Tuner Genius Not keeping tune

Glenn Depp · January 8

I have had my tuner for a while and have always had this problem. Never asked if anyone else has the same issue or any way to correct it.

When I auto tune it will get me down below 1.10 to 1.

When I further manually tune I can get frequencies down 1 to 1 or close. I save the tune by pressing the button in.

When I go back to that channel the tuner does not switch to the same settings I saved it to. Why is this happening. Is there any other way to lock in a tune so you can keep as low as possible.

I kind of wish there was a way to set the tune conditions manually for frequencies. Then would always be dead on.

Erik Carling EI4KF · January 9

Glenn, you save the tune "by pressing the button in". Which button?

C1 is the save button so I presume this is the one you mean. It works for me, not that I use it often so I cannot attest to its reliability. I just tried it, seems fine both when done physically and when clicking C1 in the Utility.

David Decoons, wo2x · January 9

The difference in net output power from 1.10:1 to 1.01:1 is negligible. Not worth the extra effort.

And remember, you only have 20 tuning memories per band. When you are ready to train the tuner across the band, switch to that band and press and hold the TUNE button on TG XL to clear old tuning memories first.

Dave wo2x

Glenn Depp · January 9

I save the tune by pressing the C1 on the tuner. Shows saved.

I have found it often does not use those variables. Some frequencies it doesn't even seem to try as the SWR can be 2.4, 2.7 etc so not even trying to tune to the minimum set SWR.

I was unaware of the push and hold to clear. I will need to do that. What are the frequency ranges for each band. I am NOT only using this on Amateur Frequencies. I do other services as well.

Glenn Depp · January 9

I went and downloaded the manual again. I did a full reset. I wen thru all of the frequencies I use. I was able to get tuned very well. The highest SWR on any channel that I tuned was 1.06 so I am happy with that, although wasn't my problem.

Now that I ran through all the channels and tuned. I went to one of those frequencies I am about to have a net on and the tuner DID NOT move to the tuning settings I saved, in fact the SWR is 3.03 to 1. I have the tuner to use a minimum SWR of 1.10. The tuner does not automatically tune to get one without hitting the tune button, nor did it switch to the saved settings. AND when I hit the tune button it tunes down ONLY to 1.23 not the 1.10 it is set to. Not happy right now. I have had this issue for a long time but now I am very irritated.

Geoff AB6BT · January 10

Does the TGXL display the show the same frequency as the radio?

Glenn Depp · January 10

YES it does

Glenn Depp · January 22

New question about the tuner. If the tuner is set to always have no higher than 1.10:1 should it not automatically tune if higher than that setting? Mine does not.

David Decoons, wo2x · January 22

the Tuner Genius does not automatically tune if SWR increases. You must train the tuner.

73 Dave wo2x

Glenn Depp · January 23

ok. I did that. I even reset the tuner and went through every frequency getting swr 1:1 on all frequencies. I guess the issue is it does not always go to the preset variables that were saved. OK. Thanks.

Bill AB7AA · January 23

Glenn,

If I understand your issue with the tuner correctly, I have the same problem. Every once in a while it forgets to go to the saved settings. Sometimes I can get it back by switching profiles, which is how I change bands, but sometimes I just have to retune it to get it to apply settings.

Bill AB7AA

Gord-VA7GP · January 24

@Glenn Depp said: "If the tuner is set to always have no higher than 1.10:1 should it not automatically tune if higher than that setting?"

Well, no.

The TunerGenius is more a "Recaller" than a "Tuner". Like David says, you have to walk through your bands of interest - say, every 25kHz (lots of posts about dividing up the band), and then have your TGXL "learn" the settings for these specific frequencies. It's important to note that during on-air operation, pretty much the only thing the TGXL does is check your frequency and apply the nearest pre-set tuning-solution previously stored in memory. If you have no nearby pre-set tuning solution, well, the SWR will be higher and the TGXL won't care. It will NOT automatically tune at random points to lower your SWR.

Yeah - more "Recaller" than "Tuner". But used as-designed, it's very fast and effective. Just maybe not quite what we all expect from the word "Tuner"… Possibly better?

HTH!

WX7Y · January 25

I was on the beta team when the TGXL was being designed we all gave our input and the two main things that was made clear by the majority of FLEX users running Remote, that for it to NOT restart on it's own like the MFJ, AT Auto, and the HFAuto tuners do that can make the RF AMP see a high SWR when you weren't expecting it too, the 2nd thing was to have the AMP keying pass through and NOT let another manufacture AMP go into TX when the tuner was tuning thus reck the tuner relays.

The Solution we have now made a GREAT tuner that works as designed and is by far the best tuner out there that I have used and the ONLY one I would ever trust running remote from the Shack.

David Decoons, wo2x · January 25

@Glenn Depp @Bill AB7AA

The Tuner Genius will give you 20 memories per band and with the SO2R model coupled with the Antenna Genius it does this for up to four antennas per band.

You need to cleats your tuner memories by pressing the TUNE button on the tuner until the reset messages appears. Then train the tuner. I have covered this several times. For those math minded people, here is the formula for figuring out what frequencies to tune on 80 meters.

First calculate the band’s total bandwidth which is highest edge of band 4.0 MHz minus the lowest frequency (3.5 MHz) which equals 500 kHz.

Now divide 500 kHz by total number of memories (20) which equals 35 kHz. This is the step size (distance between each tuning point).

To calculate the first tuning point you take 1/2 of the step size (12.5 kHz) and add it to the lowest frequency on the band (3.5 kHz) which would equal 3.5125 MHz. I rounded down to 3.510 MHz. I tune there. Now move up one step to 3.535 MHz and tune, then repeat for 3.560, 3.585, 3.619 and so on until you finish at 3.985 MHz. That is 20 memories evenly spread across the band. While tuning on 80 meters you will never be more than 12.5 kHz away from a tuning solution. The TG XL will use the nearest tuning solution.

a note for 40 meters, with 300 kHz of bandwidth the formula gives a step size of 15 kHz. The start frequency is 7.010, then 7.025, 7.040, etc.

For WARC bands due to smaller bandwidth you only need two or three tuning memories on those bands.

Take the time to train the tuner using the formula and you’ll have the tuner always close to a valid tuning solution.

73

Dave wo2x

Bill AB7AA · January 25

Hi David WO2X,

Thanks for your input but I have previously preset this antenna as you have described but on occasion it does not apply it. I have to use one of my remedies to get it to apply the setting.

The tuner in my Expert 2K-FA works much the same way in that you have to "fingerprint" the antenna first but in 11 years it has never failed to apply the match correctly.

73,

Bill AB7AA

David Decoons, wo2x · January 26

hi Bill

What would be good information would be to document the C1, L and C2 values for the memories then When you need to retune check them against the original values. There may be something external to the tuner causing the impedance to change over time (bad barrel connector, weather, intermittent someplace else, etc)

I had an optimized G5RV years ago that came pre assembled. The 450 Ohm ladder line used solid wire. Over time whipping in the wind it caused a break in the wire but the jacketing looked fine. One day SWR was fine and another it would be bad. Switched to copper clad steel stranded ladder line and no more issues.

Just a thought too see if something external may be the cause.

73 Dave wo2x

Bill AB7AA · January 26

David,

I'll try to be more diligent observing these values the next time it happens, but on casual observation they appear the same.

Bill AB7AA

David Decoons, wo2x · January 26

ok, if values are same but SWR changing, then suspect something outside tuner.

Just my thought.

73 Dave wo2x

Tuner Genius Not keeping tune

Comments

Leave a Comment

Categories