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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu ATAS-120A |
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Reviews: 42
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Average rating: 3.4/5
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MSRP: $369.00
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Description: The ATAS-120A is the upgraded, more weather resistant version of the ATAS-120. Leave comments only on the ATAS-120 "A"!
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More info: http://
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write your own review of the Yaesu ATAS-120A.
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KI4CRA
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 9, 2008 13:58
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Still a great antenna
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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Well having used/owned one for almost a year now, I gotta say that this has been a great mobile motorized antenna. For me, I only work 40-6 meters anyway, I have found no issues what so ever. This antenna will actually tune 17 & 12 meters, found this out when I tuned 17 meters and heard VP6DX on the air. I called he heard me the first time and I made the contact. Another nice aspect of this antenna is that not only is it compatible with the FT-857, but several other rigs as well, including but not limited to; FT-897, FT-100, and the new FT-450.
True, you can only put a max of 200 watts through it, but for an antenna it size I would be suprised if you would be able to do much more than 300 watts. If you want an antenna that can take the heat go with one of the other manufacturers, there are several nice ones on the market.
I have tuned 40-6 meters with this antenna, including 6 & 10 meter FM with great results. I'm sure those who have had problems are not happy about having a $300 antenna go belly up on them, so with all due respect I will not go into that here, this isn't the place for it. I have had not just mobile antennas, but base HF antennas go belly up, I know I wasn't a happy camper. But for me this is still one great antenna. See ya on the air!
73 de Mark
AI4HO
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JDEVARIE
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 9, 2008 03:58
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Great so far!
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have had my antenna for a few months now on my car. I mounted it to a K-400 type lip mount and I am using a FT857 with it. Initially it would not move at all while pressing the tune button. I found out I had grounding problems. I discovered that grounding the lip mount bracket was not enough. I had to remove SO39 connector from the bracket and remove the anodizeed paint where the connector contacts the bracket. I also grounded the part of the bracket that the connector sits on instead of just the bracket itself. Note that these brackets are articulated thus a ground connection to the car body is compromised.
Once I did all this, the antenna works very well. I have had some dx contacts to FR5 and EA7 easilly on 20m and 17m plus some stateside contacts on 40m as far as California from the Boston area. If you ask me, not too shabby.
Now, I read all the problems some have been having with this antenna and I am a little worried that mine might fail in some time. Anyways, I cannot predict the future lol.
Overall a very convenient antenna, much more eye pleasing than a tarheel or high sierra. I don't care about running high power in my car nor do I care of 75m mobile (has never worked well for me regardless of the antenna used).
Expensive but interesting antenna.
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VK4KKD
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Rating: 5/5
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Sep 15, 2008 19:26
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versatile and convenient
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Over the years I have spent a heck of a lot of time in mobile/portable working. during these extended road trips I carried a complete selection of helical whip antenna covering the range from 80m to 70cm. So it was a matter of changing the whips every time I wanted to change bands. Rigs at the time were not the multi/multi band things that we have now - HF was covered with a fantastic FT-757GX with separate smaller mobile rigs for VHF/UHF.
The truck was fitted with three antenna mountings and at the time I thought I was pretty well outfitted. A little latter I purchased a single multi band HF antenna - one of the ones with a wander lead and banana plugs. It proved to be a pain due to vandalism in shopping center car parks though.
After 15 years of this scenario I decided to purchase a new "all the bells and whistles" rigs and a shiny new FT-847 complete with an ATAS-100 replaced the mass of radios and antennea on my truck.
One thing I quickly learned was that this type of antenna MUST be mounted with avid attention to the grounding and the actual mounting position on the vehicle - no compromises will be tolerated. Everything must be perfect for the antenna to perform to full potential.
My first two weeks with the thing were very frustrating - then I adopted a more serious attitude from that which had been ok with all the previous antenna mounting.
BINGO! The full appreciation of an auto tune antenna over the HF band as well as VHF/UHF became apparent. Change bands - push a button and that was it. On air the antenna was no slouch and performed as well as if not better than the previous mono band whips. I decided to purchase one of the ATAS-120A units when it came on the market and have had absolutely no problems with it - ok - I can't run 400watts - but I could not do that with my other whips anyway - and the FM output of both my FT-847 and my daughters FT-897D have never caused any problems - I was told that using them on CW/FM would blow them - but I think that might only be a problem for those who do not ensure the complete and utter grounding required by these types of antenna. Bullbar mounting is not a good option so mounting on the roof and running a grounding network that is 100% electrically bonded to the metal of the vehicle is the only real option. Unfortunately this means removing the antenna when I go off road or into shopping center underground parks. On the road I do not have that chopping signal that I had with the bullbar mounted whips and a big plus is that I have lost the vehicles electric system noise in the receiver.
Can't fault the antenna once I overcome my less than careful approach to mounting.
73 de Kev. VK4KKD
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N0FPE
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Rating: 0/5
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Aug 12, 2008 16:53
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POS
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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This POS stopped working after 3 months, repaired by Yaesu, worked 2 weeks and died again. The problem here is that the truck it is on only gets driven abt 5000 miles a year! It sits 95% of the time. Tossed the ATAS in the trash and installed a AH-4.
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KG4TUM
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Rating: 1/5
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Aug 12, 2008 16:10
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Not so good
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I bought this antenna over a year ago. I didn't use it much, but it stopped working recently. So I put my old Comet antenna back on, and lo and behold, 10 meters isn't dead after all. I could say a lot about the lack of performance of the ATAS 120A, but I believe it's been covered by many other reviewers here. Just add my name to the list of people who feel like they just threw away $300. I can't believe that Yaesu put their name on this product.
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KF5Y
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Rating: 2/5
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Aug 12, 2008 11:24
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Good for 18 months
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Worked great when I purchased in 2004 with the Y857. Stopped working in 2005 and had it repaired under warranty and was returned as a 120A. Since 2006 40M is useless when moving. It is obvious that the coil and the ball bearings riding on it are loose because of the extended length (40M) and road vibrations. These were becoming looser as time went on. Could not have a QSO without stopping the vehicle. Now finally the motor is intermittent (again, this was the reason it went back the first time). Sometime she-a-works and sometimes she-a-don't work. By the way, now they want $70.00/hr to work on it. Moving on down the road, TARHEEL's next.
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GM4WZL
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Rating: 1/5
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Aug 2, 2008 01:18
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It is no good for working CW
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Hi all my atas 120a was working very good on ssb and i started to use it on CW and it was doing well with good DX as i am a member of the fists cw club,
One day it stoped working so i sent it back to the dealer as it was still under guarentee,
And i was told that it had burnt out the motor and fried the loading coil,
AS THE ANTENNA IS NOT DESIGNED FOR CW OR HEAVY FM WORKING LIKE OVER 60 WATTS WORKING,
AND IT IS ONLY DESIGNED FOR SSB UP TO 120 WATTS MAX,
If anybody has the same problem or info on please let me know ,
I am QRV on WWW.QRZ.COM for me info,
Thanks for any help,
73 John GM4WZL,
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KI4CRA
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 13, 2008 18:03
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Wonderful Antenna
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Time owned: 3 to 6 months
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I have had my "own" ATAS 120A for almost 6 month, prior to that I had the use of one for about 2 months prior to my purchasing one. I too use mine with the Yaesu FT-857D and for an antenna that I have been using on a tri-mag mount it does very well. I know, I know that this antenna should be used on a magnet mount because of the grounding issues. But, having said that, using the mag mount and the 857D's noise blanker I have worked my fair share of DX stations. A couple that come to mind is an IK, station, I worked Aruba on 15 meters, (yea I know from Fl to Aruba ain't that far, but hey I did on 15 meters no less). The best one by far was the VP6DX DXpedition, I worked them on 17 meters.
I do have a thru the roof NMO mount, which I used for a time, but I need to re enforce the mount as the metal on the roof of my Sport Trac is rather thin, so I need to come up with a way to strengthen either under the headliner or on the roof. Either way be it an NMO mount with a UHF - NMO adapter or a big tri magnet mount this abtenna is a wonderful addition and asset to my 857D. Another nice thing is, that this antenna not only works with my 857, but it will work with my 897D too.
So it doesn't cover 75/80 meters, I'm not much on 75/80 meters anyway. It will tune 17 and 12 meters, even though Yaesu say you shouldn't. Its not something I do all the time but when the need is there, what works, works. Yea, I'll give this antenna a 5, it WORKS for me, cant ask for than that. Hope you all have a great day.
73 de Mark
AI4HO
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KI6DPT
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 13, 2008 17:04
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Can be a good choice
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have the ATAS-120A installed on my GMC Yukon for 11 months now.
The antenna choice had more to do with my decision to buy a Yaesu FT-857D radio. With that in mind I wanted something that would have multi-band capability, tune up easily, and present an appearance that I could live with.
I had the radio and antenna professionally installed. The radio is under the 2nd row passenger seat. The control head fits nicely in the convenience console (slots above the cup holder). I selected a lightweight lip-mount and have it mounted on the right rear just below and to the right of the rear glass (on the rear hatch). At 40M the tube just makes it to the roofline. When fully retracted I can tuck the whip into a discrete strap on the luggage rack and it breaks the roofline by maybe 1 foot.
I added 3/4" wide stainless ground straps to bond the radio to the vehicle body, and likewise bonded the hatch to the body at the upper hinge.
From Southern California I have worked Hawaii to all of the East coast, and Cabo San Lucas, MX to Alaska. When I tell people I am mobile I often get a response of "Don't change anything". This antenna, for me, has worked very well given my initial criteria. I have had much better success on 20 & 17 than on 40. Other unanticipated but welcome results are I can rapidy remove it for safekeeping, or remove it and screw in an adapter with a monoband hamstick style antenna.
With about a year under my belt now as a General Class, I would take a different approach if I were buying today.
If you are looking for your first mobile HF set up you may want to consider there are more efficient antennas (on transmit). You may also want to conside you won't care as much about the low profile appearance when you learn what you gave up!
On many occasions I have been able to hear stations, but they just couldn't dig me out of the noise floor. A few more watts out would have made all the difference. For me, next time will be "bigger is better" (Hi-Q 2.5" or 3" - both add 60 and 80M capability).
One comment on the UFH/VHF capability. I find it more convenient to operate these bands with a dedicated 2m/440 radio and antenna.
Still, if I judge it against the criteria I used to select it, I have found the ATAS-120A met my requirements and has performed admirably. With improving band conditions it should be even more enjoyable.
73,
Rich
KI6DPT
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WA6BJH
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Rating: 5/5
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Jun 4, 2008 18:57
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Wonderful, Convenient
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I read all the bad stuff about the ATAS-120A and I bought it anyway. It's just incredible! You screw the antenna on the SO-239 connector, push a button, and it just tunes. You can't beat it. I wouldn't use any of the other screwdriver antennas. The ATAS-120A is just too convenient.
Of course, it doesn't operate on 75 meters, but then "75-meter mobile antenna" is an oxymoron. It works fine on every band from 40 through 450.
So, what are you going to do when it breaks? ask the naysayers. Well, I'll buy another one. I don't care if it breaks. It's beyond convenient. I'll replace it.
I use the ATAS-120A with my new FT-875D and I use the MFJ-348S foldover mount on the car's hatchback. No problems at highway speed. I have a ground connection--RG-58 shield--from the connector to a screw on the inside of the hatchback. I used RG-58 shield to jump the hatchback and hood hinges to the car body.
Here's something important to remember. Mobile HF antennas are all terrible. One may be better than another, but the difference is same as the difference between trash and rubbish.
Get the ATAS-120. It's convenient.
Kerry WA6BJH
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