|
Inside The SGC-230 Antenna Smartuner. |
 |
|
|
|
This article provides a look into the SGC-230 Antenna
Coupler. Similar to the the Icom AH-4 and Yaesu FC-40, the Smartuner is
designed to be placed remotely at the feedpoint of a wire or vertical
antenna. SGC has been around for many years and
became the standard in boating installations before being discovered by
Amateur Radio. |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
Specs on the SGC-230 include the ability to match an
antenna with a minimum length of 8 feet. Unlike the Icom and Yaesu
products, the SGC has RF sense keying and will work with any transceiver
with output power of 3 to 200 watts PEP. Antenna lengths between 8-80 feet
will suffice for 3.3 to 30 MHz operation, while 25 to 80 feet will give
you 1.6 to 30 MHz. (My Butternut HF-6 is easily tuned on 160M).
The manual is very well written and provides information on
various antenna designs and ground systems.
The Smartuner is slightly larger than the Icom or Yaesu.
The 230 is protected by a weather resistant plastic case. The 230 comes
with attached 9’ RG8 mini coax and 4 wire control line. The control line
uses 2 wires for 12 VDC and 2 for the optional SmartLock. Just connect the
230 to your HF transceiver, supply it with any source of 12 VDC and you
are on the air.
The 230 has 500 memory positions and a whopping ½
million possible tuning solutions. |
|
|
|
Pic shows the counterpoise/ground lug on the bottom of the
230, hot/antenna lug on the top: |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
Dimensions approximately 15 x 12 inches: |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pics of the internal components: |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pics of the weather gasket: |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The 230 is only one of a series of antenna couplers made by
SGC. All in all this is a very interesting
coupler. Unlike the Yaesu and Icom products which operate from the “tune”
button on the front a supported transceiver, the SGC will tune with a
whistle, a quick CW carrier, or just while you speak normally from any HF
transceiver.
Current online pricing is approximately $500.
Disclaimer: I have no financial
interests in Yaesu, Icom, or SGC. Opinions are my own.
Photos taken by WD7DX
Copyright WB7X
http://ww.wb7x.net
August 14, 2012 |
|
|
|
|
|
