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ST-1500 Symmetric Pi-Network antenna tuner
ST-1500 Symmetric Pi-Network antenna tuner
Our original manual antenna tuner.
Blue Ridge Amateur Radio builds Symmetric (balanced) Pi-network antenna tuners. Symmetric tuners have a reputation for being the most efficient tuner design. They also happen to be the most expensive tuners, due to the number of components required to build a symmetric tuner. We don't believe that power should be wasted within an antenna tuner, that's why we believe that symmetric tuners are the way to go.
Our ST-1500 Symmetric tuner is specifically designed to be used with open wire line feeders. The connectors on the back only support open wire line output. We believe that open wire tuners and balanced antennas are the foundation of the Amateur Radio hobby, and it is literally where every single ham starts out. Our goal is to make multi-band operation on 1/2 wave or better dipoles, full loops, delta loops, and other balanced wire antennas easy and fun.
For more information on the ST1500, including a good set of detailed photos, please click the following link:
SSAT2K and SSAT2K-AW Symmetric Semi Automatic Tuners
The new Symmetric Semi Automatic Tuners are here today.
SSAT2K
SSAT2K
The SSAT2K has finally landed. This tuner contains all of the robust components contained in the ST1500, but comes in a semi-automatic form. The unit is driven by 3 stepper motors and controlled by the StepperControl web based control unit. This tuner represents a technological leap forward for hams who want the operational robustness of mechanical roller inductors and capacitors, with the one touch tuning of an automatic tuner.
The StepperControl unit contains a modern Raspberry Pi based micro-computer that can be accesed directly from the browser in your shack computer. Because of the StepperControls advanced, modern design, the interface for the control can be accessed from anywhere in the world where you have an internet connection, including your phone, tablet even your car. This new breed of tuner and control interface make remote controlled amateur radio stations much more of a reality, with tuners that can take big power and don't have to retune every time you change bands. Just touch the screen and you're on a different band almost instantly.
For more information on the SSAT2K, along with a detailed set of photos, click the following link:
SSAT2K Semi-Automatic Antenna Tuner
SSAT2K-AW
SSAT2K-AW
The SSAT2K-AW (All Weather) is designed for the harshest environments and is meant to be installed near your antenna. Hang this tuner off your tower or on the side of your house and run coax to your hamshack and open wire line to your antenna.
SSAT2K-AW units are individually designed for your specific antenna, open wire line run and operating conditions. Each SSAT2K-AW is designed from the ground up via a system analysis tool (SimNEC) that takes into account every varible that your system requires. The SSAT2K-AW can be configured as a symmetric L-network or as a symmetric Pi-Network, for those conditions where extra capacitance is required on the source side of the network. Open frame relays and other impedance destroying devices are never used in an SSAT2K-AW. Component values are strictly designed for your environment and no crutches are required to make our tuners work across all bands.
For more specifics and detailed photos of the SSAT2K-AW, click the following link:
SSAT2K All Weather Semi-Automatic Antenna Tuner
We have provided a comprehensive write up an efficiency proof here:
https://www.blueridgeamateurradio.com/antenna-tuner-science/tuner-efficiency-proof
For a detailed overview of different tuner types and their relative efficiencies, please see this link:
https://www.blueridgeamateurradio.com/antenna-tuner-science/different-types-of-tuners
For now, note that symmetric tuners are available through various vendors today, but they come with a pretty good price tag because they require more components. Our symmetric tuner is at a price point that is less than the average vendor's simple T or L network tuners.
Tuner Colors
Tuner Colors
Our tuners can come in any color you like. We powder coat all of our tuners, inside and out, to prevent oxidation and to provide the user with a rich color scheme that fits their station design. We get all of our powder coat colors from Prismatic Color (https://www.prismaticpowders.com/) and can use any of the single stage (solid colors) that Prismatic provides. Want a neon pink antenna tuner, you've come to the right place.
Dimensions and Wiring
Dimensions and Wiring
Our tuners are 10x10x12. 10 inches wide, 10 inches tall and 12 inches deep. The Rollers are stacked on top of the capacitors and separated by a metal mid-plate.
All of the wiring in our tuners is confined to the mid-plate. This means that all of the case work can be removed without having to unsolder or unscrew any of the electrical connections. You'll recognize this as a unique advantage, if you've ever tried to service other antenna tuners.
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