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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu ATAS-120 |
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Reviews: 95
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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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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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W5JAO
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Rating: 0/5
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Jul 17, 2008 04:34
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JUNK
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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2 HAVE CRAPPED OUT IN LESS THAN 3 YEARS, BOTH STRIPPED INTERNAL GEARS. YAESU WANT A NEW ANTENNA PRICE TO REPAIR. FIRST TIME I DID. THIS TIME JUST GOING TO SCRAP THE WHOLE ATAS IDEA.
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NN5O
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 25, 2008 13:07
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Opinion changed!!
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I recant my earlier criticism. ATAS 120 working great now that better coax used! I am not even using the coiled coax balun. Using it with my FT-857D now with no problems.
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N1ETS
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Rating: 5/5
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Apr 5, 2008 04:10
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Bought used 7yrs ago
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had this antenna on the back of my car for 7yrs and not a lick of problems. I have taken it apart to clean and relube it a few times. Tunes all bands
it's designed to no problem with my FT-100. Yes it's a compromise antenna but for mobile work it's fine for me. Tunes at -20f and above the trick may be in the grease I use. This is salt country here and no invasion from that with proper maintenance.
N1ETS
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WA3ERQ
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 12, 2008 13:56
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Nice Antenna
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had my ATAS-120 for about a year now and have made several DX contacts including Australia, Argentina and Asiatic Russia from Philadelphia.
I've experienced two problems:
When the temperature drops below 32F, it won't tune. I've checked and rechecked the ground and connectors with no help.
Also, if I attempt to tune in 6M, it gets stuck and takes about 5 re-tunes to begin moving. It actually sounds like it's jumping a gear when it's tuning 6M's on the very bottom of the antenna.
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KE4WMF
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Rating: 4/5
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Feb 12, 2008 10:40
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Great Antenna for the Beginner...
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi,
I became a new General in March 2007. I went with the FT-857D and ATAS-120A to get myself on the air with minimal fuss. The ATAS-120A worked flawlessly for 10 mos of light usage.
I park in a parking garage during the week. So I had been removing my ATAS each Sunday evening and then remounting it each Friday afternoon for my weekly 320 mile RT home for the weekends. One day, the ATAS just stopped tuning.
I visited here and the YahooGroups. Yaesu was somewhat helpful by insisting the antenna was fine and that I had a ground issue. I knew they were mistaken about my grounding. But they gave me some decent ideas. But I really couldn't figure out if my tuning problem with with the antenna or with the radio. Eventually, I got some advice at YahooGroups and a troubleshooting guide posted there.
In short, the SO-239 is a good RF connector; but a poor DC connector. The center pin of my K400 mount came split four ways, perhaps to accept a variety of tolerances from various PL-259 center pins. I read somewhere that sticking a spring from a retractable pen into the SO-239 makes this connection more solid. Sure enough, IT WORKED!
I'm compelled to believe the ATAS is a good antenna. I've reached Brazil and Europe on 100W from my Virginia-based mobile shack. But I tend to agree with one poster here who said an NMO mount might have been better, at least to ensure a proper DC connection. Now I just need to see if the plastic gears or delicate PC card inside the ATAS fail as reported here and at YahooGroups. :(
I don't regret my purchase, especially since I got my ATAS on special for $260. It made the leap to HF very easy for a new General. But I think I'm going to start saving for a Lil Tarheel II and a Turbo Tuner. The Lil Tarheel II is smaller and, I believe, more reliable.
73,
Scott, KE4WMF.com
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VA3MW
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Rating: 3/5
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Jan 29, 2008 13:00
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not perfect
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I've had one for 3 years now running it here in Ontario in all sorts of weather. It is mounted on a Nissan Murano (fiberglass hatch), with a 1" ground strap from the PO mount (not the K400) to the frame.
I'm not sure if I can totally blame the antenna, but it very clearly needs an EXCELLENT ground system. You can't depend on coax to provide this. It should take you the better part of a day to get all your grounds in place. This is more important on days like now when the flux is 70. It is worth reviewing http://www.k0bg.com/ web page as he hits the nail on the head when running HF mobile.
That being said, on the FT857, it is very sensitive to tuning. Sometimes it works. Sometimes not. I'm ordering a Hi Q antenna shortly to try it.
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KD8CGH
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Rating: 0/5
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Sep 11, 2007 12:05
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Dead dead dead
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I wrote a favorable review in February of '06. Since then the antenna has stopped tuning. I took it apart but have been unable to get it working again. This is a great antenna when it is working, but it is just too unreliable for real world use. I that think less than two years is an unacceptable life for a product. The 0 here balances my old 5 to a 2.5 which is more than it deserves.
Stay away unless you are happy to replace or repair annually.
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