Many hams still use manual antenna tuners  for impedance matching at HF.   Most current manual tuners are T-Network types, great for impedance-matching, but as high-pass filters, harmonic attenuation may be inadequate.   As modern transmitters have low-pass filter networks in the output, most guys don’t need an antenna tuner for harmonic reduction. T-Networks work great here.

     For those who like to run boat anchor transmitters from the ‘50s, or even WW2 rigs (TCS,  ARC-5), considering harmonic output is important.    We don’t want a QSL card from the FCC!   Here, a resonant-type antenna tuner can match the impedances and suppress harmonics at the same time.

     I’ve built numerous link-coupled tuners and I love them. Resonant circuits, they suppress harmonics and match impedances. I love them, but air-wound coil stock is expensive now, and band-switching can be a pain.   There is an alternative.

     The Z-Match tuner is not new and some QRP versions are available on the internet. Z-Matchers are resonant tuners, match a wide range of impedances, and are multi-band without a bandswitch, can be built with a cheap single toroidal inductor, and are easy to build.

     Phil Salas, AD5X, wrote a neat QST article about 20 years ago describing his 100-watt version of the Z-Match Tuner. A Google search of AD5X Articles will allow you to pull up his Z-Matcher.   I built this version, adding a Vernier drive on the output capacitor, and have been very pleased with its’ ease of matching on both coax-fed and balanced-line fed dipoles.   Again, no band-switch, and only one toroid. Mine matches 80-10 meters and the toroid runs cool to the touch at 100 watts CW/SSB.

     The variable capacitors bought new are expensive now, and so hamfests and swap-meets will be necessary to find these gems. Your club members probably have these in junk boxes. Good luck.

     My advice is to build one and you will like it!

Editors Note:

Thanks to Marty KK4RF for this contribution

There are many Z-match tuner schematics online, they are basically the same but with minor differences, so builders should be free to make changes to accommodate parts available.   Three examples are shown for reference.

A good source of high quality toroids at good prices (and great service too) is  Kits And Parts