Small QRP ATU with built in meter.

[bc73]

Hi All,

Could anyone recommend a small QRP ATU that has a meter on, been looking around but found nowt.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Cheers

[Auldgeek]

The only small ATUs that I know of with a meter are from MFJ. They manufacturer the MFJ-945e and an older 971 but they are not QRP, being rated at 200-300 watts (that's MFJ watts)
They are compact and have built in metering.

Both are advertised as mobile tuners.

[bc73]

Cheers Drew ,

I saw both of those but as you say not very compact or Qrp. Looking for a tuner to use with my Yaesu FT 7 .

Thanks Col

[DX-Digger]

You could build one?





Not my design but links shown in text

[Auldgeek]

not very compact or Qrp. Looking for a tuner to use with my Yaesu FT 7 .

Due to your requirements for a built in meter, you are going to struggle to find anything.
The 945e is actually quite compact, measuring just 8" across, 6" from front to back and 2" in height. Bear in mind, you have 2 airspace variable capacitors, a switchable inductor and a meter plus some circuitry inside. All depends on your installation, as you never mentioned if you plan to use it fixed station or mobile? The FT-7 isn't exactly compact by modern standards, so the 945e should fit the bill but all depends on your operating conditions.
One weak point is the meter is quite small but it would be very difficult to cram anything bigger in that case.
Anyway, good luck with your search Col.

[M0JSW]

If you do decide to go down the road of making one, I can recommend the 'AMU mk6' by Walford electronics.
http://www.walfords.net/accessories.htm
I bought one to go with my uBITX and was really surprised how good it is. It's good for 20w, tunes 3.5 - 30mhz and will do 160m depending on the antenna. The switchable vswr bridge has an LED indicator (the dimmer the light... The better the vswr) and it only took an evening to put together. You do need to be able to wind toroids ... It has 8!

[bc73]

Hi All , thanks for the advice guys.
I have so busy with work I haven't had much chance to play radio.

Thanks M0JSW for the link to Walfords , am gonna get an atu kit and also the excellent looking freq counter kit for my old FT7.

I will report back on how I get on with it soon.

Cheers Colin