Z-11Pro
Automatic Antenna Tuner
Manual Version 1.1
LDG Electronics
1445 Parran Road, PO Box 48
St. Leonard MD 20685-2903 USA
Phone: 410-586-2177
Fax: 410-586-8475
ldg@ldgelectronics.com
www.ldgelectronics.com
Copyright © LDG Electronics 2006. All rights reserved.
Introduction 3
Jumpstart, or “Real Hams Don’t Read Manuals!” 3
Specifications 4
An Important Word About Power Levels 4
Getting To Know Your Z-11Pro 5
Installation 6
Installing An Internal Battery 7
Overview and Setup 10
Firmware Version Readout 11
EEPROM Reset 11
Tuning 11
Advanced Operation 14
Application Notes 15
Mobile Operation 16
When To Use Auto Mode 16
MARS/CAP Coverage 16
Theory Of Operation 17
Some Basic Ideas About Impedance 17
Transmitters, Transmission Lines, Antennas and Impedance 17
The LDG Z-11Pro 18
A Word About Tuning Etiquette 20
Care and Maintenance 20
Technical Support 20
Warranty and Service 20
Firmware Upgrades 20
2
Introduction
Congratulations on selecting the LDG Z-11Pro tuner. The Z-11Pro provides fully automatic, anymode antenna tuning across the entire HF range plus 6 meters at power levels to 125 watts. 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 other tuners you may have considered. The Z11Pro is designed with battery-powered operation in mind; it uses little power while tuning, and
with its latching relays, uses essentially no power in standby.
While resembling earlier LDG tuners in overall layout and function, the Z-11Pro represents a
quantum leap in features and performance. Enhanced tuning algorithms provide much faster,
precise and consistent tuning. Automatic tuning is now available during transmission, even SSB,
and user-settable options are accessible from the front panel. The LEDs show
SWR and readouts
of internal states and settings. LDG's exclusive 3-D memory provides virtually instant memory
tuning for up to four different antennas.
LDG pioneered the automatic, wide-range switched-L tuner in 1995. From its laboratories near
the nation’s capitol, LDG continues to define the state of the art in this field with innovative
automatic tuners and related products for every amateur need.
Jumpstart, or “Real Hams Don’t Read Manuals!”
Ok, but at least read this one section before you transmit:
1. Connect the antenna jack on your transceiver to the "TX" jack on your Z-11Pro tuner
using the 50 Ohm coaxial cable jumper.
2. Connect your 50 Ohm antenna coax lead to the "Ant" jack on the back of your Z11Pro.
3. Connect your Z-11Pro to a source of 8 - 16 volts DC @ 250mA via the 2.5 by 5.5 mm
power jack on the back (center positive).
4. Power up your transceiver and select the desired operating frequency.
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5. Begin transmitting, any mode
.
6. Wait for the tuning cycle to end.
7. You’re now ready to operate.
Observe safety warning (page 4) and installation warning (page 6)
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If using SSB mode, simply speak into the microphone. You can tune while transmitting up to 125 watts if
your transceiver has a “roll-back circuit” to protect it from high SWR. If it does not have a roll-back circuit,
limit power when tuning to 25 watts to avoid damage to your transmitter, transceiver and/or tuner.
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Specifications
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y
f
•
0 to 125 watts SSB and CW peak power, 100 watts digital
• Easy to read LEDs indicate SWR and status
• 8000 "3-D" memories for instantaneous frequency or band changing
• Tuning time: 0.1 to 4 seconds full tune, < 0.1 second memory tune
• Built in frequency counter for memory operation
• Frequency coverage: 1.8 to 54.0 MHz.
• Tunes 6 to 1000 ohm loads (16 to 150 ohms on 6M), 6 to 4000 ohms with
optional 4:1 Balun (LDG RBA-4:1)
• For Dipoles, Verticals, Vs, Beams or and Coax Fed Antenna
• Optional external Balun allows tuning of random length, long wire or ladder line
fed antennas
• Interfaces for Icom and Yaesu included
• Power requirements: 8 to 16 volts DC at 300 mA max during tuning, 25 uA idle
• Enclosure: 7.5 x 5.75 x 1.75 inches
• Weight: 1.5 pounds (no internal batteries)
An Important Word About Power Levels
The Z-11Pro is rated at 125 watts maximum power input at most. Many ham transmitters and
transceivers, and virtually all amplifiers, output well over 125 watts. Power levels significantly
exceeding specifications will definitely damage or destroy your Z-11Pro. If your tuner fails
during overload, it could damage your transmitter or transceiver. Be sure to observe the specified
power limitations.
Never install antennas or transmission lines over or near
power lines. You can be seriousl
of the antenna, support or transmission line touches a power
line. Alwa
IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING
s follow this antenna safety rule: the distance to
injured or killed if any part
the nearest power line should be at least twice the length o
the longest antenna, transmission line or support dimension.
4
Getting To Know Your Z-11Pro
Your Z-11Pro is a quality, precision instrument that will give you many years of outstanding
service; take a few minutes to get to know it.
• Your Z-11Pro can be used with any transceiver or transmitter with coax output operating in
the HF range at no more than 125 watts peak output. You can set the unit to tune
automatically whenever the SWR exceeds a set value, or you can set it to tune semiautomatically when you start a tuning cycle by pressing the Tune button.
The front panel presents six pushbutton controls, and four LEDs:
• Func: Selects alternate functions for other buttons (see section on Operation)
• C Up: Manually increase capacitance
• C Dn: Manually decrease capacitance
• L Up: Manually increase inductance
• L Dn: Manually decrease inductance
• Tune: Initiates either a memory or full tuning cycle, places the tuner in "bypass" mode, and
manually stores tuning parameters
• LEDs
1.5: Green
2.0: Yellow
>3.0: Red
Tune: Red
Your Z-11Pro has no power switch. It automatically powers up whenever RF is present or a
button is pressed, and after tuning, automatically enters a “deep sleep” state in which it draws
only 25 microamps, effectively off. The tuner will automatically "wake up" the next time you
start a tuning cycle, a button is pressed or when an automatic tuning cycle is needed. The latching
relays hold the tuned configuration indefinitely, even while DC power is completely removed.
Tuning memories are stored indefinitely in EEPROM memory.
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The Z-11Pro has a total of 8,000 3-D frequency memories. There are 2,000 memories for each of
four separate antennas. When you transmit on or near a previously tuned frequency, you can use
“Memory Tune” to reset the tuner in only a fraction of a second. The process of storing tuning
settings in memory is completely automatic; your Z-11Pro “learns” as you use it, adapting itself
to all of the bands and frequencies you use.
On the back panel, there are five connectors:
• RF input (marked “TX”, standard SO-239 connector)
• Antenna connector (marked "Ant", standard SO-239 connector)
• DC power in (2.5 by 5.5 mm power jack marked "Power", center positive)
• Stereo 1/8” jack marked "Radio" for connecting a control cable to a compatible
transceiver
• Ground connector (wing nut)
Installation
Your Z-11Pro tuner 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 Z-11Pro is designed for use with
coax-fed antennas. If you wish to use it with longwires or antennas fed with a balanced
transmission line (e.g., ladder line), an external balun is required; either the LDG RBA-4:1 or
RBA-1:1 is ideal, depending on the antenna and transmission line used.
Always turn your radio off
before plugging or unplugging anything. Your radio may be damaged
if you connect or disconnect a cable with the unit powered up. Note that some radios do not
power down the tuner even when the radio is turned off. To be safe, unplug the tuner's power
connector before plugging or unplugging anything else.
Connect the HF antenna jack on your transmitter or transceiver to the TX jack on the back of your
Z-11Pro tuner using the coax jumper with standard PL-259 plugs. Attach your antenna lead-in
coax to the Ant jack on the back of your Z-11Pro tuner.
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