Icom AH-4 / BetterRF Yaesu Tune Control / FT-950 Modification

 

Install a small momentary button on the BetterRF Tune Control to Pin 2 & Pin 4.

Change meter readout to show SWR.

Change mode to AM. (or CW)

Press the MOX button. (or hit the key)

Press and hold the momentary button for 1 second, release momentary button and the AH-4 will tune.

You will see the SWR drop and hold. (This may take 2 or 3 seconds depending on SWR)

Press the MOX button to shut off. (or release the key)

Change back to your preferred mode.

(You can drop the output power on AM or CW  to 5 Watts or less)

You can use the Tuner button on the radio as long as the SWR is below 3:1.

 


Icom AT-130 / BetterRF Yaesu Tune Control / FT-950 Mod by LA6LJA

 

When the FT-950 is seeing more then 3:1 SWR it inhibits tuning process,
and it does it fast.

My workaround to this problem was to install a small button on the
BetterRF Tune Control, to activate the tuner.

When the AT130 tuner is switching to tune mode it routes the signal via a
built in attenuator so the radio is seeing 50 Ohm while tuning.

First I press the tune button on the FT-950, and 1 second before the radio
switches to tune, I press the tune button on the BetterRF Tune control.
Needs a little practicing to hit timing.  :-)

This makes the AT130 to switch to Tune mode before the FT-950. When the
radio switches to tune mode it is seeing 50 Ohm, and waits for the tune ok
signal from the tuner


When the tune OK signal is received, the antenna is matched to that band.
If I change frequency inside the band, I only have to press the tune
button on the radio as long as the SWR is below 3:1.

If I change band, I also have to use the button on the BetterRF Interface
the first time. After initial tune up, I only use the tune button on the
radio.

If the SWR is less than 3:1 at first tune up on a band, the tuner works
fine without using the button on the BetterRF interface.
 

AT130E is similar to Icom AT140. The "E" is telling that it has the
emergency pretune unit installed.

73 de Geir
LA6LJA
 


This work around should work with any Icom tuner which utilizes the Tuner Port protocol; AH-4, AT-120, AT130, and AT130E.

This includes some LDG tuners too. However, it might not work with some LDG tuners which use the bypass timing protocol like the one built into the IC-7000; i.e.: short pulse, bypass, long pulse tune.

And just for the record, this will not effect the operation of the CPU in the Yaesu TUNE Control in any way. 

 
Alan Applegate,
Support Manager,
BetterRF Company

 

  Worldwide HAM Radio QSL Website

2/6/2010