LDG AT-1000Pro2 User guide

AT-1000PROII OPERATIONS MANUAL MANUAL REV A

LDG AT-1000ProII

1000W Automatic

Antenna Tuner

LDG Electronics

1445 Parran Road

St. Leonard MD 20685-2903 USA

Phone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

www.ldgelectronics.com

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Table Of Contents

Introduction 3
Jumpstart, or “Real hams don’t read manuals!” 3
Specifications 4
An Important Word About Power Levels 4
Important Safety Warning 4
Getting to know your AT-1000ProII 5

Front Panel 5
Back Panel 6

Installation 7
Basic Operation 10

Using the Front Panel Buttons 10
User Configuration Options 10
Transmitting and Receiving 13

Tuning 14

Basic Tuning Operation 14
Manual Memory Tune 14
Manual Full Tune 15
Bypass Mode 16
Error Indication 16

Advanced Operation 18

Manual Inductor/Capacitor Adjustments 18
High/Low Relay Adjustment 18
Manual Memory Store 18
Status Check 19

Application Notes 20

Mobile Operation 20
Internally Generated RF Noise 20
MARS/CAP Coverage 20
Operation with LDG Electronics M1000 External Meter 21
Tuning Hints 21

Theory of Operation 21

Some basic ideas about impedance 21
Transmitters, transmission lines, antennas, and impedance 22

The LDG AT-1000ProII 24
A Word About Tuning Etiquette 25
Care and Maintenance 25
Quick Reference 26
Technical Support 27
Two-Year Transferrable Warranty 27
Out Of Warranty Service 27
Returning Your Product For Service 27
Product Feedback 28

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1

INTRODUCTION

LDG pioneered the automatic, wide-range switched-L tuner in 1995. From its laboratories in
St. Leonard, Maryland, LDG continues to define the state of the art in this field with innovative
automatic tuners and related products for every amateur need.

Congratulations on selecting the LDG Electronics AT-1000ProII 1000-watt automatic tuner.
The AT-1000ProII provides fully- and semi-automatic antenna tuning across the entire HF
spectrum plus 6 meters, at power levels up to 1000 watts (250W on 6m). It will tune dipoles,
verticals, Yagis, or virtually any coax-fed antenna. It will match an amazing range of antennas
and impedances, far greater than some tuners you may have considered, including the built-in
tuners on many transceivers.

The AT-1000ProII is designed to handle 1000 watts of output power, and is ideal for use
with small outboard linear amplifiers rated up to 1000 watts, or even newer high power
transceivers.

JUMPSTART, OR “REAL HAMS DON’T READ MANUALS!”

Ok, but at least read this one section before operating the AT-1000ProII:

1. Connect a 50-ohm coax jumper cable from the antenna jack on your amplifier to the TX jack on

the back of the AT-1000ProII. (This cable must be rated to 1000 watts.)

2. Connect your antenna’s 50-ohm coax feedline to the ANT 1 jack on the rear of the AT-

1000ProII.

3. Connect the supplied DC coax cable to the jack marked 12 VDC. Connect this cable to a DC

source between 11 and 16 volts DC, 1000 mA. The jack center tip is positive.

4. Power up the transceiver, and select the desired operating frequency and mode.

5. Bypass the amplifier.

6. Make sure Antenna 1 is selected (ANT 2 LED is off). Press ANT to toggle.

7. Begin transmitting, any mode

.

8. When the tuning cycle completes, activate the amplifier, and you’re ready to operate!

Note: With the amplifier active, it is suggested to place the AT-1000ProII in semi-automatic
tuning mode to avoid re-tuning at high power levels.

In SSB mode, simply speak into the microphone while transmitting. Tuning may be performed at up to 125 watts of input power, provided that the transceiver
employs a “roll-back” circuit to protect it from high SWR. For transceivers without roll-back circuits, power should be limited to 25 watts when tuning, to avoid
damage to the transmitter or tuner.

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SPECIFICATIONS

Transmit Power Rating, 1.8 to 30 MHz:

•

• Single Side Band: 1000 watts

• CW: 750 Watts

• Digital (RTTY/Packet/PSK31, etc): 500 Watts

Transmit Power Rating, 50-54 MHz: 250 watts, all modes.

•

Silver-teflon SO-239 connectors.

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Built-in 2-port antenna switch, with 2,000 memories each.

•

Tuning time 0.2 to 15 seconds full tune, 0.2 seconds memory tune.

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1.8 to 54.0 MHz coverage. Built-in frequency sensor.

•

Tunes 6 to 1,000 ohm loads (16 to 150 on 6m), 6 to 4,000 ohms with optional 4:1 balun.

•

LED bargraph displays power level, SWR, and status.

•

Antenna Indicator LED shows the currently selected antenna.

•

Bypass LED shows when tuner is in pass-thru.

•

User-selectable operating parameters: Auto/Semi, 1kW/100W watt scale, and more.

•

Optional radio interfaces for ICOM, Yaesu, and Alinco radios available.

•

Optional large-display external analog panel meter.

•

Power requirements: 11 to 16 VDC @ 1A max.

•

Dimensions: 11” x 10” x 3” Weight 4 pounds, 10 oz.

•

AN IMPORTANT WORD ABOUT POWER LEVELS

The AT-1000ProII is rated at 1000 watts maximum power input at most. Many amplifiers
output well over 1000 watts. Power levels that significantly exceed specifications will most
likely damage or destroy your AT-1000ProII. If the tuner fails during overload, it could also
damage your transmitter, amplifier, or transceiver. Be sure to observe the specified power
limitations.

IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING

Never install antennas or transmission lines over or near power lines. You can be
seriously injured or killed if any part of the antenna, support, or transmission line touches
a power line. Always follow this antenna safety rule: The distance to the nearest power line
should be at least twice the length of the longest antenna, transmission line, or support
dimension.

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GETTING TO KNOW YOUR AT-1000PROII

Your AT-1000ProII is a quality, precision instrument that will give you many years of
outstanding service; take a few minutes to get to know it.

Front Panel

The front panel of the AT-1000ProII features eight pushbuttons, two LED bargraph scales,
and three indicator LEDs:

Power: Turns the unit on or off. The Power LED glows when the power is on.

•

Func: Activates secondary function of other buttons.

•

Ant: Selects the active antenna port.

•

C Up: Manually increase capacitance.

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C Dn: Manually decrease capacitance.

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L Up: Manually increase inductance.

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L Dn: Manually decrease inductance.

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Tune: Initiates memory or full tuning cycle. Momentary push places tuner in bypass.

•

PWR Meter: Bargraph display indicates forward power in 0-100 and 0-1000 watt ranges.

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SWR Meter: Bargraph display indicates SWR during tuning or transmission.

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Bypass LED: Indicates Bypass mode is active.

•

ANT 2 LED: Lights when Antenna 2 is selected. Off when Antenna 1 is selected.

•

Each of the pushbuttons has the primary function listed above when pushed. Additionally,
pressing the FUNC button before pressing any other button will activate that button’s secondary
function.

The power button on the AT-1000ProII actually places the tuner in bypass and enters a low­power sleep mode, rather than turning the unit fully off. Press the Power button for 1 second to
turn off, or momentarily to turn on.

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Back Panel

The rear panel of the AT-1000ProII has seven jacks.

Ant 1: Connect a 50 ohm antenna coax feedline to this SO-239 connector. This jack is

•

automatically disconnected when the AT1000ProII is turned off.
Ant 2: Connect a second 50 ohm antenna coax feedline to this SO-239 connector. This is the

•

antenna jack that is active when the ANT 2 LED is lit on the front panel. Also, this jack is
active when the AT1000ProII is turned off.

Gnd (wing nut): Connect to the antenna system ground.

•

Tx: Connect a 50 ohm jumper coax from this jack to the ANT jack on the rear of the amplifier.

•

Ext. Meter: Connect the LDG M1000 External Meter to this jack, or use for remote control

•

via PC.
Radio: (optional) Connect the optional IC-PAC (Icom), Y-ACC (Yaesu), IC-2000 (Yaesu FT-

•

2000), or AL-PAC (Alinco) radio interface cable.
Power: Connect the supplied DC coaxial power cable to this connector, and connect to a

•

source of 11-16 VDC @ 1A. Center pin is positive.

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INSTALLATION

The AT-1000ProII is intended for indoor use only; it is not water-resistant. If you use it
outdoors, (Field Day, for example) you must protect it from rain. The AT-1000ProII is designed
for use with coax-fed antennas. If use with longwires or ladder-line-fed antennas is desired, an
external balun rated to 1000 watts is required.

Place the AT-1000ProII in a convenient location near the transceiver and amplifier. Always
turn your radio and amplifier off before plugging or unplugging anything. The radio may be
damaged if cables are connected or disconnected while the power is on.

Connect the HF antenna jack on the amplifier to the TX jack on the back of the AT­1000ProII, using a 50 ohm coax cable rated 1000 watts or higher.

Connect a 50-ohm antenna feedline coax to the ANT 1 jack on the back of the AT­1000ProII, and optionally connect a second antenna feedline to the ANT 2 jack. NOTE: ANT 2
is automatically selected when no DC power is present. This way, if you only have one antenna,
it is automatically disconnected from your radio when the power is off.

The AT-1000ProII is designed to interface directly with many popular ICOM and Yaesu
transceivers, enabling one button tuning. In the case of ICOM radios, the supplied interface cable
also powers the tuner.

For ICOM radios supporting the AH-3 or AH-4 external tuner, connect the 4-pin Molex
connector of the optional IC-PAC ICOM interface cable to the radio’s Tuner port. Then connect
the 1/8” stereo plug on the other end of the ICOM interface cable to the jack marked Radio on
the rear of the AT-1000ProII. Connect the coaxial DC power plug of the ICOM interface cable to
the 12V DC Power jack.

For Yaesu FT-857 and FT-897, use the optional Y-ACC cable and plug the red end marked
Radio into the transceiver’s ACC port. Plug the black end of the Y-ACC cable into the jack
marked Radio on the rear of the AT-1000ProII.

Unless the AT-1000ProII is being powered by the ICOM radio interface cable as above,

you’ll also need to plug in the supplied DC coaxial power cable. This cable has a 2.5x5.5mm

coaxial plug on the end. Plug the coaxial plug into the 12V DC Power jack on the rear of the
AT-1000ProII, and connect the other end to a DC power source between 11 and 16 volts DC,
capable of supplying up to 1A.

Grounding the AT-1000ProII tuner will enhance its performance and safety. LDG
recommends that you connect your tuner to a suitable ground. A common ground rod connected
to buried radials is ideal, but a single ground rod can provide a serviceable ground. LDG strongly
recommends the use of a properly installed, high quality lightning arrestor on all antenna cables.

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Note: Optional Y-ACC cable has a red plug on the radio end of the cable, and a black plug on
the tuner end.

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