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| Reviews Summary for Yaesu ATAS-120A |
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Reviews: 53
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Average rating: 3.5/5
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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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write your own review of the Yaesu ATAS-120A.
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NS5F
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Rating: 1/5
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Sep 22, 2009 16:28
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When it worked, it worked but..
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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...Keeping it working was the challenge.
The ATAS-120 was a good idea, but the execution was sub par for the quality I expected from Yaesu. I've owned the antenna (purchased with the FT-857D) for over two years and it has never really worked for more than a week at any given time. The antenna was installed on a Mazda pickup using a Geo-Tools (highly recommended) stake pocket mount. After reinstalling the antenna multiple times, paying close attention to grounding I've finally given up and am now considering Hustler resonators or another screwdriver type antenna. The final straw was the intermittent operation of the drive motor caused by a failure in the connections at the antenna base. It's a pity as the concept of "one button" tuning with the FT-857D was the primary appeal for my purchasing decision. I am still a fan of Yaesu radios I own the FT-847/857D/8900/2800. Maybe next time Yaesu will get it right. If not they should consider leaving the antenna business to other vendors and concentrate on what they do best, building high quality high value transceivers.
de NS5F
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VK4HG
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Rating: 4/5
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Jul 12, 2009 04:08
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Better than expected.
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have the ATAS120A on my 4X4 roof rack. It looks good and appears well built. Mounted on a custom made the bracket from 75 X 75 X 7mm mild steel angle. No flex with this material. Antenna is light but I estimated the wind resistance is significant up there. The SO239 base is earthed to the coax braid, bracket, roof rack and body. Lots of earth with my big Nissan Patrol. The unit on occasion will ‘hunt’ for low SWR, but a manual tune up works just fine. My fourbie also has a Terlin Outbacker (centre load) mounted on the spare. I use a coax switch for antenna selection. Early tests, skip distance 1000km on 40 and 10 meters put the ATAS directly on par with the Terlin. Some nice stateside DX on 20M was better on the Terlin by +1 S point (Solar flux = 68 SSN=0). Not sue why, guess the Terlin is directional mounted on the vehicle rear. My early impressions are better than the eham posts and better than I expected for the price. The ATAS was purchased for convenient monitoring of band openings while the Terlin is a for working the DX. I hope to post a mode comprehensive report after a few months with the ATAS. So far, so good.
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W0EAJ
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Rating: 3/5
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Jun 30, 2009 20:48
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The Good, Bad, & Ugly
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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I own 1 ATAS100 & 2 ATAS120's - in my estimation, the 100 is the better antenna, owning to it's MUCH BETTER weatherizing (such as it is).
I installed a longer whip in mine from a Larson 5/8 2m antenna (drill the top hole out to a #99 drill), which doesn't require as much coil to stick up as with the original whip - yes, you lose the top end coverage, but for 40m, it's not beating the heck out of the coil contact-balls & so-called springs.
Both antennas have weaknesses; this said, as I work on MANY of them. The internal plastic follower (rides on the threaded rod) is very flimsy, and is prone to breakage, especially when the antenna goes into "search" and continues to turn at full TOP or full BOTTOM, before reversing; quite often, the follower will break in two, and a new part is required, as well as a complete tear-down for installation.
The lower coil end has a marked propensity for breaking off of the lower metal collar at it's solder connection, and it's quite a job to disassemble the 120 to fix this - the 100 is easier, but still a pain. As if this weren't enough, the outer protective collar that lets moisture OUT, also lets moisture and road-spray IN, which corrodes the coil contact-balls and aluminum carrier for them (the ball-springs are NOT tempered, and get loose).
The coup d' gras, is that the center contact pin which goes into the mount, is on average .008 inch TOO SMALL for adequate contact with most mounts or SO-239 (which it's based on)... why Yaesu didn't notice this is beyond me.
I use both the 100 & 120 with an IC-706/706MKIIG & HB control boxes on two different vehicles, and they work well - you just have to service them from time-to-time.
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KJ4EMG
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Rating: 5/5
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Feb 25, 2009 02:55
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WORKS GREAT
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I have owned the ATAS 120A for a year and it is awesome. I use it as a base antenna for my 897-D. The only problem I had with this antenna was setting it up. I tried many different set ups before I found one that worked. I connected the antenna with steel clamps to my metal chanin link fence and grounded it to the fence. With this antenna radials are a must. I used 10 33ft long 14g radials for mine. I have made contacts all over the world. To see my set up go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLfX-P-ep34
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KJ4AUQ
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Rating: 5/5
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Jan 23, 2009 11:44
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Great if Properly Grounded
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have had this antenna mounted on my Tacoma PU for three months now. Used about 10ft of grounding strap to ground chassis to frame and bed. Grounded muffler. Grounded bed on all four corners. 5/9 reports on all bands it works. Use hamsticks on 75 and 60. SWR 1.5 to 1.0 or lower on all bands it will work. If you do not plan to ground everything that moves on your vehicle, your performance is not going to be that great on any antenna you install mobile. The more grounding, the better it and your radio will work.
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K2GK
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Rating: 5/5
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Dec 12, 2008 19:14
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Not bad at all
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Every bit as good as the Hustler. My buddy has the Hustler(s) on his station wagon, I have the Atas 120A on my Mountaineer. We meet at lunch time in the same park and work the same people and get the same reports. But I don't get wet leaving the car to change coils.HA HA Larry!!!!
Plus I can change bands while driving with one finger one touch. Oh well
I would buy another if this one died.
73 de k2gk
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W3RXO
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Rating: 2/5
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Nov 25, 2008 12:42
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Fair antenna, but not too many that are as small, & any better
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Time owned: more than 12 months
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Well, this antenna is marginal, at best, for me. It has done a nice job, making contacts, from the western states to Japan, Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil and several pacific islands, as well as many of the 50 states, including HI and AK. BUT, it is NOT a very good antenna for VHF and UHF. It attenuates the incoming signals, badly and while I am able to hit good repeaters, it is weak, at best, for use in these bands.
As far as HF goes, MAKE SURE IT IS VERY WELL GROUNDED. Even if you think it is, it probably isn't grounded well enough. Right now, mine has a good chassis ground on a big rig, and still gives me fits on 17 meters and 40 meters, also, sometimes on 6 meters. I have no issues with 20, 15, 12 and 10, and usually it works well on 6. But Rarely, can I get a good outgoing signal on 17, or 40.
It has it's uses, but, is a marginally good antenna. Not awful, but, not a shining star, either. If you like a good challenge, and don't mind fussing with things, it might be up your alley.
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W4KVW
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Rating: 2/5
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Nov 15, 2008 11:06
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POOR EXCUSE!
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Time owned: 6 to 12 months
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I had one with a Yaesu 857D & it was NOT impressive for sure.6 & 17 meters were the best bands for me & NEITHER was very good.It would run UP & DOWN & UP & DOWN sometimes 2 or 3 times before finding a match.Compared to my other HF mobile antennas(DK-3,Hustler,& Hamsticks)it is a POOR EXCUSE for an HF mobile antenna.I posted a review here before on this antenna but for some reason it has been deleted?At best this would serve as an EMERGENCY use antenna & it is NOT worth the purchase price.It was a HAPPY day for me getting rid of BOTH the Atas-120A & the Yaesu 857D.I am NOW a VERY "HAPPY" ICOM 7000 & Hustler antenna user in my mobile setup! }:>)
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W4LGH
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Rating: 4/5
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Nov 15, 2008 06:41
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Good Performer
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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For performance this antenna would get a 5/5, but it is a very contrary antenna. It sometimes goes goofy, and will run all the way up or down trying to find itself. It is well made, but earlier versions were pledged with water problems, causing early failure. However I have always been able to fix the problems and get it working again. Now I have the 120/A model. Still a 5/5 on performance for such a small antenna. Will have to "Wait and See" if they fixed the water problem. The 120/A model still gets itself lost once in a while, but using the manual tune buttons, you can quickly get it back on track. Because of this, it only gets a 4/5. Was hoping they would have fixed that problem too.
I will also say, that I took the "A" model apart to see what changes were made, and a lot of the plastic parts in the 100/120 have been upgraded to heavier NYLON parts, which should help. The Florida heat and sun worked pretty hard on the older plastic parts, so we'll see what happens with the nylon. All in all it looks as though Yaesu has gine in the right direction to make improvements to it.
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KE3HAY
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Rating: 5/5
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Oct 31, 2008 19:39
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Not a Bad peice of Work
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Time owned: 0 to 3 months
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I have a 2002 Mazda Millenia and I needed something to put on a trunk lip mount. On my car, everything is a compromise so I didn’t see the need to spend, $400 on a tarheel, $250 for a auto tune thing, $200 for some fabricated metal so the small antenna would stay put cause its heavy and not the XYL is really T'ed off because I have sunk $800+ into an antenna that will get me a 5/7 vs 5/5?
I have read lots of posts from people talking about this antenna and how much of a dummy load and so for and so on about how bad it is.
Let me say this, I don’t care what you put on a 4 door sedan, you will never ever be a 5/9 to everyone you talk too.
If you have the luxury of driving a pick up, then a bigger antenna would work best
If you are looking for an antenna for a sedan or small auto that doesn’t T off the XYL, that will tune quickly with proper grounding than this antenna will do the Job.
Bottom line, with the ATAS system, it works. No it won’t tune 80M and it sucks on 2M simplex but the antenna was not designed for that. It was meant to be an antenna that tunes multiple HF bands, on a light trunk mounted frame for the Yaesu series that allowed one touch tuning w/ out the need for an expensive counter or tuner. Most of all its affordable at $299 shipped from HRO. the mount may cost you $75 bucks but it beats $800 all day ... OH did i forget to mention you dont need extra power cables caring the possibility of RF issues to run it because its power is in the COAX itself?
As far as the quality is concerned, TLC as with anything and it should last.
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