Specifications

SMARTUNER MANUAL 1
SGC Inc. SGC Building, 13737 S.E. 26th St. Bellevue, WA. 98005 USA
© Nov2000 SGC, Inc. P.O. Box 3526, 98009 Fax: [phone] Tel: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail] Web Site: www.sgcworld.com
1.0 General Information
The Smartuner™ reputation has grown to legend status because it is simple to use and a
highly reliable piece of electronic equipment. A SMARTUNER will provide maximum
transfer of radio energy from any HF transmitter to any end-fed HF antenna within the
frequency and power limits of its specifications. The SMARTUNER builds upon the
renowned reputation of the SG-230 by adding many advanced features, among them: a
new, highly technological microcontroller that has built in A/D functions, non-volatile
memory, and serial communications capabilities.
This document is designed to guide the SMARTUNER user through installation and
operation of the unit. This document will also recommend various steps that may be
undertaken in the field to provide correct operation of the SMARTUNER should
difficulty be encountered. Smartuners are extraordinarily reliable. But you should be
aware that there are scores of fine points to any HF installation that are easily
overlooked and may cause difficulty. Our goal in this manual is to help you quickly
obtain the best possible performance from your HF radio installation. By reading this
manual carefully, you can avoid most of the pitfalls that can degrade the performance
of your HF system.
1.1 Experience Levels of Users
The Smartuner may be installed successfully by anyone with the help of this manual.
However, if you are inexperienced in HF radio installation and operation, do not be shy
about seeking advice from people with more experience than yourself. They will help
you achieve good results quickly and with minimum frustration. Even the most
experienced professional HF users will occasionally run into difficulty.
Regardless of the level of your experience, SGC stands ready to offer you installation
suggestions and help you resolve any aspect of Smartuner operation that is not entirely
satisfactory. If you have a specific question, please send us an email or fax at our
Bellevue, WA headquarters on the bottom of this page. If you require telephone
assistance, please call us between 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
1.2 What Is an Antenna Coupler
Antenna “couplers” are placed at the antenna and precisely match conditions of the
antenna to the feed line. Antenna “tuners,” on the other hand, are generally located at
the transmitter output at the radio end of the coaxial feed line. Do not be confused by
the term “coupler” or “tuner.”
• A tuner placed at the transmitter fools a transmitter into working correctly.
• A coupler installed at the antenna eliminates feed line losses by providing a