Note: This listing is a push-and-hold to pulse unit. This is my preferred unit because I tune with one hand and use my free hand to hold the pulse button.
I also have a locking push to pulse, push to stop pulse unit listed. They are the same cost but the locking switch model ends in a -LK. If you want the locking unit please bid on that listing.
The goal of this or any tuning pulser is to minimize the average envelope power while still allowing the full peak envelope power.
The CTR Engineering PKR1 is a self-contained internally powered CW-mode tuning pulser. Everything is in the 4”x3”x1” self-contained box, with one lead to the radio. It has a front panel LED that shows the inverse of the pulse, longer or brighter illumination indicates a shorter and more ideal pulse time. The center pin of the output phono jack is the positive polarity. It can key voltages anywhere up to 150 volts and 100 mA. The unit is ground independent, this unit can key either positive or negative key lines by reversing the phono jack connections.
The duty cycle or “weight” is adjustable from near 0% to 100%. The pulse rate is adjustable from around 5 PPS (pulses per second) to around100 PPS.
This unit uses a standard garage door remote 12Vdc battery. Battery life is essentially battery shelf life when used in normal daily operation.
Hardware Requirements
Optimal and safest amplifier tuning will be best accomplished when using a good peak reading power meter and one of our TOF modules.
TOF Module
We also sell a TOF module. This module fits most common amplifiers. Grid current is the single most important indicator of proper amplifier tuning and operation. In cathode driven or ground grid amplifiers, control grid current indicates resonance far better than a plate current dip. (In grid driven tetrodes and pentodes, the best indicator is control grid current for drive level and screen grid current for loading adjustments.)
The TOF module allows direct reading of control grid current on voice or while pulse tuning. The TOF has an external overload LED indictor. For additional safety, the TOF disables the amplifier should grid current become excessive. The TOF is optimized for use with tuning pulsers as well as all common transmission modes.