle 4:1 and the amp will handle 2.5:1 without a tuner.
Rich - N5ZC
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Correct - my typo mistake as 4:1 and 2.5:1 are correct.
https://community.flexradio.com/flexr...
Thanks for catching my mistake.
73
Steve
K9ZW0 -
I emailed Flex sales on May 31st and asked about the tuner and they said 3:1. I hope that is not correct but that's what I was told. I still have the email I received.0
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One in, two out0
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Tim, can you confirm the SWR range for the tuner? The other thread said 4:1 but when I emailed Flex sales they said 3:1.0
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The FAQ quotes "The TunerGenius S will tune 15 to 200 ohms at 2 kW." which would be a 4:1 VSWR. If I learn otherwise, I'll update the FAQ and make a point to add something to this post.
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Ok, thanks0
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So if 4:1 is the rating at 2kw, Maybe its a bit better at 1.5kw.
Rich - N5ZC
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The new elecraft amp includes a tuner but it is only 3:1 at 1500 watts. Their brochure says the range is better at lower power levels so maybe that is the case with the Power Genius. I guess I am spoiled with my cheap MFJ auto tuner as it has a range of 20-1600ohms. It's good to 1500 watts. Of course it took me two tries to get one that works!
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I doubt that there is much consistency among most published autotuner specs, so comparing them may be apples and oranges. For example, my LDG is advertised as being capable of matching a 10:1 SWR, but sometimes can’t get a match at much lower SWR (especially on the low bands). I’ve heard the same about other brand autotuners. When my LDG can’t get a match I have to switch in my manual tuner. I suspect some claimed SWR numbers are "best case", and the real SWR limits could be lower depending on the complex impedance encountered, frequency, power level, etc. Possibly the Tuner Genius is spec’d more conservatively than others.
Howard0 -
ATU specs are usually done with purely resistive loads. Once you start presenting the tuner with really "squirrely" reactance, then that is when things get really interesting. With a "quantized" tuner (as opposed to variable capacitance and impedance) if you are in between step values, you may not get a good match.0
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There's only so much you can do with toroidal inductors before they begin to saturate. At some point you have to go to roller inductors and that is more expensive and complicated (motors). So most tuners will be 3:1.0
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Thanks Tim and Ria! I’ll probably go with the Flex tuner due to its integration with Power Genius - not to mention it coming free with the Genius! (-:
BTW for anyone who’s interested, here’s an excellent article on autotuners by Adam Farson that I found helpful when I got back into the hobby several years ago and was trying to catch up on progress since I became inactive:
http://www.ab4oj.com/atu/main.html
Howard
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Will a weather-proof enclosure be made available for the tuner?
Ned, K1NJ
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I really don't understand why would anyone prioritize a fairly expensive amplifier before proper antennas and matching at the feed point. Can some please explain why you would not want to build good antennas and instead would rather use a tuner? I get it that many hams have significant space restrictions, but even then there are plenty of good options for single or multi-band resonant antennas that can deliver SWR under 2. A well built OCF- a compromise antenna by all standards- can do better than 2:1. IMHO, using an amp with antennas that have SWR higher than 2:1 makes no sense and is a waste of money.0
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