In article . net,
"Sanjaya" wrote:

I've read and heard both sides of the argument about antenna tuners
being great, or not helping at all and are a waste of money. I've
been told they are only for shortwave transmitting, and I've been
told they work well to improve shortwave reception on faint signals.
I've had it suggested to me that I get a pre-selector instead.

I can't find anyone who actually experimented with either a tuner or
pre-selector... at least none of what I've read and heard was stated
as "experience"... rather it seemed like theory or conjecture.

Does anyone here actually use a tuner or pre-selector for shortwave
listening, and if so, with what results? I'm looking at the MFJ-959C
antenna tuner at
http://www.universal-radio.com/catal...amps/2574.html Note that it
says "for receive only".

A tuner solves a specific problem. If you don't have that problem it's
not going to help much. The problem is selectivity. If your radio has
enough for your listening situation then the tuner will not do much for
you other than boost the signal a little that you are trying to hear.
The tuner will reduce the other signals above and below where it is
tuned to your radio.

There are various types of tuners that behave somewhat differently but
this is the GENERIC explanation for them.

You can the maximum benefit from a tuner if it is used to resonate an
ordinarily non-resonant antenna like a random wire Marconi type antenna.
For this to work well the wire is directly connected to the tuner and
then the tuner is connected by coax to the radio. The tuner changes the
ELECTRICAL LENGTH of the wire so it resonates at some frequency. The
boost from using the tuner to resonate the wire can make the difference
between hearing a very weak signal or helping to make it more legible if
it is next to a much stronger station on a nearby channel.

It is basically a DX'ing tool used to tweak the antenna situation in
order to get the weakest of stations.

--
Telamon
Ventura, California