Antron 99 Tuning rings

[Sporty Mike]

Where should these rings be set at for a ballpark starting point? Bottom, top, or middle?? And how do these rings perform their "tuning" duties? Cause to look at it they dont' seem to be physically changing anything, just threading up or down the section. Just wondering, gonna be putting it up this afternoon, and was curious about the rings.

Thanks,
Mike

[Double D]

I get my best match with the rings at the bottom.

[IdahoPete]

I was told when I bought my A99 that these rings were factory pre-set, but could be tuned with a swr meter once live. How true this is... I do not know. I always just left mine like they came

[420Snowman]

Sporty, I would start them in the middle, that way you can go either way to get the best SWR. Mine ended up just below the center for the best I could get, (1.4) I cant get my SWR any lower than that on the vertical.


Snowman

[audio boy]

start in the middle, how they work is that the bottom section is a matching device for the a99 so when you move the alluminum rings closer or further away from the matching device the standing-wave-ratio will change aka "SWR's" if high on 40 move them down if high on one move them up thats why the middle id the best place to start, most of the time the middle is just right for SWR's like 1.4-1.5 ish depends how hight you got it up there and so on hope this helps
-Audio Boy

[420Snowman]

Echo, Echo, Echo........

['Doc]

They work because they are just like the 'slug' used for tuning a coil, except they are on the outside rather than the inside of the coil. It's called permeability tuning.
- 'Doc

[Sporty Mike]

Well, sounds like I'm about as good as I can get, I had them dead center ( I'm great at eyeballing hanging portraits) and I got about 1.3 or so with amp off, and about 1.6/1.7 with amp on and everyone thought I was someone else (sounded that good). So, unless I really feel like sweating and wasting some time, I think I'll leave 'em alone.

P.S. Although they were ever so slightly lower on the upper end.

Mike

['Doc]

Hey! If I could get a 1.3 or 1.4:1 on an antenna I'd leave the thing alone. There's no practical difference between those and a 1:1, really. While it's a good idea to try to get SWR as low as possible, it really isn't as important as other characteristics of antennas. I'm sure people have had times when an antenna seemed to be working just dandy until the SWR was checked, then things seemed to be not so great, you know?
- 'Doc

[420Snowman]

Totally agree with that Doc, my vertical is about a 1:6 with my amp on, and the horizontal is a 1:1 and I have great luck with them both!! Leaver at that Sporty.

Snowman

PS, I also decided to put up my new vertical when it was 105 heat index with 90% humidity in Missouri!! Not sure why we pick those days,guess we are glutton for punishment!!!

[Sporty Mike]

Snowman, it's because we are men, and when we want something done we do it!! I'd have done it if it had been raining, so I guess I won't complain about the heat anymore!

Mike

[420Snowman]

Thats the truth, we are men, hear us ROOAAARRRR!!!!! PS, it was lightning all around us when we did mine!!! LOL, no joke!!! Storm with at least 60 MPH straightline winds and lightning came in AS we were getting off the roof!!!!

[iggy7117]

How will the SWR on a Antron 99 act if ground mounted with radials? I already did this but can not get the SWR below 2.3, However tuned with a Palstar I talked to Serbia, United Arab Emerites, and about 20 other countries from NJ on 10 meters. The reason I went with this antenna(used) is to have a no tune antenna.

I order a new one but wonder if I will have the same issue. I did not know the condition of the used A-99 before install.

[MDYoungblood]

How will the SWR on a Antron 99 act if ground mounted with radials? I already did this but can not get the SWR below 2.3, However tuned with a Palstar I talked to Serbia, United Arab Emerites, and about 20 other countries from NJ on 10 meters. The reason I went with this antenna(used) is to have a no tune antenna.

I order a new one but wonder if I will have the same issue. I did not know the condition of the used A-99 before install.

Your SWR problem might just be the position of the ground radial mount, try sliding it up or down a little to see if it changes for the better. Personally I never used one, in my opinion if it was necessary, it would come with the antenna in the first place.

3’s

Greg