Related Manuals for LDG AT-200Pro
Summary of Contents for LDG AT-200Pro
- Page 1 AT-200Pro Automatic Antenna Tuner Manual Version 1.0 LDG Electronics 1445 Parran Road, PO Box 48 St. Leonard MD 20685-2903 USA Phone: 410-586-2177 Fax: 410- 586-8475 ldg@ldgelectronics.com www.ldgelectronics.com...
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Page 2: Table Of Contents
LDG AT-200Pro Automatic Antenna Tuner Introduction Jumpstart, or “Real hams don’t read manuals!” Specifications An important word about power levels Getting To Know Your AT-200Pro Installation Operation Basic operation Tuning Auto and Semi-Auto Modes Memory Tuning Full Tuning Cycle (Long press) -
Page 3: Introduction
2. Connect your 50 Ohm antenna coax lead to the "Ant 1" jack on the back of your AT- 200Pro. 3. Connect your AT-200Pro to a source of 11 - 16 volts DC @ 750mA via the 2.5 by 5.5 mm power jack on the back (center positive). -
Page 4: Specifications
• An important word about power levels The AT-200Pro is rated at 250 watts maximum power input at most. Many ham transmitters and transceivers, and virtually all amplifiers, output well over 250 watts. Power levels significantly exceeding specifications will definitely damage or destroy your AT-200Pro. If your tuner fails during overload, it could damage your transmitter or transceiver. -
Page 5: Getting To Know Your At-200Pro
“Memory Tune” to reset the tuner in only a fraction of a second. The process of storing tuning data in memory is completely automatic; your AT-200Pro “learns” as you use it, adapting itself to all of the bands and frequencies you use. - Page 6 On the back panel, there are six connectors: • RF input (marked “Tx”, standard SO-239 socket) • Antenna connector 1 (marked "Ant 1", standard SO-239 socket) • Antenna connector 2 (marked "Ant 2", standard SO-239 socket) • DC power in (2.5 by 5.5 mm power jack marked "Power", center positive) •...
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Page 7: Installation
Installation Your AT-200Pro tuner is intended for indoor use only; it is not water resistant. If you use it outdoors (Field Day, for example) you must protect it from rain. The AT-200Pro is designed for use with coax-fed antennas. If you wish to use it with longwires or antennas fed with a balanced transmission line (e.g., ladder line), an external balun is required;... -
Page 8: Operation
Separate settings are stored for each antenna, except for Antenna selection. Startup Options Your AT-200Pro has two startup commands, invoked by holding down one or more keys while applying DC power to the unit (usually by plugging in the coaxial power connector). - Page 9 Menu Options Your AT-200Pro offers several options to adapt the tuner to your operations. Many functions are controlled using the Func button. Press and release this button to place the tuner in Function mode. You will see an "up arrow" display on the LED meters, indicating Function mode.
- Page 10 250 Watt Scale 25 Watt Scale Automatic Tuning Mode: you can set your AT-200Pro to automatically begin a tuning cycle whenever the SWR exceeds a value you set, or you can set it to semi-automatic, to tune only when you begin a tuning cycle by pressing the Tune button. The default is Auto mode. To toggle between Auto and Semi-auto modes, press and release the Func button.
- Page 11 2.0. The example below shows the threshold set to 1.7. Auto Threshold Display High/Low Impedance Toggle: You can manually set your AT-200Pro for Hi-Z or Lo-Z antennas. Press and release the Func button. While this function is rarely used, it is available for the more advanced user to temporarily set the tuner to an LC or CL configuration.
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Page 12: Tuning
Recent advances in LDG's tuning algorithms allow your AT-200Pro to tune effectively even with a varying RF signal. This means that as you change frequencies, antennas or bands, you don't have to make a separate tuning transmission; just start talking and your AT-200Pro will match up in as little as 0.2 seconds. -
Page 13: Memory Tuning Cycle (Medium Press)
In this way, your AT-200Pro “learns”; the longer you use it, the more closely it adapts itself to the bands and frequencies you use. You will probably use Memory Tuning most of the time; it takes advantage of any stored tuning settings, but automatically defaults to a Full Tuning cycle if no stored data is available. -
Page 14: Power And Swr Indication
C and L values are not displayed in this case. Frankly, you won't use the manual adjustments very much; your AT-200Pro is very, very good at finding a match. These functions are included only to provide you with the maximum utility and flexibility. -
Page 15: Operation With An Ldg Radio Interface
Operation with an LDG radio interface: Operation with an optional LDG radio interface is even simpler. With the interface installed on an Alinco, Icom or Kenwood radio as noted, simply press the Tuner or AT button on the radio; for Yaesu radios, press the Tune button on the tuner to begin an automatic tuning cycle. - Page 16 Man Store Rly Settings Tune Power Hi/Lo Imp Auto/Man Auto Thresh. Sel Ant Tune Mode Pres. Thresh. C Dn L Dn Func + Key Func Hold + Key Hold on Power Up Hold on power-up for All Reset AT-200Pro Key Reference...
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Page 17: Application Notes
(not while driving; keep your eyes on the road!). When the reading stops changing, the tuner has finished tuning. Most of the time this will happen very quickly, as the AT-200Pro tunes from memory in less than a second. -
Page 18: When To Use Peak Mode
LEDs. RF Noise The processor in your AT-200Pro creates a certain about of RF noise, which you may notice in your receiver while tuning (only if you are using a separate receiver and not a transceiver) or when information is being displayed in the LED display. This will be most noticeable when operating CW with break-in, while using the Peak power display. -
Page 19: Theory Of Operation
, but a little background will help you understand what your AT-200Pro is doing, and how it does it. In simple DC circuits, the wire resists the current flow, converting some of it into heat. The relationship between voltage, current and resistance is described by the elegant and well-known “Ohm’s Law”, named for Georg Simon Ohm of Germany, who first discovered it in 1826. - Page 20 Simple tuners use variable capacitors and inductors; the operator adjusts them by hand while observing reflected power on the SWR meter until a minimum SWR is reached. Your LDG AT-200Pro automates this process.
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Page 21: The Ldg At-200Pro
The LDG AT-200Pro In 1995 LDG pioneered a new type of automatic antenna tuner. The LDG design uses banks of fixed capacitors and inductors, switched in and out of the circuit by relays under microprocessor control. A built-in SWR sensor provides feedback; the microprocessor searches the capacitor and inductor banks, seeking the lowest possible SWR. -
Page 22: A Word About Tuning Etiquette
A return form is provided on our web site for your convenience. If you need to return your AT-200Pro to us for service, package it carefully, keeping in mind that we will re-use your packaging to return the unit to you. Download the return form from our web site, fill it out and return it with your tuner. -
Page 23: Feedback
If you have an idea to improve our software or hardware, please send us a description. If we incorporate your idea in the AT-200Pro, we'll send you a free upgrade as a “thank you”. We encourage everyone who uses the AT-200Pro to contact us (card, letter or e-mail preferred) telling us how well it works for you.