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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu ATAS-120 |
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Reviews: 92
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Average rating: 3.6/5
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MSRP: $325
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Description: Motorized Mobile Screwdriver Antenna 40m-70cm. Updated version of ATAS-100. Band change control with Yaesu radios FT-100, FT-897, & FT-847.
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More info: http://www.yaesu.com/
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KJ4KPV
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 20, 2009 11:19
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I love it.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've been impressed with it so far. It took a second to figure out how to tune it via the FT-857D, but that was my fault for not reading the manual correctly. It does take a few seconds for it to adjust to the proper SWR, but that's very minor.
The ATAS-120A needs a good ground. I went the lengths to buy 1/2in and full inch rolls of braided straps and connected the hood-chassis, trunk-chassis, exhaust-chassis, engine-chassis, grounded the K400C mount to the trunk, all using self-tapped screws and star washers. Once I've grounded just about everything, the noise was reduced by a lot. Now I need to attach capacitors to the alternator to reduce/eliminate the whine.
Because of the proper grounding, I've picked up 40m and 80m clear, and picked up CW on 160m... which this antenna was not made to do, but I was able to get it.
I've read some of the comments and I believe that some of them did not take the time to properly ground their vehicle.
Couple of notes.
1.) It needs a good ground. If you do not properly ground your vehicle, then don't complain about the noise problems.
2.) It is highly recommended that you read http://www.k0bg.com/ It discusses the problems, solutions and is probably one of the best websites on information concerning mobile rigs, antennas, etc.
Overall, I love it.
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VE7WIL
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Rating: 1/5
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Apr 14, 2009 03:51
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My 120 won't tune on most bands
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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In about 2001 I bought a new Yaesu FT-100 D and only used it for VHF. In 2004 I picked up new the ATAS 120. The unfortunate thing was that I couldn't find a mount for my car so it sat and did nothing. I decided a few weeks ago to mount it to a 4 foot ground rod to get it on HF. When I hit tune on any of the bands except 15 meters it will not tune. Yes it moves up and down but the SWR is crap on all but 15 meters. Has anyone else had this trouble and can anyone make any suggestions because I would really like to get on 40, 20 and 6 meters with it. If I had to do it over again I sure wouldn't buy this antenna but seeing as I have it I do want it to work so any help would be appreciated.
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N6IMM
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 23, 2009 00:05
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Its worked great for me
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I've been out of radio for many years. I bought a Yaesu 857 on craigslist, and it came with the ATAS-120. I was looking at other antennas, and I wasn't too optimistic with some things I have read. When I hooked it up, it tuned and I was on the air. From San Diego I have gotten Japan, Russia, and Argentina. I think it is a great setup. It doesn't do 80 meters, but it isn't a huge antenna on the car either.
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K6UW
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Rating: 2/5
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Jan 18, 2009 16:38
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Cannot recommend
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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After less than a year, the 120 quit tuning. I got the Sidekick and it works great. Easy to tune and very well built.
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KB0SVY
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Rating: 1/5
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Jan 18, 2009 15:53
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POS Antenna
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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Well after having my Acrap 120 on my truck it blew up.. Stopped tuning, wont go up and down. Now I am looking for a different antenna I can count on. I would not recommend this antenna at all..
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NL7R
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Rating: 3/5
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Dec 22, 2008 21:36
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Repair Your ATAS-120
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I took my ATAS-120 apart after it stopped working. I found a good diagram here:
http://fileshare.eshop.bg/downloadsm/26918/Yaesu_ATAS-120.html
and found the whip was not being held in tightly by the two setscrews. Also the active base had dirt and a bit of corrosion (looked like salt) which I scraped off the chrome part and then cleaned with a Scotch Brite. Put back together again it works fine. It's easy to disassemble. However it really only performs well on 17m and higher. On 20 meters it's very marginal. I'm going to go with a bigger coil so I can work DX from the car. The wire coil looks like about 26 gauge. I want some herky 5.5" coil.
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N1IER
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Rating: 5/5
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Nov 25, 2008 18:23
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Great antenna!!
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I guess reading these reviews you either love this antenna or hate it. Well I’ve had it for almost 3 months now and I love it, it's great!! I am using it in my truck mounted on top of my truck bed tool box which I carefully grounded to the truck. I can talk all over the world with 100 watts and my best contact so far is an island off of NW Africa breaking through a big pileup. This thing just plain works and it’s simple to use since the radio does all the tuning, no extra equipment needed.
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K6LLO
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Rating: 1/5
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Sep 29, 2008 07:42
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Very unreliable device
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I have had for two years. Mounted mobile for a total of maybe 20 hous. Although carefully grounded with good coax, will tune only intermittently. Sometimes it works flawlessless, othertimes it just dies. Has never been in the rain. It is more convenient and reliable to drive off the freeway, put on a hamstick, and restart then to try to get this piece of ill designed junk to work. Of course I am out of warranty with about 29hours of total service. A finger in the so239 is probably better.
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2E1ICB
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Rating: 5/5
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Aug 22, 2008 11:26
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Mobille HF Antenna
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have my Atas 120 fitted on the roof of my van and along with the Yaesu FT 857 it works great, the instructions say it wont work 17,15,12,meters but to try it as it wont hurt it, well mine works great i usually run 17m band and it tunes in perfectly and i have excellent reports, i have had contacts to states, Israel,japan,Norway, South Africa all within a few weeks,i bought my antenna at a reduced price but i would willingly pay full price as it works so well and is easy to use, if you work HF mobile and have a FT 857 then this antenna is a must, why use a screwdriver to switch bands when you can press a button while driving!!
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AF6DE
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Rating: 1/5
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Aug 21, 2008 23:39
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Disappointed
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have had this antenna for about 1 year now and it all of a sudden stopped tuning. It may have stripped gears or something. when it works, it works good. But NOW I have to "coax it along" every so often. I will check out the Hi Sierra brand and get rid of this wanna-be antenna. It's either that or go to an all band antenna and a tuner :(
Avoid this antenna, go for another brand.
James AF6DE
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