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Use of external antenna tuner with the Aurora

Mike58
Mike58 Member ✭✭
in Aurora

Can we get an official response from Flex on the procedure to using an external antenna tuner whether manual or automatic on the Aurora. In regards to using a non-resonant antenna.

I'm seeing posts that some are saying you need to using the 3:1 internal tuner on the Aurora with a external antenna tuner. I have always disabled the internal antenna tuner when using a external tuner. My external tuner is the tuner genius which has a 10:1 range far better than the 3:1 range of the internal tuner in the Aurora.

I have also read that using an internal tuner while using an external tuner will damage the internal tuner. (Never tried it.)

Another discrepancy that needs to be discussed is that the Tuner Genius wants you to set the power level to 20 watts when tuning, but a message from Tim at Flex mentioned that the Aurora should be set to no more than 9 watts for tuning.

Thank you,

Mike N9ZX

Comments

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    You can use an external antenna tuner with an Aurora.

    • Put the Aurora Tuner in Bypass mode (must be off 100% of the time when using an external tuner)
    • Set your TUNE slider to about 5% to provide about 10 watts drive. You can use lower if required.
    • Put the Radio in TUNE
    • Follow the procedure to TUNE your external Tuner

    Mike va3mw

  • Mike58
    Mike58 Member ✭✭

    Thank you Michael for your reply, this confirms what I was thinking as well.

    Mike

    N9ZX

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Mike, thanks for posting this. I wasn't absolutely sure if it would be safe to bypass the internal tuner since I use a Doublet and manual tuner for multi-band operation. I did read on the groups.io mailing list that the new Aurora radios are pretty aggressive in folding back output power. Steve had mentioned some time ago that the radios would fold back at 1.7:1. But, he also mentioned that the limit might be loosened at some point. This was well before actual production. So, it would appear that the limit hasn't changed. I wonder what device is being used in the transmitter section that cannot tolerate a very high SWR. It probably isn't LDMOS as those and other similar devices can tolerate high SWR for longer periods without damaging them. Maybe it is something similar to the transmitter section of the QRP Labs QMX+ as it is very sensitive to high SWR. ( also uses Polar Modulation)

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    if you use the TGXL will the aurora automatically back down to 10 watts or does it have to be manually set tnx

  • Mike-VA3MW
    Mike-VA3MW Administrator, FlexRadio Employee, Community Manager, Super Elmer, Moderator admin

    TGXL to Aurora integration has not been completed, so you will need to do this manually. At this point, I can't share anything as it relates to a timeline.

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    ok still waiting for mine 520M

  • Trucker
    Trucker Member ✭✭✭✭

    Me too! The suspense is starting to get to me. I am beginning to think my order has been lost in the shuffle.

    James

    WD5GWY

  • Mark - W0QL
    Mark - W0QL Member ✭✭

    I use 2 for the tune power setting, which is 2% of 500, or 10 watts and my 998RT tunes fine with no error from the Aurora. When I tried 7, I still got the High SWR foldback error.

    Mark - W0QL

  • Mike58
    Mike58 Member ✭✭
    edited January 12

    Flex recommends using no more than 9 watts when tuning with the Aurora. Since I am using the Tuner Genius (External Tuner) I have the internal 3:1 tuner in bypass.

    Mike

    N9ZX

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    so far internal tuner on the 520M works with my antennas

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    but DO WISH for TGXL integration

  • Mike58
    Mike58 Member ✭✭

    I have TGXL integration with my AU510 running 1.2.17 firmware on 4.1.5 and windows 11

  • Mike58
    Mike58 Member ✭✭
    edited 5:21PM

    An additional observance, the Tuner Genius Widget did not appear on the radio side panel software version 4.1.5 when using TG firmware 1.2.11

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    ok tnx!! does the tuner automatically decrease the power output of the aurora?? down to 2-5% or do you have to set up a profile?; i have a 520M

  • Mike58
    Mike58 Member ✭✭

    I have that set in my global profile, and of course in memory in the tuner.

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    tnx i'll have to learn how to set that up rather than do it manually ; is it hard to set up? tnx

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