SG-231 MANUAL
SGC Inc. SGC Building, 13737 S.E. 26th St. Bellevue, WA. 98005 USA
© 11/00 SGC, Inc.
P.O. Box 3526, 98009 Fax: (425) 746-6384 Tel: (425) 746-6310
E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.sgcworld.com
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1.0 General Information
The Smartuner™ reputation has grown to legend status because it is simple to use and a
highly reliable piece of electronic equipment. A Smartuner will provide maximum
transfer of radio energy from any HF/VHF transmitter to any loop, end or center fed
HF antenna within the frequency and power limits of its specifications. The SG-231
builds upon the renowned reputation of the SG-230 by adding many advanced features,
among them: a new, highly technological micro controller which has built in A/D
functions, non-volatile memory; improved immunity to RF interference; improved
tuning precision; and the ability to be used on 6 meters.
This document is designed to guide the SG-231 Smartuner user through installation and
operation of the unit. This document will also recommend various steps that may be
undertaken in the field to provide correct operation of the SG-231 should difficulty be
encountered. Smartuners are extraordinarily reliable. But you should be aware that
there are scores of fine points to any HF/VHF installation that are easily overlooked
and may cause difficulty. Our goal in this manual is to help you quickly obtain the best
possible performance from your HF radio installation. By reading this manual
carefully, you can avoid most of the pitfalls that can degrade the performance of your
HF system.
1.1 Users Experience
The Smartuner may be installed successfully by anyone with the help of this manual.
However, if you are inexperienced in HF radio installation and operation, do not be shy
about seeking advice from people with more experience than yourself. They will help
you achieve good results quickly and with minimum frustration. Even the most
experienced professional HF users will occasionally run into difficulty.
Regardless of the level of your experience, SGC stands ready to offer you installation
suggestions and help you resolve any aspect of Smartuner operation that is not entirely
satisfactory. If you have a specific question, please send us a fax at our Bellevue,
Washington (USA) headquarters. The number is (425) 746-6384. If you require
telephone assistance, please call us at (425) 746-6310 during business hours, 8:00 A.M. to
5:00 P.M. Pacific Time.
1.2 What Is an Antenna Coupler?
Antenna “couplers” are placed at the antenna and precisely match conditions of the
antenna to the feed line. Antenna “tuners,” on the other hand, are generally located at
the transmitter output at the radio end of the coaxial feed line. Do not be confused by
the term “coupler” or “tuner.”
• A tuner placed
at the transmitter
fools a transmitter into working correctly.