Heathkit HFT 9 Manual

Page 1

HEATHKIT®
MANUAL

HEATH COMPANY ° BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN

Page 14

Page 12

Heathkit

Refer. to Pictorial 1-5 for the following steps.

(\)/ Position the chassis assembly as shown in the
Pictorial.

[M Temporarily remove the hardware from switch
SW1 and set the hardware aside. You will use
it to remount the switch later.

( 2/ Carefully peel the backing paper from the front
panel label. Then line up the holes in the label
with the shafts of variable capacitors C1 and

HALF MESIQD
Am *1'
Lee

VIEWED FROM REAR
OF CAPACITOR

C and switch SW1. and press the label onto
e from of the chassis.

( Use the hardware you removed earlier to se-
re switch SW1 to the chassis. Do not over-
ighten the hardware.

) Turn the shaft of switch SW1 to its fully
/ clockwise position.

it Refer to the inset drawing on the Pictorial and
turn the shafts of variable capacitors C1 and
C2 so their plates are half meshed.

REMOVE
BACKING
PAPER

POINTER
SWITCH
LARGE
/ "UT KNOB

CONTROL
FLAT WASHER %\SETSCREW

POINTER SMALL
KNOB

PICTORIAL 1-5

Page 16

Page 14

Heathkit"

APPLICATIONS AND INSTALLATION

APPLICATIONS

This Antenna Tuner converts a reactive and/or resis-
tive load to a nonreactive, 50-ohm load. You can
adjust it to tune out load reactance and, when neces-
sary. transform the load impedance to the required
50-ohm transmitter output impedance. The Tuner
uses an inductor that has switch-selectable taps
along with two variable capacitors to provide a wide
matching range, and features 80-meter through 10-
meter, or ISO-meter through 15-meter, coverage.

A 4:1 [balanced-tovunbalanced] balun coil. on the
output side of the Antenna Tuner, permits the use
of balanced feed lines. You can use the Tuner to
match into coaxial lines. random-length end-fed an-
tennas. or balanced feeders.

INSTALLATION

Pictorial 2-1 [Illustration Booklet, Page 4] shows a
typical fixed-station installation. Pictorial 2-2 [Illust-
ration Booklet, Page 5) shows an installation where
a coaxial switch is used to feed the RF source either
to your Antenna Tuner or any one of several 50-ohm
antennas or RF loads. Connect the cable from the
transmitters antenna connector directly to the
Transmitter jack on the rear panel of the Antenna
Tuner.

Use coaxial cable, like RG-8/U or RG-58/U, to inter-
connect the various pieces of equipment. NOTE: Ca-
bles should not be any longer than necessary.

A ground post is located on the rear panel of the
Antenna Tuner. Connect this ground post to a good
earth ground or a cold water pipe. Use the shortest
and heaviest connection possible.

Before you use a cold water pipe ground, inspect
the connections around your water meter. Make sure
that no plastic or rubber hose connections are pre-
sent, which interrupt electrical continuity to the
water supply line. Install a jumper around any in-
sulating water connectors you find. Use heavy cop-
per wire and pipe clamps. It is best to ground all
equipment to one point at the operating position;
and then ground this point as described above.

Refer to various publications, such as the ARRL
Radio Amateur Handbook, for more information
concerning ground.

CONNECTIONS

Use the following information to connect various
types of antennas to your Antenna Tuner.

Coaxial-fed Antennas

An antenna fed with coaxial line, such as a beam
antenna or a center-fed dipole. can easily be
matched with your Antenna Tuner to provide a good
match to the transmitter across the entire band. This
is particularly beneficial when. for example. you use
an 80-meter dipole that has been cut for a particular
portion of the band.

For coax-to-coax feeder matching, connect the an-
tenna feed line to the ANTENNA connector. 12, on
the Antenna Tuner's rear panel. Be sure there is no
jumper wire connected between the terminal strip
screws.

Single-wire Antennas

If possible, use a quarter-wavelength antenna or an
odd multiple of a quarter wavelength. Such an an-
tenna has low impedance and reduces the chances
of high RF voltages on the Antenna Tuner or as-
sociated equipment.

For end-fed antennas, random length antennas, or
windom-type antennas. connect the antenna to the
leftmost screw of the terminal strip on the rear panel
of the Antenna Tuner. Be sure there is no jumper
wire connected between the terminal strip screws.

Balanced Feed Line Antennas

For antennas that use balanced feeders, connect a
short bare wire between the leftmost and center
screws of the terminal strip on the rear panel of the
Antenna Tuner [as indicated by wire" on the
panel). Connect the antenna feedline between the
center and rightmost screws of the terminal strip on
the rear panel of the Antenna Tuner.

Page 19

Heathkit

Page 17

IN CASE OF DIFFICULTY

Due to the simplicity of this kit, about the only cause
for trouble is errors in wiring. solder bridges, or
wires shorted to metal parts. If your Antenna Tuner
does not operate properly. make the following
checks:

1.

Recheck the wiring. Trace each lead with a
colored pencil on the Pictorial as you check
it. It is frequently helpful to have a friend
check your work. Someone who is not famil-
iar with the unit may notice something that
you have consistently overlooked.

About 90% of the kits that are returned to the
Heath Company for service do not function
properly due to poor connections and solder-
ing. Therefore, you can eliminate many
troubles by reheating all of the connections
to make sure they are well soldered.

Be sure all of the wires and leads have been
trimmed as close as possible to their connec-
tion points.

4. Check for bits of solder, wire ends, or other
foreign matter that may be lodged in the wir-
ing.

5. Check the connections to the inductor to

make sure the wires and solder connections
do not short out adjacent turns.

6. The antenna feedlines you use should be in-
sulated along their entire length to prevent
any contact with any parts of buildings, trees,
etc. For maximum operating efficiency, keep
the antenna as far as possible from other ob-
jects that could affect its operation.

In an extreme case where you are unable to resolve
a difficulty. refer to the Customer Service" informa-
tion inside the rear cover of this Manual. Your War-
ranty is located inside the front cover.

Page 24

CUSTOMER SERVICE

REPLACEMENT PARTS

Please provide complete information whenyou request rev
placements from either the factory or Heath Electronic Cen-
ters. Be certain to include the HEATH part number-exactly as it
appears in the pans list.

ORDERING FROM THE FACTORY

Prim all of the information requested ,on the parts order form
fumjshed with this product and mail it to.Heath._ For telephone
orders (parts only) rdiali 616. 982.3571. if you are unable to
locate an order form. write us a letter or card including:

0 Heath part number.

0 Model number.

0 Date of purchase

0 Location purchased or Invoice number.

0 Nature of the defect.

0 Your payment or authorization for COD shipment :of parts
not covered by warranty.

Mail letters to: Heath Company

Benton Harbor

MI 49022

Attn: Parts Replacement

Retain original pane until you receive replacements.
Parta that should be returmd to the factory will be listed
on your packing slip.

OBTAINING REPLACEMENTS FROM
HEATH ELECTRONIC CENTERS

For your Convenience. "over the counter" replacement parts
are available from the Heath Electronic Centers listed in your
catalog. Be sore to bring in the original part and purchase
invoice when you request a warranty replacement from a
Heath Electronic Center. '

TECHNICAL CONSULTATION

Need help with your kit? - Self-Service? - Construction? -
Operation? - Call or write for assistance. you'll find our Tech-
nical Consultants eager to help with just about any technical
problem except "customizing" for Unique applications.

The effectiveness of our consultation service dependson the
information you furnish. Be sure to tell us:

0 The Model number and Series number from the blue and
white label.

0 The date of 'purchase.

U An exact description of the difficulty.

- Everything you have done in attempting to correct the prob-
lem.

.Also include switch positions, connections to other units,

operating procedures. veltage readings. and any other infor-
mation you think mightbe helpful.

Pleaeedo not aend perte'for teetlng, unless this is specifi-
cally requested by our Consultants.

Hints: Telephone traffic' is lightest at midweek - please be
,sure your Manual and notes are on hand When_y0u call.

Heathklt-ElectronicCenter facilities-arealso available for tele-
phone or "walk-in" personal. assistance.

REPAIR SERVICE

Service facilitiestare available. if they are needed. to repair
your completed kit. (Kits that have been modified. soldered
with paste flux or acid core-solder. cannot beaccepted .for
repair.)

If it is convenient. personally deliver your kit to a Heathklt
Electronic Center. For warranty parte replacement. eup-
ply a copy of the Invoice or sales all'p.

if you prefer to ship your kit to the factory. attach a letter
containing the following informatipn directly to the unit:

I Your name and address.

0 Date of purchase and invoice number.

0 Copies of all correspondence relevant to the service of the
kit.

U A brief description of: the difficulty.

I Authorization to return your kit COD for the service and
shipping charges. (This will reduce the possibility of delay.)

Check the equipment to see that all screws and pans are
'secured. (Do not include any wooden cabinets or color televi-
sion picture tubes. as these are easily damaged in shipment.
Do not include the kitiManual.) Place the equipment ina strong
carton with at least THREE INCHES ofresllient packing mate-
rial (shredded paper. excelslor. etc.) on all sides..Use addi-
tional packing material where there are protrusions (control
sticks. large knobs. etc). if the unit weighs overtf 5 lbs.. place
this canon in another one with 3/4" of packing material bet-
ween the two.

Seal the -carton with reinforced gummed tape. tie it with a
strong cord. and mark it Fragile" ion at least two sides. Fle-
member. the carrier will not accept liability forshipping dam-
age theunit is insufficiently packed..Ship by prepaid express. '
United Parcel Service. or insured Parcel Post'to:

Heath Company
Service Departr'nent
Benton Harbor. Michigan 49022