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Aurora 520 relays with ATU

n8wrl
n8wrl Member ✭✭
in Aurora

The Aurora is a lot more SWR sensitive than the 8600. I knew that going in… It reads higher SWR on the lower band edges for my 20m and 40m beams.

When I engage the ATU, even after finding a solution, I hear relays clicking like crazy when I transmit CW. No relays without ATU but power folds back a bit. Engage ATU, loud relays.

Is this normal? Never ran the ATU with the 8600.

Thanks, and 73!

-Brian n8wrl

Tagged:

Answers

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

    It sounds like something in your antenna system is more sensitive to higher power.

    So, when you tune it is at a much lower power, but when you go to full power, the higher power might be causing different RF currents, or heat causing chokes to change values. This is always why you didn't see it at 100 watts and now see it at 500 watts.

    Given on what you said above, these are my first thoughts.

    Can you describe your antenna system? EFHW and if so, do you have the feedline choked at the radio or do you have a counterpoise at the feedpoint? Just so rough ideas.

    Let us know.

  • Arnold Goldman
    Arnold Goldman Member ✭✭

    I'm running the 520M I found that the aurora relays are much louder too but they do find a match quicker than my 8600M on the same antennas; have not run CW for a long time so can't answer that but I was an idiot re wattage when i first turned on the 520M reading 100% and NOT 100 watts like the 8600M; have NOT tried the tgxl with the 520M; good luck

  • n8wrl
    n8wrl Member ✭✭

    Thanks Mike!

    This is a 40m Cushcraft 2 element beam. It has a choke balun at the feedpoint and ferrites at the radio after going thru an Antenna Genius. Probably 100 meters of coax (how's that for the Canadian convrsion?)

    At the low end of the CW band it's about 1.8:1 and always has been. I tuned it for phone when I put it up almost 30 years ago. The Aurora is the first radio I've ever had that really cared enough for me to try the tuner.

    I gather from your quesitons it should not be clicking when I transmit after it has a solution.

    73

    -Brian n8wrl

  • David Decoons, wo2x
    David Decoons, wo2x Member, Super Elmer Moderator

    hi Brian,

    You will hear a click going from RX to TX or TX to RX on the Aurora. This is with the internal tuner bypassed. I use the Tuner Genius XL.

    73 Dave wo2x

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