Antenna Tuners
MATCHBOX SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The antenna matchbox should be viewed as a necessary evil.
Although it enables us to use an antenna which we could otherwise not use, it also robs us of part of our power. Sometimes the power loss is significant.
There are many different types of antennas that we choose to use, and the impedances they present to the transmitter can be all over the map.
No matchbox on the planet can match everything efficiently.
All matchboxes have a “Sweet Spot" which is a range of frequencies and a range of impedances which they can match efficiently. If you use them within their Sweet Spot, you will be very pleased with them. If you attempt to use them outside of their Sweet Spot, you may incur excessive internal power loss, or even burn them up. If you burn one up, just remember, it's not the fault of the matchbox!
The key to efficient performance from a matchbox is to use the correct matchbox technology for each matching task. This will minimize matchbox loss.
Some matchbox types, ESPECIALLY the popular T-Network, have excessive (and unnecessary) loss if they are not tuned properly.
Learn how to properly tune your matchbox.
(Read the manual!)
MOST IMPORTANT when choosing a matchbox is NOT to choose the matchbox which most other people are using, but rather to choose the matchbox which is correct for the antenna(s) YOU wish to use it with.
NEVER USE A MATCHBOX UNLES YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO.